Masterbuilt has redesigned the charcoal grate. Pretty pricey, $15 and shipping makes it $25 . Its double the cost of the original grate, they want $8 for that one along with , I guess, $10 shipping /tax.
https://www.masterbuilt.com/products/gravity-series-charcoal-grate?_pos=1&_sid=a3737280a&_ss=r
I did not see a problem with the larger chunks falling through, especially if I had chunks in the ash bin. Just gonna get more smoke. But during my brisket cook, was standing behind the cooker, I heard a chunk drop into the ash bin and a few seconds later saw ash go out the back vent. I seasoned my new grate yesterday, 2 hours at 350*, and when done there was a very light coat of ash on the grate. I did not empty the ash bin before starting.
I'm thinkin smaller chunks means less ash to be kicked up when they drop through, and then picked up by the fan.
Instead of doing the mod with the skewers, I ordered the new grate from
Masterbuilt. Maybe its better than the mod, maybe not.
I'm also thinking that emptying the ash bin during the cook, would be advisable. That's hard to do with live coals in the ash bin, but I've got a Behrens bucket with a very tight lid that will smother lit coals.