trouble reaching temps

[WsW-WYATT-EARP]

Have a masterbuilt propane unit, 1st round i used the chip tray with minimal smoke results. I now have the Amazen expandable tube and it's smoking great!

Anyways - I have the gas on full and barely hitting 230 - should I remove the chip tray? I do have the water tray in it as well.

Or is it all the meat bringing the temps down and I should just monitor for a while until things start heating up???

Thanks!
Ben

 

[mike243]

Have you had your tank refilled recently? If so shut off with it burning then when flame dies out shut off and turn tank on slowly then reliite and see if flame improves

 

[Braz]

A smoker box full of meat will certainly bring the temp down. What temp you see will depend somewhat on where your probe is and its proximity to the meat. I'd let it go for a while and see if the temp comes up.

 

[WsW-WYATT-EARP]

Have you had your tank refilled recently? If so shut off with it burning then when flame dies out shut off and turn tank on slowly then reliite and see if flame improves

Mike - no the tank was used on my 1st run last week. I only had 2 chickens and a pork shoulder in it then and had no issues reaching temp.

A smoker box full of meat will certainly bring the temp down. What temp you see will depend somewhat on where your probe is and its proximity to the meat. I'd let it go for a while and see if the temp comes up.

Braz - I was just barely seeing 230 with the gas on hi. I let it go and kept an eye on it and all of a sudden it was up around 500. Now I am hitting 230 with the gas between low and medium (more towards the low end). The probe is in the middle of the 2nd rack from the top. I have all 4 racks full of ribs, I will have to invest into a digital probe for the smoker temp and find a decent place for it. I have a digital probe for the meat that works well.

Thanks guys for the replies! This is my 2nd go at this and as I learned allot the 1st time, I am learning a bunch this time as well.

 

[SmokinAl]

You should have no trouble reaching 400-500 degrees with a gas smoker. If your not getting that, the regulator probably needs to be re-set.
Just turn off the gas, disconnect the regulator & re connect it. Then make sure the gas is off on the smoker & slowly turn the gas on at the tank. That should reset the regulator. Then turn the gas on at the smoker & light it up. You should be good to go.
Al

 

[rjob]

One other possibility. If you keep your cooker outside, insects(mud doppers) can build nests in gas lines.

 

[WsW-WYATT-EARP]

You should have no trouble reaching 400-500 degrees with a gas smoker. If your not getting that, the regulator probably needs to be re-set.
Just turn off the gas, disconnect the regulator & re connect it. Then make sure the gas is off on the smoker & slowly turn the gas on at the tank. That should reset the regulator. Then turn the gas on at the smoker & light it up. You should be good to go.
Al

Al - I will keep this in mind for the next time this issue arises. Things are good now.

One other possibility. If you keep your cooker outside, insects(mud doppers) can build nests in gas lines.

rjob - I believe I had this issue last weekend on my first go, I took the burner out this morning and cleaned it out with some water and compressed air.


Thanks again for the replies - will keep all this info in mind for the next time i have issues!

 

[daveomak]

Did your water pan run out of water ???

 

[WsW-WYATT-EARP]

Did your water pan run out of water ???

Dave - no this was right away. I got 230 with it empty then after loading up the ribs, I had all I could do to get 200.

Was really odd.