Temp range fan on & off too wide, what to do?

[jjdbike]

Hey everyone,

I have heard that the range between when fan comes on & off is about 15 - 25 degrees. With mine the last two cooks it's been closer to 50 degrees, e.g. fan turns on at 200 and off at 250. That seems a bit extreme to me. I don't think it's doing my final product any favors. I clean the cook box, but leave the top unit w/ fans alone, as I'm nervous I'll mess it up.

Is 50 degree range normal? Is there something I can do to tighten up that gap? Do I need to clean the top unit with the fans? Is the thermostat done?

Please advise.

JD

[Donw]

I don’t have your smoker but I do know that good electric ovens generally have a 25-30 degree swing and gas oven even more normally. When you consider the convection currents coursing through a wood burning smoker, 50 degrees doesn’t seem out of wack.

[Sid P]

I think you’re over analyzing. You can cook a delicious brisket (as an example) at 200°, 225°, or even 300°, and as long as the air temp is rising and falling within that range, I doubt it makes any difference. If you’re unhappy with your results please tell us why, and I’m sure someone (probably lots of people) will have advice, but I doubt this is the cause.

Good luck!

[frigate]

Yes, Bill says about every 100 hour hours of cook time the top unit needs to be cleaned. I have a few more cooks before it will be my fifth cleaning.

I have been through everything from wire brush on a Dermal tool to Stainless Steel cleaners. They worked so-so. Then awhile back someone on this site talked about Zep Original Orange Hand Cleaner (see picture below). HOLY SHEEP DIP does this stuff work!


The fans can be removed using a 10mm wrench but be careful as the threads are reversed from we normally have i.e. to loosen the bolt turn it in the direction you would normally tighten the bolt. Look at the second picture. On the left side of the left fan blades are two holes. these you do not want to get any cleaner into. Also in the picture look at the spring under the left fan. be careful cleaning it.

Some people on the site use oven cleaner to clean the box. I have not tried it yet.

[Bruceski44]

There's a "spring" showing under the blades of the left fan in frigate 's photo above which is actually the temp sensor. Remove the fan blade and use an old toothbrush to clean the coils of the spring. Before my last cleaning, the temperature fluctuation got up to 60 degrees. It's correct that the average temperature is the most important thing, so fluctuations don't matter, but when the swings get really large, they may let your meat heat and cool down during cycles, depending on the thermal mass of the product.

[jjdbike]

Yes, Bill says about every 100 hour hours of cook time the top unit needs to be cleaned. I have a few more cooks before it will be my fifth cleaning.

I have been through everything from wire brush on a Dermal tool to Stainless Steel cleaners. They worked so-so. Then awhile back someone on this site talked about Zep Original Orange Hand Cleaner (see picture below). HOLY SHEEP DIP does this stuff work!


The fans can be removed using a 10mm wrench but be careful as the threads are reversed from we normally have i.e. to loosen the bolt turn it in the direction you would normally tighten the bolt. Look at the second picture. On the left side of the left fan blades are two holes. these you do not want to get any cleaner into. Also in the picture look at the spring under the left fan. be careful cleaning it.

Some people on the site use oven cleaner to clean the box. I have not tried it yet.

Thanks Frigate!

My spring and fans are covered with soot. See pic below.

I have a low stakes cook this weekend. Just trying some smoked bologna "burnt ends". I'll try to knock off as much soot as I can w/ a tooth brush and some vinegar.

After that cook, I'll do a full deep clean.
I'm headed for the hardware store latter today. I'll pick up some ZEP - Original Orange. I see that stuff at auto shops. Do you simply put some on a rag and wipe it off? Do you use a brush? I suppose using a brush it would be difficult from getting cleaner in those holes.

Respectfully,
JD

[frigate]

On a lot of areas I the blue sponges. The ones with the light grit on the back like are used on electric stone tops. In places I can't get at with the sponge I use paper towels. Have a bucket of water close by for when you need to clean out the sponge. As Spinaker said, "remove everything that can be removed" first.

As of now, Saturday we are getting the rain from Ian. It will a good time to clean the control box. I'll take pictures.

[Spinaker]

What you should really use is oven cleaner. You want the cleaner with caustic soda in it. That will eat the grime right off that baby. Then all you have to do is wipe it clean.

Spray it on, let it sit for at least an a couple of hours, then wipe clean. I get mine looking like new when I use HD oven cleaner. No scrubbing (or very little) and it buffs up like new. I usually remove everything that can be removed, put them in a stainless bowl and spray the hell out of those parts. Remove the fans, spring, nuts, and then spray the underside of the control box. (Do not let it sit with the cleaner sprayed on, upside down. You do not want it running into the box. Spray it and then flip it over.) Give that caustic time to work on the grime and then wipe clean. Do over it with the degreaser you bought for the final clean up. Then rinse with water after it sits a while and you have brand new parts! No scrubbing needed.

[jjdbike]

Thanks Spinaker.
yes I’ve used HD oven cleaner. Worked great. Wish that door opened sideways.
I didn’t know if I could use oven cleaner on the control box. I was afraid it might damage something.
JD

[Spinaker]

Anything stainless.

I use it to clean the entire smoker. Just keep the drippings out of the control box by keeping it upright after you spray it. I will spray the whole inside of the KBQ, let it sit, then hose it out to clean it up nice.

[frigate]

Life got in the way a couple of times this weekend but I got finished cleaning the control box this afternoon.



The fans are off and am ready to go.




Looks a lot better than it top picture.