Can't get hot enough!

[rhoda w]

New here, desperately searching for help and info. We can't ge the temperature in the smoker box above 180-200. We have a side mounted firebox with the intake wide open. The coals are glowing red hot but we can't get the temp to go up in the smoker. What are we doing wrong?

 

[flash]

 

[rhoda w]

Coals are on a rack. Chimney 1/2 to wide open.

 

[rhoda w]

Heck. We even set up a fan to blow into the intake to try and get it hotter.

 

[bhille42]

have you checked your Thermometer? If you're using the factory therm on an offset, they're usually off by as much as 50 degrees

 

[rhoda w]

We haven't had any wind today. We've added coals 5 or 6 times. We've been working on this since about 10:30 or 11 today. We started out with probably 5 or 6 pounds of charcoal and have kept adding to it.

 

[rhoda w]

We've got a barrel type smoker/grill with side-mounted firebox.

 

[rhoda w]

Sorry. CharGriller

 

[bhille42]

The factory thermometer on a Chargriller is completely useless. Check your temps at grate level with an accurate thermometer. Also, did you punch out the knockout between the firebox and the cooking chamber?

 

[rhoda w]

The meat is at 187 internal temp.

 

[rhoda w]

We have a digital meat thermometer too. But, I was going by the Chargrill thermometer to determine the smoker chamber temp. Yes he punched out the opening between the grill and firebox.

 

[rhoda w]

6# butt, ribs and amarinated turkey tenderloin.

 

[rhoda w]

But's at 190! Guess it was just that darn thermometer! Thanks for your responses/info!

 

[bhille42]

Check out the threads about the Chargriller mods. A ton of good info on there to help you out. Hope everything turned out good.