Jim Rogers
New member
This is how I solved the thermometer probe poblem. I am new to TVWBB, so please accept my apologies if I am "reinventing the wheel".
Don Cash sent me info about the BBQ Guru grommets in response to a post I made on the new user forum. They looked good, but I wanted to have my WSM ready in a few days, so mail order would not work.
I looked again at TVWB site and read the "More Thermometer Installations" page more carefully. In particular, I looked at the "Middle Cooking Insert" and "Middle "Cooking Section Probe Thermometer Eyelet" entries.
I headed to Home Depot (without writing anything down) to look for some hardware that might work. On the plumbing aisle, I found brass inserts for compression fittings. I got a 1/4" OD insert, headed for the fastener aisle, and got a 1/4" E clip. I headed home, and discovered that the Maverick "smoker" probe is almost 1/4" OD.
Not yet ready to admit defeat, I went back to HD the next day and purchased 3/8" brass compression fitting inserts and 3/8" E clips. At home, I found that both Maverick probe bodies were small enough to fit in the 3/8" inserts, but the curve in the meat probe was a problem. I used a tube cutter to cut down one of the inserts to roughly 1/2" length, which allowed it to fit around the bend of the meat probe quite nicely.
Only one problem ramained. While both probe bodies fit nicely, the crimps at the top that hold in the wires cause the tops to be too wide. I used pliers to push down the two sides that stuck out too far, essentially partly "uncrimping" the probe. The probes then fit through the inserts very smoothly.
I decided to replace two of the bottom bolts that hold the bottom rack and water bowl holders with the inserts. My reasoning is that while the top bolts are in tension, the bracket should be pushing in toward the bottom bolt.
I put the inserts in from the outside, keeping the washers that come with the bolts. I then discovered that a 3/8" E clip is too big for a 3/8" OD insert. (???) Fortunately, I still had the 1/4" E clips from my first HD run. These fit perfectly!
I put the inserts in from the outside (they are flared on one end), using the washers from the Bolts. I then put the E clips on the inside to hold the inserts. They have worked great for my first smoke!
Here are a couple of photos. One is of the inside, showing the cut off insert and the E clip. The other is of the outside, showing the access door, top bolt, and brass insert at the bottom.
http://i884.photobucket.com/al...PhonePictures084.jpg
http://i884.photobucket.com/al...PhonePictures086.jpg
Don Cash sent me info about the BBQ Guru grommets in response to a post I made on the new user forum. They looked good, but I wanted to have my WSM ready in a few days, so mail order would not work.
I looked again at TVWB site and read the "More Thermometer Installations" page more carefully. In particular, I looked at the "Middle Cooking Insert" and "Middle "Cooking Section Probe Thermometer Eyelet" entries.
I headed to Home Depot (without writing anything down) to look for some hardware that might work. On the plumbing aisle, I found brass inserts for compression fittings. I got a 1/4" OD insert, headed for the fastener aisle, and got a 1/4" E clip. I headed home, and discovered that the Maverick "smoker" probe is almost 1/4" OD.
Not yet ready to admit defeat, I went back to HD the next day and purchased 3/8" brass compression fitting inserts and 3/8" E clips. At home, I found that both Maverick probe bodies were small enough to fit in the 3/8" inserts, but the curve in the meat probe was a problem. I used a tube cutter to cut down one of the inserts to roughly 1/2" length, which allowed it to fit around the bend of the meat probe quite nicely.
Only one problem ramained. While both probe bodies fit nicely, the crimps at the top that hold in the wires cause the tops to be too wide. I used pliers to push down the two sides that stuck out too far, essentially partly "uncrimping" the probe. The probes then fit through the inserts very smoothly.
I decided to replace two of the bottom bolts that hold the bottom rack and water bowl holders with the inserts. My reasoning is that while the top bolts are in tension, the bracket should be pushing in toward the bottom bolt.
I put the inserts in from the outside, keeping the washers that come with the bolts. I then discovered that a 3/8" E clip is too big for a 3/8" OD insert. (???) Fortunately, I still had the 1/4" E clips from my first HD run. These fit perfectly!
I put the inserts in from the outside (they are flared on one end), using the washers from the Bolts. I then put the E clips on the inside to hold the inserts. They have worked great for my first smoke!
Here are a couple of photos. One is of the inside, showing the cut off insert and the E clip. The other is of the outside, showing the access door, top bolt, and brass insert at the bottom.
http://i884.photobucket.com/al...PhonePictures084.jpg
http://i884.photobucket.com/al...PhonePictures086.jpg
