Overnight fire issue

gamera06

Hi guys,

I tried to cook a pork butt the last 2 Nights and the fire got down before I woke up in the morning...

First night I started the fire with both vent open and the egg reached 600°F before I could do something, so the whole ring was on fire before I put the butt. I closed the vents and stabilized the egg at 250°F with the butt inside. Anyhow it choked during the night.

Last night, same operation, but I started from fresh lumps, following naked whiz method, and build a small fire (300°F) put the butt in, and stabilized at 230°F for 3 hours before I went to bed... And this morning the egg was cold.

I removed everything and found out that all the fire grate holes were filled with ashes. Do you think it comes from my Lump ?

I hope I could achieve a long cook without temp regulators...

BBQMaven

gamera06

I'll take a stab based on the limited info above. If the fire grate is stopped up as you indicate, the fire will certainly die. When I plan a long low/slow cook, I remove lower grate and clean all ash out. I fill the Egg with new lump till it is at least half way up the fire ring or higher. Light it in one or two spots and bring desired cooking temp for 30-45 mins with everything in place but the meat (call this stabilized). I load the meat and don't touch the settings for at least 2 hours (almost always returns to desired temp). Every 4 hours or so,  I open the bottom vent and use a wiggle rod to clean the holes in the grate. 

This has worked 100's of times. Hope this helps.

gamera06

I'm in France, so I don't have that much choice talking about charcoal lump... I'm using "Restaurant Grade" charcoal, with big chunks of lump. They fire great in terms of temperature, and produce not that much ashes, but at least some...

I started the fire last night with a brand new clean Egg and new lump following Naked Whiz page...

I'll try the cleaning rod method. Thanx.

Little Steven

Some have used a trick with carriage bolts, nuts and washers to slightly elevate the grate to allow more airflow. There is an aftermarket fire grate available that looks like a cooking grid. High Q I think.

gamera06

Oh, nice idea... I got a mini as well, and it was delivered with a 9.5" grille, so I ordered a 10" grille to fit the Ceramicgrillstore Mini indirect kit... I can use the 9.5" grille as a fire grate !

Little Steven

I just got a bunch of stuff from CGS. Guess what I forgot. Damn

 

gamera06

You're local, so it's not that bad

If I forget something, they have to ship overseas !

Little Steven

Hah, More local than you mon Ami but still in another country )

gamera06

Tabernacle !

Little Steven

That would be tabernac en l'Habitant