Keeping kosher, I've only done spares, and I've had lots of great results. Here's what I do - maybe it will help.
1. Rub the ribs. I usually do small batches around 2-3 lbs because it's only me and my wife. I don't rub heavily as I always sauce later on.
2. Set up the top half of the WSM. Ie: Put the empty foiled pan in place, put on the cooking grate, spray it with PAM, put the food on the grate, raplace the cover.
3. Open up all the vents. Pour a full chimney of lit on top of half a ring of unlit. Don't skimp on fuel - whatever doesn't get used this cook can be used in future cooks. Immediatly after adding the lit I drop the top half of the WSM into place.
4. At this point I let it go two hours without touching it. Temps will range between 275-325 but it doesn't make too much of a difference. If your temps get too too high then you'de want to close the bottom vents a good bit, but don't fret too much about the temperature.
5. After two hours I put the ribs in a foil pouch and add ALOT of homemade bbq sauce (forget your brush - just pour the stuff on). If your temps have been generally below 300 let them cook another 3 hours. If your temps have been above 300 then only let them go another two hours. (If they've been exactly 300 then go 2 1/2 hours - you get the picture.) Since they're foiled and in alot of sauce, you don't have to worry so much about them drying out.
6. Take the foiled pouch off the cooker. Close all the vents to save coal. Let the ribs sit a few minutes. Enjoy!
Hope this helps some of you guys who are having problems with spares.
