15 inch egg. Unable to hot

Moraine

new egg owner.   We have a medium 15 inch egg.  No ash, all holes open.   Vent open and top open.  Good amout of the proper coal.   Well... The temp will not go above 400.   What can I do to get the temp to 600..   All help appreciated.  

JohnInCarolina

If your airflow is OK and you have plenty of lump, all you should need to do is wait.  It will get to temp eventually.  

nolaegghead

Are you lighting the top of the lump?  Light the top all over to get really hot.  And make sure there's not bunch of small pieces obstructing air flow. 

This upgrade below also will help.  If you still can't get hot, try a different brand of lump. 

http://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Charcoal-Grate-Upgrade-Medium/dp/B0063911HI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1426653244&sr=8-2&keywords=high+que+grate

apinion

Fill up the fire ring and fire bowl.  

Todd-Man

Also check that the opening in the base of the fire bowl is lined up with the lower vent opening.

ChillyWillis

All of the above suggestions are spot on, but if you have the ability to post a photo of your egg with the set up you're unable to get to temp it could help to resolve this much more quickly. 

As as they say a picture is worth 1,000 words.... and that is especially true in this case.

Biggreenpharmacist

Is the daisy wheel removed?

Skiddymarker

If the lower vent is lined up with the fire box arch, lump lit from the top and the vents are wide open (DFMT off, lower screen clear) you should have flames coming out the top within 10 minutes. If not return your lump for a refund, it is defective!

This assumes the dome thermo is calibrated.....

Scottborasjr

My Medium Is my go to cooker. If it isn't coming up to temp look at above posts. 

Inferno

Perhaps your Egg temperature gauge is defective ??

apinion

Inferno said:

Perhaps your Egg temperature gauge is defective ??

Ohhh ya!

berndcrisp

Calibrate the temp gauge in boiling water by adjusting the nut on the back til it reads 21 degrees

apinion

berndcrisp said:

Calibrate the temp gauge in boiling water by adjusting the nut on the back til it reads 21 degrees

212 F

Big_Green_Craig

The Medium has the worst designed Fire Grate. I have the same issue and I have narrowed it down to the airflow in the fire grate. Stick your ash tool in the bottom vent and use the tip to grab one of the holes in the grate. A simple jiggle seems to work for me. Hope this helps!

Moraine

Thank you!   Fire ring is full of bge coal.  Coals are lit from the bottom and all coals are burning.   Daisy wheel was swung off to the side leaving the top wide open.  The bottom vent was open with the screen removed.     I am going to calibrate temp gauge but last night we could tell that the actual temp was low, not just the gauge.   Meat was not cooking.   I am going to ck if the hole on the fire box can be lines up better with the vent.   We put a house fan next to the egg and the temp slowly went up.   I even checked if the fan option for Egg. ($225.00) would work.   The company does not make it for the 15 inch egg.   First Egg experience is not going so good 

SmokeyPitt

Moraine said:

Thank you!   Fire ring is full of bge coal.  Coals are lit from the bottom and all coals are burning.   Daisy wheel was swung off to the side leaving the top wide open.  The bottom vent was open with the screen removed.     I am going to calibrate temp gauge but last night we could tell that the actual temp was low, not just the gauge.   Meat was not cooking.   I am going to ck if the hole on the fire box can be lines up better with the vent.   We put a house fan next to the egg and the temp slowly went up.   I even checked if the fan option for Egg. ($225.00) would work.   The company does not make it for the 15 inch egg.   First Egg experience is not going so good 

Take the daisy wheel off. There is still a sufficent amount of airflow restriction with it on, even when swung open

minniemoh

Big_Green_Craig said:

The Medium has the worst designed Fire Grate. I have the same issue and I have narrowed it down to the airflow in the fire grate. Stick your ash tool in the bottom vent and use the tip to grab one of the holes in the grate. A simple jiggle seems to work for me. Hope this helps!

I don't understand the issue with the fire grate? My medium gets hot faster than ANY of my other eggs. 

Ozzie_Isaac

I hit 750 last night no problem.  I actually had to close the bottom some to throttle it down to 750 while searing some steak.  Something must be out of alignment or blocked.  Don't get to frustrated yet.

SmokeyPitt

Ozzie_Isaac said:

I hit 750 last night no problem.  I actually had to close the bottom some to throttle it down to 750 while searing some steak.  Something must be out of alignment or blocked.  Don't get to frustrated yet.

What I would do next is remove the hot skillet with a pot holder and set it aside, close the egg, have a swig of my beer, then grab the handle with my bare hand.  

Ozzie_Isaac

@SmokeyPitt like a backdraft I bet you only do that once!

I leave the skillets in the egg while it cools down to avoid that exact situation.  I'm a clutz and forgetful.  That is a dangerous combination.

DaveRichardson

I'll bet you dumped the lump in from the bag?  Next time build the pile a handful at a time with larger pieces around the holes in the grate and around the holes in the firebox.  Then fill in, but not compact, with more handfuls of lump.

Moraine

Good suggestion on the coal.  I did dump.  I also have that clay stand to prevents flair ups.  I would like to use it as I hate charred steaks.   We are going to try without it and see if that makes a difference.  I will report back 

Ozzie_Isaac

Clay stand?  Are you talking about plate setter?

JohnInCarolina

Have you tried drinking beer while you're waiting for it to come up to temp?

DMW

JohnInCarolina said:

Have you tried drinking beer while you're waiting for it to come up to temp?

Scotch works as well.

theyolksonyou

JohnInCarolina said:

Have you tried drinking beer while you're waiting for it to come up to temp?

I find if I pound a few followed by a shot of patron, the temp is good to go. 

Ozzie_Isaac

I shotgun 3 or four milwakees best, a 3 wisemen, and a vodka cranberry.  Then I forget what I am doing and I don't care about the temp.

nolaegghead

Beer bong works wonders. ..

Moraine

I may have to do that.    Put a house fan on high and directed it at the lower vent.  Coal set so hole were not obstructed.   No ash.  Could ony get temp to 450.  Sigh.   Perhaps more coal.   If I do not use coveggtor (plate setter) the grill will sit an inch from the coals.  I do not want to char my steaks.  I will keep trying 

nolaegghead

Try the stuff the people say.  You'll figure it out.  Leaf blower clears out the ash.  Make sure no flammables are around.

Big_Green_Craig

minniemoh said:

Big_Green_Craig said:

The Medium has the worst designed Fire Grate. I have the same issue and I have narrowed it down to the airflow in the fire grate. Stick your ash tool in the bottom vent and use the tip to grab one of the holes in the grate. A simple jiggle seems to work for me. Hope this helps!

I don't understand the issue with the fire grate? My medium gets hot faster than ANY of my other eggs. 

Mine too, but for whatever reason it won't until I shake the fire grate.