Digital 4 Rack Assemble Questions

[OTB]

First of all, thanks to everybody on this site!! 

Since it is pouring rain outside today, I decided it was a perfect day to unbox and put together my new digital smoker.   ;D

I have three questions:

1.  Is the smoke generator supposed to fit tight to the side of the unit?
    - When I insert it onto the pegs and lightly press down, it just sits but is not tight, there is still a gap between it and
      the side of the smoker.  It also is not very secure since when I plugged in the power jumper cable, I almost knocked
      it off the smoker

2.  How tight a fit should the V drip pan be?
     - It was a very tight fit to get the pan in (yes it is forming a V so it is not upside down)  I really had to wrangle it in there
       and if I had not be watching I could have messed up the door seals with the sharp edges
     - I still ended up scratching up the inside of the unit trying to get it into place (yes I know this doesn't matter since it will
       soon be all brown inside..I just want to make sure this is normal and I didn't somehow put it in backwards

3.  The fill tube that fits into the smoke generator...is there any special alignment of this other than the slot facing front?
     - I noticed there was a small hole in one end and there was a corresponding hole on the inside of the smoke generator, I assume
       this is in case you want to screw it in.  The two holes don't match up perfectly though....is there a right or wrong way to install
       this piece?


Again, thanks for all the help!  I must say that this smoker is quite a beautiful product...especially coming from using a little chief.

[classicrockgriller]

The smoke generator will fit over the two screws on the Bradley and then slide down just a tad.

I had to press on the side of my v tray to get it to slid in and out easier.

The notch doesn't fit anything.

Glad your smoker came home.

[RAF128]

The notch doesn't fit anything.

Yup and no screwing required.   It's a friction fit.

[OTB]

Thanks for the replies.

If the rain doesn't come back today, I will season it to make sure it all works and get my ribs rubbed and in the fridge for smoking tomorrow.

[Tenpoint5]

Thanks for the replies.

If the rain doesn't come back today, I will season it to make sure it all works and get my ribs rubbed and in the fridge for smoking tomorrow.

How can you do that? I would be sticking them ribs in the smoker as soon as the seasoning process was complete and everything is still warm. Of course I am slightly more addicted to this process than you currently are. Don't worry one or two cooks and you will be as addicted as the rest of us!!

[OTB]

Ha!!  You are correct...I can't wait.  But the rain clouds are supposed to be in and out all day today.  If it rains like it did yesterday we will have very heavy rain and flood warnings.  Plus we have tsunami warnings today...good thing I am not next to the coast, but I have friends in Santa Cruz that might need help preparing today, just in case.  I figure to be safe I will wait for tomorrow... but I am hungry and anxious just waiting.

My wife and daughter do not like really smoked foods but I convinced them that is because I "over smoked" items with the little chief and was using mesquite most of the time.  will start these ribs with just a 2 hour smoke, 1 additional hour without smoke, 1-2 hours foil, sauce and back in for another 1-2 hours.

[Tenpoint5]

A couple of sticks and a tarp and your smoking!! Try one of the lighter flavored woods if the smoke is too strong for the family.

[Thor]

Made the oversmoke/wrong smoke mistake many times in the past.  Mesquite smoked chicken is not very appetizing.   

Get them hooked with the tender juicey then work them up from there.

[OTB]

I assume if I smoke them for 2 hours with hickory at 225degrees, then leave them in for another hour without smoke, Then pull them, wrap them in foil with apple juice, and back in the smoker for another 1-2 hours till the meat pulls from the bone, then sauce them and back into the smoker for about another hour I should be fine.  I am thinking just 2 hours of hickory should not be too over powering.  What do you guys think about this approach.

[Thor]

As I newbie, I am reluctant to give time/cooking directions, but your plan seem sound except for the hickory.   Hickory is still one of the stronger woods.  If that is all you have then you may want to consider lowering smoking time to 1 hour if your family tastes are "smoke challenged".   Apple seems to be a favored lighter wood around this board.   Just remember BABY STEPS.   I am sure you want these to be awesome for you, but if you want to keep the family coming back for dinner "less is more".   I like ribs even if they are not smoked. The only bad rib is a tough rib.  Let them sauce them to taste.

See this faq on the recipe site regarding the wood flavors.

http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?t=26

[OTB]

Good suggestion.  Maybe apple is a better choice for this first batch, or a mix of apple and hickory.  don't want to scare them off with the first smoke.  Good thing I ordered the variety box of wood at the same time.

[Tenpoint5]

2 hours of Hickory is fine. Unless WTS is lurking around he only uses mequite

[MPTubbs]

I'm with 10.5...2 hours of hickory and you'll be O.K.

[OTB]

To be safe, I was going to go with 1hr (3 biscuits) hickory, then 1hr (3 biscuits) Apple. 

For a wife and child who don't like food too smoky, is this a good way to go to get them started, or are you still saying to just go with 2 hours of hickory?

And, thanks 10.5 for your posts and recipe that gave me much inspiration for my first smoke tomorrow.

[OTB]

OK..I am seasoning my smoker right now.  I set the oven temp for 150F but the internal temp is going all the way up to 185F...Is this normal since the cabinet is empty?  My probe thermemometer which is dangling in the unit as well shows 200F.

I have the vent 1/4-1/2 way open.

Is this normal?