Tuning plate trouble

RussellB · 02-05-2017, 10:46 PM

Hello all. I'm new to this site and first let me say I'm a novice cooker and I just purchased a lone star grillz 24"x24"x36" vertical offset smoker. I've been trying to dial the cooker in and get an even temperature across the pit which I can't seem to accomplish. The pit comes standard with two tuning plates and I was told by the owner this style of pit is the easiest one to dial in with even temperatures. I have used my maverick et733 and two oven thermometers several times to try and adjust temperatures. I can't seem to get it within 30-40 degrees difference at the least. I'm also a little dumbfounded that my pit is hotter on the smoke stack side and not near the firebox. I've even pushed both tuning plates all the way over to the smoke stack side and temps are still hotter over there. Can anyone help me understand as to why temps would be hotter on the smoke stack side or how I can get this pit dialed in with even temperatures. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks all.

WHS88 · 02-05-2017, 11:29 PM

I would call Chris and let him talk you though it.

pjtexas1 · 02-05-2017, 11:36 PM

^^^this or change your title to LSG tuning plate trouble and ssv or another member with this same cooker will chime in.

blazinfire · 02-05-2017, 11:39 PM

I just made tuning plates for my vertical offset. I have 4 4" steel plates as my tuning plates. Sure they aren't pretty, I didn't make them to look pretty, but they do work. It might be different having 2 tuning plates, but so far using mine I can get within 10 degree difference left and right across the board, but in order to do that I've had to move the tuning plates a little bit at a time.

If I'm running hot furthest away from the firebox, I would start closing the gap on that side of the cook chamber making a bigger opening in the middle. start with small changes, as I've found small changes can make pretty big differences.

but like I said it could be completely different with 2 tuning plates, and it also may be different with "professional" made tuning plate set up and cooker as my cooker is completely home grown

Springram · 02-06-2017, 07:33 AM

Vertical chamber heat flow is very different than a horizontal. The distance from the firebox to the stack side is 24" as opposed to 36", 48".etc. The heat from the firebox has a very short distance to travel to the stack side. Thus, tuning the smoker is going be different than with a horizontal. Rather than butting up the first plate next to the downward baffle in your cooker, you need to direct heat up at the firebox end by placing the first plate 1 3/4" to 2" away from the baffle. The next plate can be placed with a 1 1/2" gap. You need to tune the smoker with no meat in it and do not even look at the side to side temps until after a couple of hours. If needed, you can then adjust the gaps and wait another 45 minutes or so before checking the side to side temps. Believe me, you will get there......... it takes time just like all cookers to get them tuned. Mine is will be completely even or perhaps up to 10* higher on the stack side depending how much and where I place the meat in the cooker.

Nuco59 · 02-06-2017, 06:41 PM

Tuning plates are flat? I think I'd try a piece of thin sheet (16g) and bend it like a louver directing heat back to the firebox side of the CC... works for ac /heat registers- might make some sense here too- might not. /gonna leave before the laughing starts

Springram · 02-06-2017, 08:52 PM

Why did I not think of that! However, since mine is tuned using those "flat" tuning plates, I think I will leave well enough alone.

I agree your idea works great for ac/heat registers.

RussellB · 02-11-2017, 09:17 PM

Thanks all for the responses. I called Chris and hopefully with his and all the advice on here I'll get it figured out.

02-05-2017, 10:46 PM	#1
RussellB Found some matches. Join Date: 02-05-17 Location: Forney,Tx	Tuning plate trouble Hello all. I'm new to this site and first let me say I'm a novice cooker and I just purchased a lone star grillz 24"x24"x36" vertical offset smoker. I've been trying to dial the cooker in and get an even temperature across the pit which I can't seem to accomplish. The pit comes standard with two tuning plates and I was told by the owner this style of pit is the easiest one to dial in with even temperatures. I have used my maverick et733 and two oven thermometers several times to try and adjust temperatures. I can't seem to get it within 30-40 degrees difference at the least. I'm also a little dumbfounded that my pit is hotter on the smoke stack side and not near the firebox. I've even pushed both tuning plates all the way over to the smoke stack side and temps are still hotter over there. Can anyone help me understand as to why temps would be hotter on the smoke stack side or how I can get this pit dialed in with even temperatures. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks all.

02-05-2017, 11:29 PM	#2
WHS88 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-19-16 Location: Fort Mill, SC	I would call Chris and let him talk you though it. __________________ Humphrey's Battle Box UDS (extra ugly)

02-05-2017, 11:36 PM	#3
pjtexas1 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 12-28-11 Location: Belton, Tx Name/Nickname : Texas Pete	^^^this or change your title to LSG tuning plate trouble and ssv or another member with this same cooker will chime in. __________________ Paul (aka Texas Pete) SF 24x36 Midnight Edition / Mak 1-Star /Abe's 48" Insulated Cabinet / 22.5 OTG / 28" BS / Jimmy with CB Roti and pizza kit / Red Box on custom cart / Char-Griller Kettle / Barrel House Cooker / Pit Boss Copperhead / Char-Griller Akorn Jr Sign Up for The 2022 Texas BBQ Brethren Fall Bash Here! ([URL="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/12NjP4bH3uLyH6-RJnI4gSfDr0nKQ6_4cxdw_GhmrKq0/edit#gid=1935530835"]Link[/URL])

02-05-2017, 11:39 PM	#4
blazinfire Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-28-15 Location: west virgina	I just made tuning plates for my vertical offset. I have 4 4" steel plates as my tuning plates. Sure they aren't pretty, I didn't make them to look pretty, but they do work. It might be different having 2 tuning plates, but so far using mine I can get within 10 degree difference left and right across the board, but in order to do that I've had to move the tuning plates a little bit at a time. If I'm running hot furthest away from the firebox, I would start closing the gap on that side of the cook chamber making a bigger opening in the middle. start with small changes, as I've found small changes can make pretty big differences. but like I said it could be completely different with 2 tuning plates, and it also may be different with "professional" made tuning plate set up and cooker as my cooker is completely home grown __________________ Custom 36x24x24 Vertical Offset,Grilla Grillz Silverbac

02-06-2017, 07:33 AM	#5
Springram is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-14-12 Location: Spring, Texas	Vertical chamber heat flow is very different than a horizontal. The distance from the firebox to the stack side is 24" as opposed to 36", 48".etc. The heat from the firebox has a very short distance to travel to the stack side. Thus, tuning the smoker is going be different than with a horizontal. Rather than butting up the first plate next to the downward baffle in your cooker, you need to direct heat up at the firebox end by placing the first plate 1 3/4" to 2" away from the baffle. The next plate can be placed with a 1 1/2" gap. You need to tune the smoker with no meat in it and do not even look at the side to side temps until after a couple of hours. If needed, you can then adjust the gaps and wait another 45 minutes or so before checking the side to side temps. Believe me, you will get there......... it takes time just like all cookers to get them tuned. Mine is will be completely even or perhaps up to 10* higher on the stack side depending how much and where I place the meat in the cooker. __________________ Certified Carcinogenic Meat Eater (CCME) LSG 24"X24"X36" vertical offset smoker LG and MiniMax BGE Weber 22.5 Master Touch Hunsaker drum Weber Smokey Joe Blackstone griddle PK Grill (original)

02-06-2017, 06:41 PM	#6
Nuco59 Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-18-13 Location: Texas	Tuning plates are flat? I think I'd try a piece of thin sheet (16g) and bend it like a louver directing heat back to the firebox side of the CC... works for ac /heat registers- might make some sense here too- might not. /gonna leave before the laughing starts __________________ I started out with nothing and I got most of it left.

02-06-2017, 08:52 PM	#7
Springram is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-14-12 Location: Spring, Texas	Why did I not think of that! However, since mine is tuned using those "flat" tuning plates, I think I will leave well enough alone. I agree your idea works great for ac/heat registers. __________________ Certified Carcinogenic Meat Eater (CCME) LSG 24"X24"X36" vertical offset smoker LG and MiniMax BGE Weber 22.5 Master Touch Hunsaker drum Weber Smokey Joe Blackstone griddle PK Grill (original)

02-11-2017, 09:17 PM	#8
RussellB Found some matches. Join Date: 02-05-17 Location: Forney,Tx	Thanks all for the responses. I called Chris and hopefully with his and all the advice on here I'll get it figured out.