Tom Barineau
TVWBB Super Fan
I have been sucessully using an 18" WSM with a DigQ II w/10 cfm Pit Viper for years. Recently got a 22.5" WSM and ordered an adapter for it. I noticed that the instructions for the adapter only mentioned taping the three holes adjacent to the adapter. Having always taped the other bottom vents on the 18", I taped the other vents on the 22.5" as well. Yesterday I put two butts (17 lbs. total) on the bottom grate and six slabs of BB ribs on the top grate. Installed an 18" clay saucer in the empty water bowl and foiled it. Began with a full ring of KBB, left a bowl shaped void in the center, and dumped about a half chimney of lit into the void. Set the DigiQ II at 250 with the temp probe on the top grate, and the lid vent fully open. Temp got to around 210 and hovered there for at least two hours. Getting frustrated, I lit about a half a chimney of lump and put in there after stirring the coals with a stick. Temp eased up to 250, then shortly fell back down to around 210. Threw some more unlit lump on top of the lit, and of course, then the temp shot way over 250 and stayed. Started with the Pit Viper damper full open and after the temp hovered at 210, different positions on it didn't seem to affect much. My guess is I "air starved" the WSM, yet my Kingsford seemed to burn up rather fast, so I'm at a loss. Bytheway, outside temp here was around 96, humidity very high, but my KBB was on a shelf and the bag clothe pinned shut. Any help would be appreciated. Must have done something wrong, but I'm not liking this 22.5" so much thus far!