Grand Champ XD lavalock baffle

[Black Titan]

Hey folks,

Any of you guys using the lavalock plate on the grand champ XD?

Just received my lavalock baffle plate and water pan yesterday. I'm able to manage about a 30° temp difference from Firebox side to exhaust side with my current stack extension, fire brick in fire box, and water pan, but I want to get that down closer so I picked up the baffle plate.

Question - there is about a 1/4" gap from the top of the plate to the inside wall of my cook chamber. I believe the bolts are possibly hitting the angled piece of the baffle and keeping it from sitting flush. Does it need to sit flush to work properly, or is a 1/4" gap ok?

Second question - those that used the lavalock plate in this smoker, did you remove the stock ash/drip pan? The lavalock fits the same way with it in or out, but just curious if leaving it in for the extra thermal mass would help control temps or if I could just pull it out.

BT

 

[Black Titan]

Got my gap issue figured out. It was the top bolt as well as the ears that the factory deflector plate hangs on. Turned the bolt around to where the head is on the cook chamber side and nut is on the firebox side, and bent the ears down. Fits good and flush now.

After a heat up to around 350, I closed the damper down and opened the stack all the way, and according to my probes my temps are staying within 5 degrees side to side with the water pan in. There was a bigger gap without the water pan.

What I don't get is why my lavalock gauges are 100 degrees different, and higher on the left. I'm not sure which one to trust.

Any ideas?

BT

 

[912smoker]

That's great side to side temps and looks like a success!
Have you checked the calibration on your probes? In freezing water?

Keith

 

[Black Titan]

That's great side to side temps and looks like a success!
Have you checked the calibration on your probes? In freezing water?

Keith

Just got done doing that actually. Couldn't test the lavalocks in ice water because they only go down to 50 but I tested them in boiling water. Both are spot on and only differ about 1-2 degrees. All the probes with the thermapro are showing 33-34 degrees in ice water, and 210-211 in boiling water.

I'm guessing maybe the heat is different near the outsides of the smoker? My probes were in the middle of the grates.

BT

 

[912smoker]

I noticed that and it's the only cause I can figure, too.

Keith

 

[Redicans]

Just got done doing that actually. Couldn't test the lavalocks in ice water because they only go down to 50 but I tested them in boiling water. Both are spot on and only differ about 1-2 degrees. All the probes with the thermapro are showing 33-34 degrees in ice water, and 210-211 in boiling water.

I'm guessing maybe the heat is different near the outsides of the smoker? My probes were in the middle of the grates.

BT

That's what I was thinking also. Try moving your probes on the grate right underneath the Lavalock gauges to see if they are similar. I run a Grand champ also but don't have the baffle plate you do, so I'm just kind of guessing.

 

[Black Titan]

That's what I was thinking also. Try moving your probes on the grate right underneath the Lavalock gauges to see if they are similar. I run a Grand champ also but don't have the baffle plate you do, so I'm just kind of guessing.

I'll give that a go maybe tomorrow with some more testing. I gotta get it figured out before Sunday. Got 2 butt's, 6 racks of ribs, and a chuck roast to smoke for Sunday.



BT

 

[Redicans]

I'll give that a go maybe tomorrow with some more testing. I gotta get it figured out before Sunday. Got 2 butt's, 6 racks of ribs, and a chuck roast to smoke for Sunday.



BT

What is your top rack reading with that baffle plate in? My top rack is always at least 50* above my bottom. The one time I really loaded up mine with ribs and pork butts I thought I was going to be moving things all over the place but it seemed like it all evened out and only moved a couple pieces just to be sure they didn't get to crispy. I was actually surprised.

 

[Black Titan]

What is your top rack reading with that baffle plate in? My top rack is always at least 50* above my bottom. The one time I really loaded up mine with ribs and pork butts I thought I was going to be moving things all over the place but it seemed like it all evened out and only moved a couple pieces just to be sure they didn't get to crispy. I was actually surprised.

I didn't have any probes up there but the top gauge read similar to yours, around 40-50° higher than the lower rack.

BT