Refurbishing a Great Outdoors Smokey Mountain cabinet smoker

[realdocBBQ]

I picked up one of these for $50 recently but I cannot get the burner to light. I have tried the tank on other smokers and my propane torch, works fine, not an issue with the safety valve-limiter on the tank. I can see the igniter sparking when I press it. And I can smell the propane when trying to light it, but no luck.

So I'm thinking I may need to replace the burner, although I will be pulling it all apart this weekend likely and seeing if I can get it cleaned up, brushed out, etc. If I can get it working, great. If not, I'll need to replace, but of course the manufacturer of this smoker is out of business. No replacement burners available.

Anyone replaced the burner on theirs or have any tips on what to get? I've never replaced a propane burner like this, are they pretty standard? Can I buy an 'upgraded' one, like maybe a little larger, or a little better control (besides just adding a needle valve, etc.?). ARE there some propane burners like these that are 'better' or 'worse', which ones to avoid, etc? Like I said, I don't know much about propane burners.

I'll need to get some decent paint like the Rustoleum 1200 or 2000, which is no big deal, but the racks and inside of this thing looked pretty darn good. No idea how old it is, at least a few years, but I was happy it looked awfully nice inside.

 

[ifitsdeadsmokeit]

Check the gas orifice in the burner to make sure it isnt clogged. Spiders like to spin webs in there. It could also be a bad regulator or wrong size or maybe have a needle flow valve that isnt open completely. Another possibility may be it has natural gas orifice instead of propane. Good luck.

 

[millerbuilds]

As ifitsdead said, spiders love grills and smokers. I would start at the tank (Which is seems you did), then check the regulator (open and clean), valve, connections, burners/orifaces, etc.

- Jason

 

[realdocBBQ]

Yup, that is my plan this weekend, to pull it all apart and do a quick sand and repaint it (the cabinet, I mean) and see if cleaning the burner out works.

 

[realdocBBQ]

I got it home and finally got around to checking it - the hose was leaking, so I ordered a new hose with an adjustment at the tank, had to get a 1/8" to 3/8" adapter, but managed to get it hooked up and running. Just need to figure out the right size screws to plug some of the burner holes to be able to keep it lit when burner super duper low.

Here is the gas regulator I bought - in case anyone wants to do the same:

GASONE Propane Regulator - Brass Orifice 4 ft High Pressure 0-20 PSI Adjustable With Hose QCC-1 Type - Works With Any U.S. Tanks Red​

It is WAY more flow than I need, I have to keep it WAY WAY turned down. That's ok, though - much tighter control than the factory knob on the smoker.

Also needed this adapter:

3PCS Brass Flare Coupler 3/8" Flare Male x 1/8" NPT Female Tube Gas Adapter Nipples Pipe Fittings Hose Connectors​

Overall, seems to work well.

I also bought this splitter so I could run both the Smoky Mountain and my Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24 on a single propane tank:

Flame King Propane Tank Y Splitter Adapter with Valves, 2-Way LP Gas Connector for 20lb Propane Tank Cylinders, Works with BBQ Grills, Camping Stoves, Gas Burners, Heaters​