WSM Thermo Problems

txschutte · 07-03-2011, 10:08 PM

I have the girl loaded with eight shoulders totaling about 56lbs right now. The Weber dome thermo on my new 22.5 reads about 195*. Checked with a Thermapen and a Weber digital, both read 257*. Are the Weber dome thermos worth a crap, or is the load affecting the reading? If the dome thermos are indeed crap, is there a Tel-Tru replacement?

Thanks in advance.

FatDaddy · 07-03-2011, 10:15 PM

http://www.thebbqguru.com/products/E...r-pack%29.html
Ive never trusted the thermo on the lid. It might be due to the load in the cooker, and position of the probe. I have the bbq-guru WSM eyelets on both of my WSMs. They replace the bolts holding the upper grate in place. they allow u to feed a remote thermo probe in w/o having have the lid cracked open or anything. Well worth the 10 bucks.

Callahan-que · 07-03-2011, 10:28 PM

The one on my WSM 18 1/2 seems to be OK. Maybe you should remove it and check it in a pot of boiling water.

txschutte · 07-03-2011, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J'ville Grill

The one on my WSM 18 1/2 seems to be OK. Maybe you should remove it and check it in a pot of boiling water.

I checked it out of the box. It read about 20* light. I didn't see any way to adjust.

txschutte · 07-03-2011, 10:33 PM

I think I'll call Weber customer service and see about a replacement if the problem continues. I have a 15lb brisket going on next. I really don't need to have brisket problems with a new smoker to get more "let Wyatt do it" fodder.

Harbormaster · 07-03-2011, 10:34 PM

I have yet to have an owner of the newer style WSMs tell me the thermo was on.

Seems to me the closest was 20 degrees. Yours looks to be off 60+ degrees.

Not sure if there is a direct replacement, but you could use a uni-bit to enlarge the existing hole and add one of the other Tel-Tru thermos.

Callahan-que · 07-03-2011, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txschutte

I checked it out of the box. It read about 20* light. I didn't see any way to adjust.

Well that's great. I never checked mine but have been comparing it to a digital that I put in the top vent. I've been thinking about testing the built in one and calibrating it. I guess I'll check it and If it's off more than my liking I'll give Weber a call.

txschutte · 07-03-2011, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J'ville Grill

Well that's great. I never checked mine but have been comparing it to a digital that I put in the top vent. I've been thinking about testing the built in one and calibrating it. I guess I'll check it and If it's off more than my liking I'll give Weber a call.

No way to calibrate it.

syndicate559 · 07-04-2011, 01:54 AM

So are the WSM thermos consistently reading lower than actual temp, or are they all over the place?

JMSetzler · 07-04-2011, 02:09 AM

I have a newer 18.5" WSM and my dome thermometer reads fairly close to my digital probe. It does not stay right on track with it but it usually is within 15 degrees high or low.

tmehlhorn · 07-04-2011, 02:15 AM

I never trust the dome thermos. just not always accurate. I use my et 73 to monitor meat and smoker temp, and you can pick up one of these for about 35 bucks on amazon.

ZouBBQ · 07-04-2011, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by txschutte

No way to calibrate it.

mark the point where water boils with some nail polish or permanent marker. that will give you 212, so you will have a pretty good idea of where 225 is. that's about the closest thing to calibration you'd be able to do

I think you can get a thermistor probe pretty cheap if you can figure out a way to mount it and hook it up to something. Then you would have an accurate digital readout all the time. (and you'd be able to save and analyze/graph your data for fun if you're a numbers nerd like me)

watertowerbbq · 07-04-2011, 09:10 AM

I removed my thermometer from the dome and replaced it with a much better thermometer with a threaded end and wingnut. Much better confidence and better results.

caseydog · 07-04-2011, 09:19 AM

Neither of my dome thermometers read accurately -- neither on the kettle nor the WSM.

My iQue probe is in roughly the same position as the dome thermometer in the WSM, and the thermometer is consistently 20-25 degrees different.

CD

jestridge · 07-04-2011, 09:35 AM

With a big load just maybe something is blocking the air flow to the probe , that happen sometime on my off set smokers

07-03-2011, 10:08 PM	#1
txschutte Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-02-07 Location: Cozad, Nebraska	WSM Thermo Problems I have the girl loaded with eight shoulders totaling about 56lbs right now. The Weber dome thermo on my new 22.5 reads about 195. Checked with a Thermapen and a Weber digital, both read 257. Are the Weber dome thermos worth a crap, or is the load affecting the reading? If the dome thermos are indeed crap, is there a Tel-Tru replacement? Thanks in advance. __________________ "Bring it on, you bananna thong wearing killer of brisket!"-Chambers If you really care about this place, you'll show some respect for it. Your beard is so stupid, it took two hours to watch 60 Minutes.

07-03-2011, 10:15 PM	#2
FatDaddy is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 04-04-06 Location: Wichita Falls, Tx	http://www.thebbqguru.com/products/E...r-pack%29.html Ive never trusted the thermo on the lid. It might be due to the load in the cooker, and position of the probe. I have the bbq-guru WSM eyelets on both of my WSMs. They replace the bolts holding the upper grate in place. they allow u to feed a remote thermo probe in w/o having have the lid cracked open or anything. Well worth the 10 bucks. __________________ HALF DIAMOND RANCH BBQ Home made 5' reverse flow smoker Lg BGE WSM 18.5 WSM 22.5 Weber Kettle 22 1/2" silver series Weber Copper Smokey Joe Gold 14.5" GPS trackable RED super fast thermopen http://www.facebook.com/jtempleton2 Last edited by FatDaddy; 07-03-2011 at 10:16 PM.. Reason: added link

07-03-2011, 10:28 PM	#3
Callahan-que Babbling Farker Join Date: 11-18-10 Location: Callahan Fl Name/Nickname : Rick	The one on my WSM 18 1/2 seems to be OK. Maybe you should remove it and check it in a pot of boiling water. __________________ Rick

07-03-2011, 10:33 PM	#5
txschutte Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-02-07 Location: Cozad, Nebraska	I think I'll call Weber customer service and see about a replacement if the problem continues. I have a 15lb brisket going on next. I really don't need to have brisket problems with a new smoker to get more "let Wyatt do it" fodder. __________________ "Bring it on, you bananna thong wearing killer of brisket!"-Chambers If you really care about this place, you'll show some respect for it. Your beard is so stupid, it took two hours to watch 60 Minutes.

07-03-2011, 10:34 PM	#6
Harbormaster somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-14-06 Location: Wyocena/Pardeeville, WI Name/Nickname : Clark	I have yet to have an owner of the newer style WSMs tell me the thermo was on. Seems to me the closest was 20 degrees. Yours looks to be off 60+ degrees. Not sure if there is a direct replacement, but you could use a uni-bit to enlarge the existing hole and add one of the other Tel-Tru thermos. __________________ Clark My Boys: Joseph (EI); Andrew (EE); Daniel (EE) My Toys: 10 WSMs (B, C, E, DH, DA, EZ, DZ, EO, DU, DR); 5 - 22.5" Bar-B-Q-Kettles; 2 - 18.5" Bar-B-Q-Kettle; 4 WGAs (EZ, DE, N, B); 2 SJPs ( DR, DR); 2 Smokey Joes (A, K); Brinkman Cimmaron. "For when democracy becomes tyranny, those of us with rifles still get to vote"

07-04-2011, 01:54 AM	#9
syndicate559 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-04-11 Location: Fresno, CA	So are the WSM thermos consistently reading lower than actual temp, or are they all over the place? __________________ Eddie G. - Smoke Bomb BBQ coming off a Lang 48 Hybrid Deluxe

07-04-2011, 02:09 AM	#10
JMSetzler Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-25-11 Location: Valdese, NC Name/Nickname : John	I have a newer 18.5" WSM and my dome thermometer reads fairly close to my digital probe. It does not stay right on track with it but it usually is within 15 degrees high or low. __________________ [URL="http://facebook.com/mancavemeals"]http://facebook.com/mancavemeals[/URL]

07-04-2011, 02:15 AM	#11
tmehlhorn Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-20-11 Location: pratt, KS	I never trust the dome thermos. just not always accurate. I use my et 73 to monitor meat and smoker temp, and you can pick up one of these for about 35 bucks on amazon. __________________ Weber performer, Smokey joe, Weber go anywhere. Mini-wsm, WSM-Soon

07-04-2011, 09:10 AM	#13
watertowerbbq is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-07-07 Location: Ankeny, IA	I removed my thermometer from the dome and replaced it with a much better thermometer with a threaded end and wingnut. Much better confidence and better results. __________________ Matt Head Cook Water Tower BBQ Current: 2017 Yoder YS640 (2021), BWS Extended Party (2012), 14" WSM (2019, used, I have a problem) Previous: BWS Competitor (sold 2012), WSM - 18.5" (2009, sold 2011), WSM - 18.5" (2004, sold 2010) Superfast Orange Thermopen, Yellow MK4, Fireboard, Railroad Detective

07-04-2011, 09:19 AM	#14
caseydog somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-08-10 Location: Texas	Neither of my dome thermometers read accurately -- neither on the kettle nor the WSM. My iQue probe is in roughly the same position as the dome thermometer in the WSM, and the thermometer is consistently 20-25 degrees different. CD

07-04-2011, 09:35 AM	#15
jestridge somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 12-28-07 Location: annville ky	With a big load just maybe something is blocking the air flow to the probe , that happen sometime on my off set smokers

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