WSM - Probe Thermometer Eyelet

[LeeBo]

Looking around at the virtual weber page I saw this neato little item for sale at BBQ Guru. Anybody tried it? How good are they?

http://secure.thebbqguru.com/ProductCart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=36&idproduct=136#details

"The WSM Eyelets were designed to specifically fit into the grill holder brackets on the Weber Smokey Mountain. These eyelets make it easy to run probes and/or wires into your cooker without having to go throught the access door or lid. This kit comes with 2 eyelets, flaring tool, Allen Key and installation instructions. (The eyelets fit through a 1/4" diameter hole.)"

 

[Ron_L]

I have one on my WSM and its great! I can get three Nutemp probes through it (you have to stick the probe part throught one at a time, of course). Very convenient. i used to stick the probes through the vent but that was a pain if you have to take off the cover.

 

[Kirk]

I have one in both my WSM's. Thay are nice to have and they don't have a big enough hole in them to affect airflow if you don't have anything stuck through there.

 

[LeeBo]

Any tips on placement? That is, the package comes with two eyelets. Should they be on the same strap vertically, or the same plane horizontally? Or just use one of them?

Perhaps it doesn't matter, but if it does, I bet somebody knows why.

 

[Kirk]

I only put one in each of my cookers. I think it's a little easier to manage if the probes go through at the top hole but that's JMHO. I put mine in one of the bolt holes opposite the door. I didn't want the wires to interfere when I had the door open to add water or stir the coals. Works for me but YMMV.

 

[The_Kapn]

Well, Shucks! Learn something new everyday.

I was gonna take some bolts and drill them thru for just that purpose (if I ever got around to it).
I bought 3 pairs. 1 pair for WSM to be mounted at grate levels.
2 pair for StudeDera to be mounted at various levels, one pair on each side of smoke box.
I just want to insert a probe tip only to sample temps at various spots during the cook.
These should work!

For you big offset owners who are crushing probe wires with your lid--these might be a reasonably priced alternative. :lol:

Thanks,

TIM

 

[Ron_L]

I just put one in mine and I put it in the top hole opposite the door like Kirk.

 

[FatDad]

Went to the hardware store and bought a 1/4-20 bolt and drilled
a hole in the center of it just a little oversize than the diameter of the probe.

 

[FatDad]

Sitting up late relaxing outside with the WSM doing it's thing.
I just located what I was looking for.

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/mounttherm.html#screwin
--AND--
http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/moretherm.html

 

[JohnMcD348]

So how exactly does the eylet stay in the hole. Looking at the picture on the Guru website, I don't see anything that secures the eyelet once you slip it through the screw hole. Is it simply a press fit item or is it not intended to be in there all the time as a permanent fixture? I've thought about getting them in the past but not seriously until now.

 

[Ron_L]

The eylet slips through the hole and you use a flaring tool that they give you to flare the backside of the eyelet (the part inside the cooker) so it flares out and holds it in place. All it takes is a hex key, which I believe they include as well.

 

[JohnMcD348]

OK Cool. I saw the flairing tool online and was thinking it was to open the hole to put the eyelet into. That's better. Thanks.

 

[The_Kapn]

Just mounted 2 on my WSM. Mounted just to the right of door and replaced both bolts. Cooked up some poultry.

I know my WSM pretty well, but it is cool to be able to push a probe in there and sample rack temps. Plus, the probe lead does not get all gunked up or pinched like it can when you go in and use a tater or something.
Should be handy with butts and briskets to keep the probe leads organized and out of the door.
Worth the few bucks they cost, IMHO.

If I can find a lathe, wanna do up some SS bolts. Just playing there. :lol:

TIM

 

[The_Kapn]

Finally got a chance to test these by cooking!
Wonderful.
Some general notes---

For a new owner, great way to learn the heat zones on your cooker!
For the experinced owner, great way to confirm what you "think you know" :lol:

Specifically, on the WSM, you can probe temps at both rack levels without opening the lid, using taters/onions/whatever. Just stick a probe into the hole and "there it is". No variables like lifting the lid to move probes around or running multiple probes into the vooker. One is plenty and automatically calibrated to itself for compariison. Accurate and real-time comparisons.

One "dealie" allowed me to put a probe for meat (wire into hole) plus one rack temp probe (I use Taylors).

Neat, and organized, and I LOVE THEM!

My major complaint? Each package at $7.95 (if I remember correctly) includes the allen wrench and the flaring tool. It would be nice if they sold one of the full kits and then just the hollow rivets (which is what they really are) as chaaper add on items.

I have two more pairs of the rivets. Gonna put two each on each side of the StudeDera so I can sample rack or area temps there as easily :lol:

If you have access to a small lathe, 1/4 " (or larger) SS bolts could be drilled out and wiork better.

Pretty cool little product!!

TIM

 

[JimT]

They're great! Get them. Install them. Use them. Just as others have said.

Two of the eyelets are all you'll get from the installation tool unless you use some lubricant. Stainless on stainless tends to "gall", and you'll end up breaking it before it tightens up.

I've tried the alternative of drilling out a bolt (plus other alternatives.) The problem I ran into was inserting a curved probe. The straight ones go in just fine, but the radius of the curved ones (like most food temp probes) is too tight to fit through anything that needs a nut or bolt head on both sides.

Go with the eyelets.