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Controlling temperature on large KJ

Vegas Eggus
Vegas Eggus Posts: 152
in EggHead Forum
Yes I know this is the Egg Forum 😄. 
Have had a BGE large about 10 years. On it I can control my liw and slow temperature with very little effort. Have a Large KJ at second residence. I struggle to get a steady temperature on it. Adjusting like I do on the egg to move it 5 degrees results in 100 degree swings. I know it’s an air/fuel equation but just can’t seem to dial it in. Possibly related is that it seems to want to have a higher minimum temperature. Say 350. So it’s hard to get it to settle in in the 250-275 range that I like. 
Any advice on how to improve the control?
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Comments

  • DainW
    DainW Posts: 159
    I’ve never cooked on a KJ, but if that were a BGE I’d say you might have a problem with it getting a proper seal. My guess is, either you are out of alignment or there is a crack letting air in somewhere. If you can’t get the cooker to settle in below 350, that would suggest to me that additional air is getting to the fire. Could be something more specific to the KJ and someone who has one will chime in, but I’ve had similar problems with my egg putting a Rutland gasket on it helped out tremendously.  
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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 33,390
    have two large eggs and the lower vent setting is open twice as much on one of them at 250 dome, try closing the lower vent by half. i only use the top vent for fine tuning
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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  • Vegas Eggus
    Vegas Eggus Posts: 152
    I think the lower vent is where the issue lies. Finally having some success today but both vents basically closed to get there. Got it stable at 225. 
    When I close it down on a full sear fire the dome does a whoosh. Never had that on the egg. 
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  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 33,390
    Vegas Eggus said:
    I think the lower vent is where the issue lies. Finally having some success today but both vents basically closed to get there. Got it stable at 225. 
    When I close it down on a full sear fire the dome does a whoosh. Never had that on the egg. 

    thats how it is with one of my eggs, bottom is just a smidge open, looks closed if youre standing up for 220
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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  • BigGreenKev
    BigGreenKev Posts: 264
    Vegas Eggus said:
    I think the lower vent is where the issue lies. Finally having some success today but both vents basically closed to get there. Got it stable at 225. 
    When I close it down on a full sear fire the dome does a whoosh. Never had that on the egg. 
    I have an xl bge and kj Jr.  Could be a perception thing but the screen on the bge seems to make it a tighter fit as you close the door down.  The how jr doesn't have that and the door isn't as tight. If your joe is the same, maybe that bottom door is letting more air in since the door isn't as tight of a fit? 
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