How did you light the coals, minion or fuse. On my first run, I essentially did what you did and overshot temps to 275F. The only difference is I filled the water pan with 7 gallons of boiling water and I used the minion method to light the coals.
I am going to try the same thing, but close the vents when I am 100F away from my target and let the guru raise the temps slowly.
I use the same method I use in my Backwoods, which is the same thing that Chris suggested. Leave a void in one corner (I use the left front corner) and pour the lighted coals in that corner. I think you could call it a variation of the Minion method.
I tried closing the second vent at 190 degrees, but the temp rise really slowed down. The temp came up much faster with both vents open and I did not have a problem with overshoot. I think I will keep doing it that way.
In my Backwoods I close the first vent completely at 175 and close the second vent down to 1/4 inch open at 200 degrees - then fine tune from there.
What are you feeding your LSGVS this weekend?
You got a nice spread there...
I will be doing the following:
2x18lb Prime briskets :biggrin1:,
1xrack of st Louis rib,
3 racks baby back ribs,
10 Earl Campbells hot links (yes that's cheating, but they are soooo gooood),
bacon wrapped jalapenos,
and gonna try moinks as well
Yes. I guess having water at ambient temp vs pipe temp is better. What's your fuel consumption fully loaded.
Are any of you running this without a guru just wondering how good it runs without one.
I'm either going to get a guru or upgrade my stoker.
Do yall use the GURU as soon as you put in your lit coals or wait till it reaches certain temp to start up the GURU?
Also do you put the GURU in the front on the end that the starter coals or on?
Yes, I setup the Guru as soon as the coals are lit. It really makes no difference where you place it.
I normally leave all vents wide open with the Guru running. It will run at full blast. As soon as I am 100F away from target temps, I close the second ball valve down, and then shut my smoke stack down half way, and let the Guru stoke the fire to the target temps. The last smoke went flawlessly and never overshot temps. I can hit my target temp of 225F within 45 minutes to an hour of lighting my coals.