Ready to throw in the towel on my Masterbuilt 40" Propane Smoker.

[diegoted]

Mike\Muddy, how do you use the needle valve in conjunction. I have the smokers unit wide open. Where do you set the Regulator at? Then where is the needle valve set at? I understand once the regulator is set you use the needle valve for a finer control?

thx TEd

 

[mike5051]

I leave everything wide open and use the needle valve for control. I don't have a propane smoker, I am controlling the gas for either a crawfish/crab jet burner, or a smaller turkey fryer/wok burner. The needle valve lets me control the burn with no issues. Sorry if my info doesn't apply to propane smokers.

Mike

 

[diegoted]

View attachment 347192

The HP regulator is set to adjust my burner to high with the needle valve wide open. Turning down the needle valve gives fine control of the gas flow .

Pete so is your smoker turned up all the way as well as the bayou regulator? So that the needle valve controls all flow?

thx Ted

 

[pete mazz]

Pete so is your smoker turned up all the way as well as the bayou regulator? So that the needle valve controls all flow?

thx Ted

I built my smoker. It doesn't have a control knob, just the regulator and needle valve connected to a turkey fryer pipe burner. With the needle valve wide open I set the regulator to get the burner running pretty high and use the needle valve after that . It likes to run ~250 comfortably which is fine for me.

 

[diegoted]

Yes both valve on tank and smoker all open all the way. Yes I have had the same problem using different tanks and a different smoker, although the first smoker only had the original regulator. I guess I was a tad confused after more research I have concluded the bayou regulator I use with the adjustment knob ((("IS a needle valve")))? therefore a separate needle valve only will not help my situation? So now I have read somewhere that plugging some of my burner holes will help stabilize the temps? Man this is a lot of driving me nutso!!! LOL Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[diegoted]

thx Muddy! I was also thinking on low flow I have a lot of flame outs when I am trying to smoke at lower temps. My smoker has legs and the burner is not sealed underneath as there is a small gap 1\8-1\16 between the firebox and burner. I wonder if sealing this with high temp silicone will help with flameouts, which will allow the lower temps?

 

[jasinil2006]

I have a Masterbuilt 2-door vertical propane smoker and I'm also have a heck of a time maintaining even temps (e.g., 225). I've modified my smoker by adding door gaskets, skirts around the base to protect against the flame blowing out, a cast iron pan for wood chips, the Bayou regulator and I even blocked about 1/3 of the holes in the burner with small brass screws as others have suggested. I've had this smoker for about a year now, and I have a very difficult time maintaining anything close to a stable temp. The mods I made have pretty much eliminated the flame-outs; I think the skirting and especially plugging the burner holes were most helpful.

About the best I can do is slow the rate at which temps ping-pong up and down. Rarely can I go more than 30-45 minutes without adjusting it, and often it requires more frequent fiddling. Like Ted, I am often quite happy with the outcome when I smoke, but this thing requires constant babysitting. I have a decent remote thermometer (a Maverick 732) and were it not for that, I'd have to check the smoker every 15 minutes to make sure it wouldn't be getting too hot or too cool.

I will probably try adding a separate needle valve, even though it seems the Bayou regulator already has one, but I'm also about fed up with this situation. If I ever get another smoker, I think I'm going to shell out enough to get something with a thermostatic control so I run the smoker and still get other stuff done.

 

[zwiller]

Maybe it's considered cheating (electric) but I just don't see why everyone continues throwing money at the gasser. I took the risk for you :D I took the time and money that I planned to spend to mod my gasser and tried an MES and extremely happy I did and I am one picky SOB. MES + AMNPS is basically set and forget perfect temps and perfect TBS. Night and day from gas. I am gonna be smoking TONS more than ever and plan to do things I thought I would never be able to do.

 

[biteme7951]

The pressure regulator controls the PRESSURE coming out of the tank. The needle valve controls the VOLUME of gas going to the burner. The 2 go hand in hand.....more pressure=less volume, less pressure=more volume. Once you get it dialed in you will have a better handle on maintaining a consistent temp. It doesn't take much of a flame to heat up a smoker to 165 degrees and flameouts can happen. Protect it from wind as best you can and keep top vents fully open which will require a little more flame causing fewer flameouts. I have a GOSM 40" propane unit i've had for 20 years and it will hold +/- 5 degrees once I get it set up using a non adjustable regulator and the knob on the front of it (basically a needle valve)....provided the wind or outdoor temp doesn't change much during the smoke.

Barry.

 

[mike5051]

Thanks for that explanation Barry!

Mike

 

[jasinil2006]

I have a Masterbuilt 2-door vertical propane smoker and I'm also have a heck of a time maintaining even temps (e.g., 225). I've modified my smoker by adding door gaskets, skirts around the base to protect against the flame blowing out, a cast iron pan for wood chips, the Bayou regulator and I even blocked about 1/3 of the holes in the burner with small brass screws as others have suggested. I've had this smoker for about a year now, and I have a very difficult time maintaining anything close to a stable temp. The mods I made have pretty much eliminated the flame-outs; I think the skirting and especially plugging the burner holes were most helpful.

About the best I can do is slow the rate at which temps ping-pong up and down. Rarely can I go more than 30-45 minutes without adjusting it, and often it requires more frequent fiddling. Like Ted, I am often quite happy with the outcome when I smoke, but this thing requires constant babysitting. I have a decent remote thermometer (a Maverick 732) and were it not for that, I'd have to check the smoker every 15 minutes to make sure it wouldn't be getting too hot or too cool.

I will probably try adding a separate needle valve, even though it seems the Bayou regulator already has one, but I'm also about fed up with this situation. If I ever get another smoker, I think I'm going to shell out enough to get something with a thermostatic control so I run the smoker and still get other stuff done.

UPDATE: I added a simple needle valve and since then, I have had much better luck maintaining steady temps. I still need to adjust gas flow occasionally, but for the most part, the smoker temps hold pretty steady. I've come to conclude that the valve that came with my Bayou regulator is junk. I now tape it in full 'open' position and use the needle valve to regulate gas flow.

I give the Bayou regulator/needle valve two thumbs down for its inability to deliver consistent gas flow. On the plus side, I'm much happier with my smoker and its performance!

 

[mike5051]

Great news! Thanks for the update.

Mike