HELP: WSM Setup - Water pan directly on coals?!


 
JeffB

JeffB

TVWBB Pro
I just set up my 22 and am using both levels to cook chicken. But that means that my water bowl is sitting directly ON the coals. Is that correct? Will that affect how my WSM operates? Am I doing it wrong?

A LOT of chicken just went on about 20 minutes ago. Thanks.
 
No. There's plenty of space between the charcoal and the pan. The pan's rim should be resting on it's supports, which are each part of the same bracket that also supports the bottom grate an inch or so higher.
 
Then I have it set up wrong because I've never had any space between the water pan and the coals. It's sitting directly on the coals as we speak. I wonder if I should adjust it?

I don't see any water pan supports. Are those the same supports that the middle grate rest on?

Dammit.
 
Jeff the four supports screwed in on the side of the WSM have three flats. The lower one if for the water pan. The one directly above it is for the lower grill. The one much farther up is for the upper grill. Check out the first video on the forum. It gives you a brief tour of the WSM. Your bracket is towards the end of the video.

Good Luck!
 
Hello, my name is Jeff and...I'm clearly a newbie. I just DUMPED 3+ lbs. of chicken in my newly fertilized grass trying to fix my water pan issue.
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No joke. On the grass and from there, directly into the trash.

Food was for neighbors with a new baby--I guess I'm not helping them out tonight.
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All I have to say is ****.
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it's ok Jeff......you will clearly laugh at this in the future so enjoy the moment. The water pan should hang about 1 inch below your lower grate....also look for set up on guidance on this site. Let us know how it goes.

James
 
Hey, Jeff. Welcome to the board. Years ago I was replacing water in my pan right in the middle of a smoke, I zigged when I should have zagged, and it all dumped on the coals. Ran to this board, and everyone's first advice was - have a beer.

Why'd you dump the chicken?
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Michael G. (Canada Mike):
Why'd you dump the chicken? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm going to guess there wasn't enough time left for 3 second Rule coverage?

Sorry it happen, Jeff. I was fortunate enough to finally realize where the water bowl hung during an assembly dry run before firing my 18" up for the first time. It's not that obvious to a newbie, so don't beat yourself up.
 
Jeff, if you use the water pan foiled then you never have to worry about changing or filling it during cooks. I never pile up my charcoal so high that the pan can't sit on the flat flaps. You'll get better at this . Don't be discouraged. We've all done something like what happened to you. I remember one time I was fiddling with my top grate and it tipped dumping all my chicken in the water pan which was full of water.
 
Also, plan ahead when using the bottom rack. I almost lost a rack of meat attempting to lift the bottom rack with tongs because the butts were falling apart when I tried lifting them individually.
 
I was able to salvage all my wings which turned out really good. When I removed the middle section to raise the water bowl onto the hooks (I see them now!
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) I had to remove the lower grate to get to the bowl. When I tried to lift it, the chicken fat was slippery and I lost control of 1/2 of the grate and it slipped from my fingers causing the she-cone to drop to the grass. I used a few words in front of my 7 year old that were new to her vocabulary but all's good. Next time I'll know better.
 
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