I Have No Control ...

[JckDanls 07]

On my Weber Kettle (22")...

I say no control when that is not true... To run 225'ish I have to close the intake the whole way, shut down... The Exhaust is closed down to about 25% open ... It has a good layer of "seasoning" in the bottom to where the intake vents make a good seal... I do run my braided wire for thermo out the side so the lid definatly not sealing there ...

Anybody have a good choice for a gasket sealer to put on the underneath side of the lid ??

 

[gmc2003]

No idea on a temporary gasket sealer, but you could always do the notch mod. Just make a small notch on the base with a file or dermal type tool. Then you can run your cable under the lid without pinching it or having a bigish gap.

Chris

 

[dsk]

I was hoping this was about a new equipment purchase.

 

[chopsaw]

Some things play into this .
How are you setting up the fire ?
How much charcoal are you using at the start ?

Way back when , I used the amount of charcoal to start the fire , then how many to add per hour to maintain the temp of an indirect cook . All vents wide open .

My kettles like to settle in at 260 . Both the 26 and the 22's .
That's using the snake method with just lighting the lead end . They run at that temp for up to 10 hours on a summer day .

Unless your lid is way out of whack , I don't think you need a gasket . However you're there and I'm not .

Next question for me would be ,
One touch clean out ?
Daisey wheels ?
I'm guessing one touch , by the fact you say you close them all the way down .
You either have bent vanes ( upwards ) or to much charcoal burning .
Again , you're there and I'm not , and I know you can manage a fire in a smoker .

Doesn't take much to make a kettle run hot . Start low and figure out how much charcoal to add on the hour .
Do it no matter what the temp says . If it takes 10 to start ( each side ) and 3 each side on the hour to maintain temp , that's what you do . Don't wait for a temp drop .

I run the therm under the lid also . Never been a heat issue for me .

 

[JckDanls 07]

It's a basic $99 22" Kettle... It really never has cooperated since new out of the box (6-8 months)... I pile up unlit kingsford with pecan chunks mixed in on one side of the kettle... Enough for a 6 hr cook ... Lite 8-12 briquettes in the chimney... Dump them on one end when only about 1/2-3/4 ashed over in the chimney ... Let temp come up in the kettle not the chimney... Start closing vents down when temps (using a Smoke) get over 200 ... Have to close intake all the way , exhaust vent 75% closed to run 225ish... It ran for 6 hrs @225 with vents at those settings...

I've inspected the vanes and they all look like they are sealing...

I suspect out of around as well... Thus the gasket seal... even if it's just to eliminate that suspicion...

 

[mike243]

I run the cable through the top air vent, no problem controlling temp

 

[seenred]

Keith, I put some of that gray, self-adhesive Nomex gasket (I think it was Lava Lock brand) around the inner lip of one of my 22" kettle lids once. Your mileage may vary, but I didn't really like it much. I felt like the lid never seated properly after that...and I wasn't sure it made much difference in how the grill performed. Ended up taking it off. That being said, if you thing your lid may be a little out of round, that Nomex gasket might be a way to get it to seal better...unless you think you can bang it back into round with a little "tapping".

Red

 

[BigW.]

Have you tried putting your charcoal in a snake configuration? On long cooks I'll run 2 rows of B&B around half or 3/4 way around the kettle. Add a few chunks of wood around snake and light a similar amt of coals that you do.

 

[texomakid]

I'm going through this learning process as well. Trying to control temps where I want to run them but at the same time allow enough air to flow through the kettle so to avoid the "choked fire" flavor. I did break down and install a thermometer on the lid of my Kettle 22". While I'm trying to keep my kettle experience basic and simple, the thermometer was a great addition for me. I'm planning to experiment with the snake method very soon. Great thread, valuable knowledge learning from others.