UDS in the cold

ipls3355 · 01-01-2010, 09:03 AM

I know we've been here before, but I'm having trouble keeping my UDS to temp. Its 7 degrees here. I'm thinking my problem is something other than the temperature, but either way, the pork but is getting wrapped and finished in the oven.

other possible problems
- thermo is shot. I've abused this thing, its not the best quality to begin with.
- moisture in charcoal. Half the basket was left over from the last cook. I sealed the cooker up afterward, but it sat in the rain for a couple hours while it cooled off.

Whatever the problem is, its putting a kink in my New Years Day plans.

Rich Parker · 01-01-2010, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ipls3355

I know we've been here before, but I'm having trouble keeping my UDS to temp. Its 7 degrees here. I'm thinking my problem is something other than the temperature, but either way, the pork but is getting wrapped and finished in the oven.

other possible problems
- thermo is shot. I've abused this thing, its not the best quality to begin with.
- moisture in charcoal. Half the basket was left over from the last cook. I sealed the cooker up afterward, but it sat in the rain for a couple hours while it cooled off.

Whatever the problem is, its putting a kink in my New Years Day plans.

I would guess the first two - bad thermo or moisture in charcoal. My charcoal basket is an 18" grate with a 6" expanded metal sides and I always fill it all the way up and just relight the unlit for the next cook and have never had any problems with it.

Skidder · 01-01-2010, 09:32 AM

Yup sounds like you answered your own question. I always bag my leftover coals if I decide to even reuse them.

big brother smoke · 01-01-2010, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skidder

Yup sounds like you answered your own question. I always bag my leftover coals if I decide to even reuse them.

You know they can catch again up to a week

Captain Dave · 01-01-2010, 09:39 AM

I had the same prob a week ago. The thermometer was showing a lot lower than grate temp due to cold outside temps.

Bbq Bubba · 01-01-2010, 12:14 PM

Its not the cold weather for sure.

Neil · 01-01-2010, 12:40 PM

My drum is chugging at 225* right now with ambient air temps of 18* and wind chill of 3*

I've got about a full chimney of left over unlit coals topped with a Sweet Cherry partially burned log and two splits of Hickory topped with 1/2 chimney of unllit K and a 1/2 chimney of lit K. The drum is partially out of the wind.

Rich Parker · 01-01-2010, 01:10 PM

I have some ribs on now and it is 28 degrees here.

Phubar · 01-01-2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bbq Bubba

Its not the cold weather for sure.

Hmmm....from my little experience that I have the cold weather does matter,I have to put twice as much in the chimney to get my temps up right in the winter.
For a low and slow cook I have to put more coals in the basket also.
Since I was aware of it was no problem getting the UDS up to temp.

Bbq Bubba · 01-01-2010, 02:33 PM

Must be the cook! :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phubar

Hmmm....from my little experience that I have the cold weather does matter,I have to put twice as much in the chimney to get my temps up right in the winter.
For a low and slow cook I have to put more coals in the basket also.
Since I was aware of it was no problem getting the UDS up to temp.

Skidder · 01-01-2010, 02:35 PM

Big brother I bag them (plastic bag) and then store them back in the UDS which is outside. No problems so far.

Phubar · 01-01-2010, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bbq Bubba

Must be the cook! :)

I said:"...from my little experience..."
Make it "...from my very little experience" then....sheesh!

ferntj · 01-01-2010, 04:24 PM

Might be the thermo then, I close the inlet when done smoking and let the lump choke off. Next time I add a lit chimney and off I go. I have been at it 7 hours today. When I started it was below zero now it is +2°F outside. The only time I have trouble is if there are high winds.

01-01-2010, 09:03 AM	#1
ipls3355 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-27-07 Location: Mattoon, IL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	UDS in the cold I know we've been here before, but I'm having trouble keeping my UDS to temp. Its 7 degrees here. I'm thinking my problem is something other than the temperature, but either way, the pork but is getting wrapped and finished in the oven. other possible problems - thermo is shot. I've abused this thing, its not the best quality to begin with. - moisture in charcoal. Half the basket was left over from the last cook. I sealed the cooker up afterward, but it sat in the rain for a couple hours while it cooled off. Whatever the problem is, its putting a kink in my New Years Day plans. __________________ Chris Crankin out Q on my ECB since 2005 UDS born September, 2007 22" Weber Kettle 18" Weber Kettle

01-01-2010, 09:39 AM	#5
Captain Dave is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-29-09 Location: Beechgrove, Tn. 37018 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I had the same prob a week ago. The thermometer was showing a lot lower than grate temp due to cold outside temps. __________________ Thanks for noticing

01-01-2010, 12:40 PM	#7
Neil Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-04-04 Location: St. Joseph, MI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	My drum is chugging at 225* right now with ambient air temps of 18* and wind chill of 3* I've got about a full chimney of left over unlit coals topped with a Sweet Cherry partially burned log and two splits of Hickory topped with 1/2 chimney of unllit K and a 1/2 chimney of lit K. The drum is partially out of the wind. __________________ "You can't always get what you want but if you try sometime you just might find you get what you need" Mange Bene Viva Bene! NB Bandera-Firebox & Baffle Mod, WSM, Weber: Performer(Col. Steve Austin Mod), WSM, Three 22 1/2" Kettles, 2 Brinkman Dual Zone Proffessional Grills, Smoky Joe, Uniflame Tabletop Gasser, Luhr-Jensen Big Chief, Turkey Fryer, Rocky Mountain Camp Stove & 3 UDS's.

01-01-2010, 01:10 PM	#8
Rich Parker Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-20-09 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have some ribs on now and it is 28 degrees here. __________________ WSM and UDS - iBQ'n BBQ Team owner TheBBQSuperstore.com

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01-01-2010, 09:32 AM	#3
Skidder Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-02-08 Location: Westfield,Ma. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yup sounds like you answered your own question. I always bag my leftover coals if I decide to even reuse them.

01-01-2010, 12:14 PM	#6
Bbq Bubba somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-03-07 Location: New Baltimore, Mi. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Its not the cold weather for sure.

01-01-2010, 02:35 PM	#11
Skidder Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-02-08 Location: Westfield,Ma. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Big brother I bag them (plastic bag) and then store them back in the UDS which is outside. No problems so far.

01-01-2010, 04:24 PM	#13
ferntj Found some matches. Join Date: 12-29-08 Location: Burnsville MN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Might be the thermo then, I close the inlet when done smoking and let the lump choke off. Next time I add a lit chimney and off I go. I have been at it 7 hours today. When I started it was below zero now it is +2°F outside. The only time I have trouble is if there are high winds.