UDS - couldn't get it up.

Petee_c · 06-04-2018, 08:00 AM

I was trying to do 2 hot and fast butts this weekend, but and I couldn't get it up.

Seems like my UDS needs a little blue pill (lol)

Sent the temperature alarms on my thermometer to go between a low of 270 and a high of 325F, and throughout my cool, although my temps were stable between 270 and 280 for the 1st 3 hours of the cook, I couldn't get them higher even with all vents open.

I have some old charcoal and brickets in the bottom of my basket. I'm wondering if moisture from storing all winter outside, (uncovered) has caused the ash to cake on some of the bottom charcoal,forming an unburnable lump of charcoal and ash.

I did tap the uds gently, by picking up one side about 2"and then dropping it repeatedly to try to knock some of the ash out.

I was aiming for 300F yesterday, but just couldn't get there. Only a light breeze, so windchill wasn't a factor.

I rigged up a battery powered fan need the end of the cook to try to keep the temps above 250F...worked fairly well. Going to improve on the idea for the next time I need to boost temps.

Probably going to have to brush off any ash by hand and remove any suspect charcoal at the bottom of my basket before the next cook

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tenpenny_05 · 06-04-2018, 09:22 AM

It may sound painfully obvious.... but did you try starting with more lit charcoal? It took me longer than I'm willing to admit to realize that for higher temps, start with more lit charcoal, and for longer times add more unlit charcoal.
I use to think that one chimney unlit and one chimney lit is the starting point of all cooks and that you control temp and time with airflow. This is only partially correct.

el luchador · 06-04-2018, 09:41 AM

you need fuel and air.

if you are not getting the temp you want, one of those is shy.

how much intake do you have available to the uds?

with two 1 1/4" pipes Im able to hit about 380 degrees unrestriced

Big Money Grip · 06-04-2018, 09:52 AM

Open the exhaust up. I sometimes crack the lid open to get more flow. If the exhaust can't get out, no matter how much air-fuel you put it won't make it any hotter.

DRMSMKER · 06-04-2018, 09:52 AM

This is only a temp fix b/c I think you probably need to address the issue with more starting coals or better intake system but if you really wanted to get your temps up, you could have just left your lid off for 5 mins and then you're temp should jump past 300, assuming you hadn't already run out of fuel by then.

Petee_c · 06-04-2018, 10:19 AM

All good thoughts.

Admittedly, I'm out of practice with the UDS. I've been using the Weber kettle almost exclusively for the past year.

I started the fire with about a 1/3rd full Weber Chimney, but that only brought the temperature to about 250F, It ran like that for about 30 minutes, and wasn't getting any higher despite all vents open. I added about another 1/3rd full lit Chimney at the hour mark, and had the UDS cruise along at 275ish F.

I remember having problems always overshooting low temps when lighting a UDS...

It sure was pretty though with the new paint job... Note to self, Rustoleum Semi Gloss Black rust paint tends to smell a bit the 1st time the smoker is used after a paint. Pulled pork flavour wasn't affected,

Nuco59 · 06-04-2018, 12:59 PM

Starting with more coals will get it higher faster.

but with enough intake (and exhaust) even 10 coal can set the entire basket alight...eventually- if that's what you'd like.

I reuse old charcoal from cook to cook. But not if I suspect it of being damp or it being months old.

aawa · 06-04-2018, 01:11 PM

Your intakes are your issue. The elbow on the vertical intake are a bottle neck and reduce the airflow of the intake.

You can add in 1-2 other intakes that don't have an elbow and that will solve your issue.

Fishhook · 06-04-2018, 02:22 PM

I also think the riser on your intake is an issue. I put a riser almost exactly the same on my UDS. I had a tough time getting it above 250. I think the riser heats up and reverses or slows the intake. I removed my riser, and I now have no trouble going to 300-325. This with one 1" hole (the one that formally had the riser) and One 3/4" for intakes

Petee_c · 06-04-2018, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aawa

Your intakes are your issue. The elbow on the vertical intake are a bottle neck and reduce the airflow of the intake.

You can add in 1-2 other intakes that don't have an elbow and that will solve your issue.

I have 3 intakes.. the other 2 are just short nipples... you can see the black caps sitting on the ground in the one photo.

I'm thinking my basket is clogged with ash. I will investigate before my next UDS cook.

Peter

aawa · 06-04-2018, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petee_c

I have 3 intakes.. the other 2 are just short nipples... you can see the black caps sitting on the ground in the one photo.

I'm thinking my basket is clogged with ash. I will investigate before my next UDS cook.

Peter

How big are the openings?

Doog · 06-04-2018, 04:59 PM

Would also try some fresh charcoal.

Forrestbro · 06-04-2018, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doog

Would also try some fresh charcoal.

I agree. Try it again with fresh charcoal. Your suspicions about the old, caked charcoal are probably correct.

Petee_c · 06-04-2018, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aawa

How big are the openings?

1" diameter

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jham0077 · 06-04-2018, 07:57 PM

As a member here once advised me, use your old coals to start the fire with and use all fresh in your basket. That way you know what you're cooking with for sure.

06-04-2018, 08:00 AM	#1
Petee_c On the road to being a farker Join Date: 10-12-14 Location: Heidelberg, ON	UDS - couldn't get it up. I was trying to do 2 hot and fast butts this weekend, but and I couldn't get it up. Seems like my UDS needs a little blue pill (lol) Sent the temperature alarms on my thermometer to go between a low of 270 and a high of 325F, and throughout my cool, although my temps were stable between 270 and 280 for the 1st 3 hours of the cook, I couldn't get them higher even with all vents open. I have some old charcoal and brickets in the bottom of my basket. I'm wondering if moisture from storing all winter outside, (uncovered) has caused the ash to cake on some of the bottom charcoal,forming an unburnable lump of charcoal and ash. I did tap the uds gently, by picking up one side about 2"and then dropping it repeatedly to try to knock some of the ash out. I was aiming for 300F yesterday, but just couldn't get there. Only a light breeze, so windchill wasn't a factor. I rigged up a battery powered fan need the end of the cook to try to keep the temps above 250F...worked fairly well. Going to improve on the idea for the next time I need to boost temps. Probably going to have to brush off any ash by hand and remove any suspect charcoal at the bottom of my basket before the next cook Sent from my LG-D852 using Tapatalk

06-04-2018, 09:22 AM	#2
tenpenny_05 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-08-16 Location: Oceanside, CA	It may sound painfully obvious.... but did you try starting with more lit charcoal? It took me longer than I'm willing to admit to realize that for higher temps, start with more lit charcoal, and for longer times add more unlit charcoal. I use to think that one chimney unlit and one chimney lit is the starting point of all cooks and that you control temp and time with airflow. This is only partially correct. __________________ Black Kamado Joe Classic, Traeger Timberline 850, Jumbo Joe, KSU mini WSM, Weber Q100

06-04-2018, 09:41 AM	#3
el luchador is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-01-17 Location: North Texas Name/Nickname : EL Luchador	you need fuel and air. if you are not getting the temp you want, one of those is shy. how much intake do you have available to the uds? with two 1 1/4" pipes Im able to hit about 380 degrees unrestriced __________________ 3 of the top 5 teams in KCBS TOTY, AND the no1 team in Pork were cooking on UDS. AMEN!

06-04-2018, 12:59 PM	#7
Nuco59 Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-18-13 Location: Texas	Starting with more coals will get it higher faster. but with enough intake (and exhaust) even 10 coal can set the entire basket alight...eventually- if that's what you'd like. I reuse old charcoal from cook to cook. But not if I suspect it of being damp or it being months old. __________________ I started out with nothing and I got most of it left.

06-04-2018, 01:11 PM	#8
aawa Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-03-12 Location: Virginia Beach, VA	Your intakes are your issue. The elbow on the vertical intake are a bottle neck and reduce the airflow of the intake. You can add in 1-2 other intakes that don't have an elbow and that will solve your issue. __________________ ~Ren~ Fat Kids Club Founding Member

06-04-2018, 09:52 AM	#4
Big Money Grip Got Wood. Join Date: 05-28-08 Location: Oxford, MS	Open the exhaust up. I sometimes crack the lid open to get more flow. If the exhaust can't get out, no matter how much air-fuel you put it won't make it any hotter.

06-04-2018, 09:52 AM	#5
DRMSMKER Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-15-17 Location: LILBURN	This is only a temp fix b/c I think you probably need to address the issue with more starting coals or better intake system but if you really wanted to get your temps up, you could have just left your lid off for 5 mins and then you're temp should jump past 300, assuming you hadn't already run out of fuel by then.

06-04-2018, 10:19 AM	#6
Petee_c On the road to being a farker Join Date: 10-12-14 Location: Heidelberg, ON	All good thoughts. Admittedly, I'm out of practice with the UDS. I've been using the Weber kettle almost exclusively for the past year. I started the fire with about a 1/3rd full Weber Chimney, but that only brought the temperature to about 250F, It ran like that for about 30 minutes, and wasn't getting any higher despite all vents open. I added about another 1/3rd full lit Chimney at the hour mark, and had the UDS cruise along at 275ish F. I remember having problems always overshooting low temps when lighting a UDS... It sure was pretty though with the new paint job... Note to self, Rustoleum Semi Gloss Black rust paint tends to smell a bit the 1st time the smoker is used after a paint. Pulled pork flavour wasn't affected,

06-04-2018, 02:22 PM	#9
Fishhook Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-02-09 Location: Maryland Eastern shore	I also think the riser on your intake is an issue. I put a riser almost exactly the same on my UDS. I had a tough time getting it above 250. I think the riser heats up and reverses or slows the intake. I removed my riser, and I now have no trouble going to 300-325. This with one 1" hole (the one that formally had the riser) and One 3/4" for intakes __________________ 500 gal. Carnivorous Spirit tank smoker, 22.5" weber, UDS, 1 gas weeny warmer

06-04-2018, 04:59 PM	#12
Doog is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-08-14 Location: Pa.	Would also try some fresh charcoal. __________________ Every cook is a learning experience....Big offset, Kamado, Blackstone

06-04-2018, 07:57 PM	#15
jham0077 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 11-12-13 Location: Sunny, warm, no snow, Florid panhandle Name/Nickname : jham0077	As a member here once advised me, use your old coals to start the fire with and use all fresh in your basket. That way you know what you're cooking with for sure. __________________ Keep throwin' money at it, it'll get better. Weber One-Touch Platinum(Copper) Campchef 36" Flattop RecTeq 590 - Woodhouse XL Big Green Egg(lite basket case, bringing it back)