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Egg not heating.
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Bwill
Posts: 102
My L BGE has not been heating up as it should. The first time I assumed it was because I needed to clean it out. So I cleaned it out and used it again and same issue. Even with the vents wide open it would not get above 350. I am now thinking I may have starters and/or charcoal that is damp. The thing is I store it in my shed which where I have stored it for the past 18 months with no issues. Still, something has to be holding my egg back. Suggestions or thoughts?
Comments
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is the opening at the base of your firebox lined up with the bottom vent? Sounds like it is not - that makes a BIG difference!Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
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Lose the starters
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Another. Culprit can be too much shake / dust in the fire box. If you get a poorly handled bag, the dust can choke the air flow dramatically. The egg is very simple air in bottom, air out top, with the fire in between. Check the alignment and then your fuel / airflow. There is nothing more to it.
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Little Steven said:Lose the starters
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Bwill said:Little Steven said:Lose the starters
http://www.amazon.com/Bernzomatic-19425-Self-Igniting-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00008ZA0F
A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS -
Fuel, a fire source and air-that's it. If you have good air flow and good (?) fuel then once you get it lit-you should be good to go. Is your dome thermo calibrated?
If the air flow is good and you can get one or more starter cubes going then it has to be your lump-at least based on what's presented. If you have been cooking with lump for at least 18 months and nothing else has changed then that points more toward the lump. You will get it sorted out.Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood. # 38 for the win. Life is too short for light/lite beer! Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. -
Map torch. The whole thing is air flow, fuel and ignition. Accurate thermo too. If your airflow is blocked you won't get heat. Try using less lump till you get the hang of it. I use a map torch but the oiled paper towels will work also. When I light I usually leave the dome open for a while. This lets the fire establish without heating the ceramic too much. When using any torch wear safety glasses
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Is it easy to light? I looked at something similar that used a 20 lb. tank and decided it was just too much.
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Yes. A hand held torch and small cylinder will last a year or more
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The ignition source is definitely not the issue. There are many ways to light the lump and they all work fine. That is another issue and it is strictly an issue of convenience and personal preference based upon your comfort level with certain ignition sources and the time constraints among other variables. Once the lump is ignited we are on to this issue.
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If you cant get abve 350 its not how you started the fire. Either your lump isn't dry or your airflows too restricted. Starting the fire with a flame thrower wont make a difference.Jacksonville FL
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Get a torch
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pgprescott said:The ignition source is definitely not the issue. There are many ways to light the lump and they all work fine. That is another issue and it is strictly an issue of convenience and personal preference based upon your comfort level with certain ignition sources and the time constraints among other variables. Once the lump is ignited we are on to this issue.
I find the starters don't work with the dome closed -
It's either lump or air flow. I'd lean towards air flow. +1 on ignition should not even enter the conversation except as a matter of preference.
"Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community [...] but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It's the invasion of the idiots."
-Umberto Eco
2 Large
Peachtree Corners, GA -
Little Steven said:pgprescott said:The ignition source is definitely not the issue. There are many ways to light the lump and they all work fine. That is another issue and it is strictly an issue of convenience and personal preference based upon your comfort level with certain ignition sources and the time constraints among other variables. Once the lump is ignited we are on to this issue.
I find the starters don't work with the dome closed -
take the daisy off completely. my daisy, wide open, will usually hold the egg to 400 or so, unless i have new lump (when it seems to take off regardless)
[social media disclaimer: irony and sarcasm may be used in some or all of user's posts; emoticon usage is intended to indicate moderately jocular social interaction; the comments toward users, their usernames, and the real people (living or dead) that they refer to are not intended to be adversarial in nature; those replying to this user are entering into a tacit agreement that they are real-life or social-media acquaintances and/or have agreed to or tacitly agreed to perpetrate occasional good-natured ribbing between and among themselves and others] -
Little Steven said:Lose the starters ... I find the starters don't work with the dome closed
Changing how he lights the fire won't help @Bwill with his problem.
@Bwill, you said you cleaned it out, but you didn't say whether you removed the fire box or not. There was a time when I couldn't get a really hot fire, either, and it turned out that a whole lot of ash had built up between the fire box and the wall of the Egg itself, cutting down on the air flow. If you haven't tried that, yet, take out the fire box and fire ring and get rid of any ash there. Then put them back, carefully aligning the main opening in the fire box with the opening of the vent, and then putting back the fire ring as well. That may make a difference.
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what steven is saying is that the startes have a way of snuffing out if they do not get a lot of airflow. if you are using starters, and there is white smoke, then they have snuffed out and are merely glowing, and that will take a very long time to hit temperature
starters need to be fully on fire, and burned away, before you should shut the dome. that means for a low and slow cook you usually only want one starter, and often broken up into smaller pieces. that will allow you to let them flame out completely, but the fir won't be too large because of the fewer starters used
for a higher heat cook, just leave the dome open so the starters can rage a bit more. they burn pretty clear, so if they aren't, if there's a lot of white smoke, they went out
[social media disclaimer: irony and sarcasm may be used in some or all of user's posts; emoticon usage is intended to indicate moderately jocular social interaction; the comments toward users, their usernames, and the real people (living or dead) that they refer to are not intended to be adversarial in nature; those replying to this user are entering into a tacit agreement that they are real-life or social-media acquaintances and/or have agreed to or tacitly agreed to perpetrate occasional good-natured ribbing between and among themselves and others] -
Darby_Crenshaw said:what steven is saying is that the startes have a way of snuffing out if they do not get a lot of airflow. if you are using starters, and there is white smoke, then they have snuffed out and are merely glowing, and that will take a very long time to hit temperature
starters need to be fully on fire, and burned away, before you should shut the dome. that means for a low and slow cook you usually only want one starter, and often broken up into smaller pieces. that will allow you to let them flame out completely, but the fir won't be too large because of the fewer starters used
for a higher heat cook, just leave the dome open so the starters can rage a bit more. they burn pretty clear, so if they aren't, if there's a lot of white smoke, they went out -
Is this a conversation with yourself?
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You're picking on me today man. I apologise profusely
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Little Steven said:You're picking on me today man. I apologise profusely
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Sometimes it's good to have an outlet for the voices in your head.
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I don't see lighting it as an issue, either.
BUT, I DO use the Weber Chimney to great effect. And nothing wrong with those wax starters. I use ONE in the bottom, pile on the charcoal and light from the bottom. In a very short time, it's a blazin' -
pgprescott said:Little Steven said:You're picking on me today man. I apologise profusely
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Little Steven said:
Re-gasketing America one yard at a time. -
I was a nice guy once Ron. Then I got on these forums.
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I don't agree in losing the starters. I use one Weber Starter Cub in the center of the lump (one of the BGE Chefs uses this method as well). I is inexpensive and works very well.
Large Big Green Egg
Weber Gold
Old Smokey
San Diego, Ca -
Steve753 said:I don't agree in losing the starters. I use one Weber Starter Cub in the center of the lump (one of the BGE Chefs uses this method as well). I is inexpensive and works very well.
Damn, I'm not very popular tonight. I thought I knew something but I will sit in the corner and be very quiet now.Steve
Caledon, ON
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Little Steven said:Steve753 said:I don't agree in losing the starters. I use one Weber Starter Cub in the center of the lump (one of the BGE Chefs uses this method as well). I is inexpensive and works very well.
Damn, I'm not very popular tonight. I thought I knew something but I will sit in the corner and be very quiet now.
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