Tough Day at the Smoker

GusRobin · July 09, 2011, 01:04:50 PM

So today I thought I would make the last of the spare ribs I got from the local farmer before he stopped selling them. So I went to the store to pick up some corn on the cob and bought some beef ribs that happened to be on sale.
Took the pork ribs and removed the membrane, slathered with some homemade sopping sauce. Added some "Juicy Pig" rub and some chile powder to the spareribs; gunpowder, cayenne, and chile powder to the beef.
Ready to go in:

Then things started to go wrong. Went to turn on the PID and ...nothing. Checked all the wires, plugs and fuses, changed cords, outlets, ....no dice.
But not to fear, when I installed the 2nd element I took Habs suggestion and added the on-off switch. So I can still use the second element manually to heat things to temp and then switch it off. Started out good. But when I turned off the 2nd element the temp started to drop. Not sure if my original element has gone bad. Or maybe it was dropping to a normal temp swing? So I am sitting watching a movie, drinking a beer and going out every 10 -15 minutes to turn the element off and on. After the 3 hours of smoke I may just put them in the oven.

Habanero Smoker · July 09, 2011, 01:19:44 PM

That is a tough day.

It does seem like the original element is not working. Did you notice if the preheat and recovery times were slower then the dual element setup? Now that the smoker is empty you can check the original element to see if it is glowing; just shutoff the second element. Also check the temperature light to see if that is working.

Also you keep your vent wide open, with only one element working I would try adjusting the vent setting to 1/4 to 1/2 to see if that improves the heat.

Gizmo · July 09, 2011, 04:20:07 PM

Quote from: GusRobin on July 09, 2011, 01:04:50 PM
After the 3 hours of smoke I may just put them in the oven.

That would be my next move.

ghost9mm · July 09, 2011, 04:26:07 PM

Gus don't leave us in the dark to long on how things turned out , but I should know an old experienced smoker like yourself will make something happen for the better... :D

GusRobin · July 09, 2011, 04:39:57 PM

stili in the oven

Smokin Soon · July 09, 2011, 04:44:52 PM

That's why we need a whole deck full of ~~toys~~ tools to work with. Gotta be prepared for anything!

GusRobin · July 09, 2011, 07:13:52 PM

Habs- the power light on the front of the cabinet is out so I may have a problem with the circuit board on the front and not the element.

Anyway, after the 3 hours of smoke and getting up every 10 minutes to turn the 2nd element off and on, I spritzed them, foiled them and put in the oven at 235 for 1 1/2 hours. Then back in the Bradley and getting up every 10 minutes ( should have taped it and could of sold it as the Gus Robin smokin' workout video).
Here are the spare ribs after the smoke

Here are the beef ribs

The money shot - beef and spareribs, corn, potato salad, and baked beans

Took a lot of work but all turned out great. Good thing I had a enough adult beverages to carry me through. Tomorrow I go fix things.

Habanero Smoker · July 10, 2011, 01:34:35 AM

Everything looks like it came out alright.

Since you are having a problem with the PID, besides the circuit board I would also check to see if the fuse may have blown or the high temperature switch tripped.

TedEbear · July 10, 2011, 06:52:41 AM

Quote from: GusRobin on July 09, 2011, 01:04:50 PMChecked all the wires, plugs and fuses, changed cords, outlets, ....no dice.

Did you check both the fuse in the SG and the inline fuse in tower that you have to remove the 100 screws (it seems like there's that many sometimes) in the back panel to get to?

GusRobin · July 10, 2011, 07:09:20 AM

the SG is working so I don't think the fuse is blown. I'll have to check the others.