Uds stopped overnight

[watboy2000]

So not sure what I did wrong. I attempted a smoked buttt. I filled basket with charcoal made a hole in the middle and placed hot coals in the middle. I started pork butt at 8 pm once i got the uds to 225 . It was at 225 when i went to bed at 2 am. I woke up at 830 to check on it and it was cold. The fire went out. Any ideas why?

 

[daveomak]

Need more info....  what were the valves set at...  was the exhaust open...   did you close down the valves at all...   pictures would help....

 

[watboy2000]

I had all three bottom
Vents open as this was keeping temp at 225 and had been for 6 hours. So i had all three bottom valves open. I didnt close any valves

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• watboy2000
• Jul 29, 2017

there are three bottom vents

 

[kam59]

Lump or charcoal?

 

[kam59]

Is this your first cook on this drum? The reason I ask is I looked at your pic and I see you have two what appears 3/4" exhausts. That may not be enough exit air to maintain combustion in the drum.

 The lump or charcoal question was if charcoal your burning coals may have suffocated in their own ash. If lump it could be the lump caused a gap and could not bridge to another piece and just went out.

 

[watboy2000]

It was my second time. The first time was a chicken cooked for 2 hours at 325. I have three bottom vents. Two are threaded black nipples the other is the ball valve you see.I used Kingston charcoal. I only have two top vents.any wisdom is appreciated

 

[kam59]

So you need to ask yourself what the difference was in the two cooks. You maintained 325° to cook birds but on this butt you had all intakes open and were maintaining 225°.

 

[watboy2000]

Right. I think possible difference was it was windy when I last checked at 2am could that be the issue?

 

[watboy2000]

q any other ideas?

 

[daveomak]

3 nipples open for intakes should take your UDS up to 400+ degrees...  Like Kam noted, you do not have enough exhaust....

To put it in perspective, the air coming in the inlets is cold...  it heats up and expands...  you need at least 3 times the exhaust opening as you have inlet opening....  that can be figured in square inches openings...   or if you have 3 each 3/4" air inlets, you need 9 each 3/4" outlets...   or 4 1" outlets...  1" is 2 X's the area of a 3/4" pipe...  1 1/2" pipe is 4 X's a 3/4" pipe...

 

[watboy2000]

Ty guys. I added more exhaust last night and woke up at 5:00 am to try again. I can tell you this so far. With the added exhaust I got to 280 fast! Holding steady at 225 now. Here goes nothing

 

[kam59]

Good luck I hope adding the exhaust helps. :)

 

[hardcookin]

I agree with Dave and Kam not enough exhaust. No way you should have to have 3 intakes wide open. I used to smoke with just my gated one 3/4 open. And the other intakes capped. "250-275"
What are you using for a charcoal basket?

 

[watboy2000]

Basket is 12 x 12 x 8 holds 17 lbs of charcoal. Its a square basket rather than round

 

[watboy2000]

I think you all solved my problem. With the extra exhaust this things is cooking! I just opened to spritz the pork butt. Charcoal not even half used! Cooking super efficiently. Just wanted to say thank you, my wife was beginning to doubt the process. Now i just hope it tatses good!

 

[daveomak]

...

...  everyone wants you to succeed...   

 

[watboy2000]

Thank you Dave. Now I have a 7 lbs port butt going started around 6 am im guessint it will be done by 7pm? Is that about right? Uds has been holding at 225 for temp. Meat temp says 170 right now

 

[daveomak]

Are you familiar with the "stall"...   Where the temp does not rise for hours at a time....   It can be stopped by wrapping the meat with foil or butcher paper...   non coated butcher paper if you have some...   wrapping with foil will keep the meat moist and soften the bark..  

The stall is from moisture in the meat evaporating and cooling it...  like you would cool when you sweat...  

 

[watboy2000]

Ty bud. Just checked pork its at 198 so i think its done at 10 hours 45 minutes

 

[watboy2000]

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• watboy2000
• Jul 30, 2017

Gentlemen you all saved my sanity. I was successful! My wife couldnt be happier. She gave it a 12! Lol

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• watboy2000
• Jul 30, 2017