Nothing beats the Original Green Cap

xfire_ATX

In July of 23' I posted this about the Reggulator cap not working with a $%$#.  I had bought this to use instead of the Daisy Wheel as I wanted the rain cap.

FF to a few months ago- I invested in a brand new XL that came with the Reggulator and I thought at the time great now I have one that will work...  

Thursday cooked some nice Cedar Plank Salmon, shut it down didnt think twice.  Went to prep for an overnight brisket cook about 6 pm on Friday and opened egg and to my surprise its warm... some 23 hours later.  Moved some coals around and sure enough sill has live fire.   Went and got the green cap and fire out and cool in 2 hours, went on with prep.

Saturday during cook (and a few Bloody Marys) went looking for similar bend as in first Reggulator- nope looks good.  To my surprise there I find there is quite a lot of vertical play in the slider portion.  Finished cook Saturday and pulled the Reggulator and put Green cap on, shut down cold in 2 hours.

Sunday for the Egrets Ham I just used the Daisy wheel.  Do I have just **** odds and got two bad caps or is this the norm?

Anyway Brisket


North Coast Old Rasputin while Egg coming to Temp

Time for FTC for a few hours

zaphod

I bought a green cap a while ago to ensure snuffing. I also just like the look

RRP

if I were you i’d be suspect of more than just a bad regulator since your XL is new. Look for a sloppy fitting bottom vent door. Also inspect your new gasket for evidence of escaping creosote. Another check involves dropping a light bulb down the chimney at the dark of night and see if there is any sign of escaping light at the gasket level.

zaphod

I had a post about the lump firing up the day after a burn when I had the lid open waiting for cleaning. i documented a bunch of tests you may want to try to check for leaks.  I eventually decided that I had failed to close the bottom vent and that kept the fire from completely going out when I snuffed it after the previous day's cook.

xfire_ATX

RRP said:

if I were you i’d be suspect of more than just a bad regulator since your XL is new. Look for a sloppy fitting bottom vent door. Also inspect your new gasket for evidence of escaping creosote. Another check involves dropping a light bulb down the chimney at the dark of night and see if there is any sign of escaping light at the gasket level.

I am with you on these tests and trust me my first thought was a cracked base (again) and air was getting in.  I definitely checked the bottom vent and its a perfectly aligned top and bottom with a brand new gasket.  I do like the lamp (light bulb) idea and next time I pull the KAB and scoop out the ash I will see what I see.

RRP

RRP said:
Another check involves dropping a light bulb down the chimney at the dark of night and see if there is any sign of escaping light at the gasket level.  I do like the lamp (light bulb) idea and next time I pull the KAB and scoop out the ash I will see what I see.

the light down the throat is to check the gasket (and the tightness of your dome sitting on the base) then you only need to remove the grate - but I suspect you want to also check for leakage in the bottom vent. As loosey~goosey as those lower vent doors can be then I think you have a good idea to go all the way down!

lousubcap

Another simple way to check for gasket to gasket leaks is to pull the top cap and when dark, use a flashlight around the dome to base fitment and look for light leaks.  FWIW-

loco_engr

I have the smokeware rain cap and don't think it'll come off very easy, and ideas of doing the light test?

Begger

Light test sounds fun and hi-tech.
Alternative?
The 'dollar bill test'      Try to clamp a bill using closed lid.    It should and a leak is indicted if it doesn't....

RRP

loco_engr said:

I have the smokeware rain cap and don't think it'll come off very easy, and ideas of doing the light test?

See pictures below of my progress with a Smoke Ware cap with the same problem which is caused by the build up of creosote. I took off my top cap by shooting Oven Cleaner carefully under it and then the bottom part next. 

RRP

Here they are...

YukonRon

Still have mine. Works like a charm!