Im a little late to this thread but this is my experience with my new 18.5 with built in thermomter.
When I got the WSM and before I cooked on it I tested the thermometer by diping the probe into boiling water. It read right on the money.
I also use a Maverick et-7 probe through a potato on...
I tried the Duraflame natureal Bruqa once in my Chargiller with side box before I got the WSM. It was the only time I had ash choke out my fire. It produced more ash than regular K. I won't use it again.
Dan
I got a ET-7 for Christmas and have had no problems with it so far after several cooks.
It comes with two probes to attach to the transmitter unit. I also use it to monitor the meat with one probe and stick the other probe all the way through a 1" chunk of potatoe to monitor the cooker...
It could have happened durring re-assembly or it could have been the drippings from the chicken hitting the ashes causing the fly away.
Did you open the door at any time during the cook?
Did you check the weber thermometer to see if it is accurate? It is easy to do. Just unscrew the wingnut and hold the probe of the thermometer in boiling water. I did that with mine and it read right between 210* and 215*.
I think that it might be better to compare the temp at the grate and...
When I first opened the box last week and saw the water pan I thought "Wow that is a big difference from the pervious water pan. I just compared it to the old pan and the brinkman pan on the water pan page, and I think weber went overboard on it.
The new one is 14 1/2" diameter 7" deep holds 2...