I've got a CharGriller Super Pro with the side firebox. I've done all the
usual FAQ mods, and I'm pretty well pleased with it, considering the
relatively small amount invested in it. One issue has always been ash
filling up the space below the fire grate during long burns. This seemed to
block air flow and I usually struggled with temperatures during the latter
hours. I've seen some mods that put a trap door in the bottom of the fire
box, but that one is outside my capabilities. I just tried a different
approach by putting some legs (about 2-1/4") on the fire grate to raise it
up. I never use the cooking grate in the fire box, so this was not an issue.

It seemed to work well with the ash issue, leaving plenty of space under the
grate throughout the burn. I anticipated that I may create another problem
by getting too much air flow under the burning lump and having trouble
keeping the temp low enough. I've only used it one time since the mod, but I
experienced exactly the opposite problem. I really struggled to get up to
temperature in the cooking chamber. I finally got there, and maintained
235-250 throughout cooking, but only by leaving the firebox damper all the
way open. In the past, I've usually maintained temperature with this grate
only open about an inch or so. I always keep the exhaust damper fully open.
With the damper wide open, I burned a lot more lump than usual.

OK, experts, after that long explanation, what do you think? I know it could
have been a bad batch of lump, but do you think that raising the fire grate
actually interfered with the burn? Or maybe it allowed too much air to move
into the cooking chamber under the fire, never getting heated up? I really
don't like cooking with the damper wide open, since it gives me no room for
adjustment. I'm confused, but I'm trying to decide whether I need to go back
and remove the legs. All thoughts and comments are appreciated.

Thanks,
Jerry

"Jerry" > wrote in message
> OK, experts, after that long explanation, what do you think? I know it
could
> have been a bad batch of lump, but do you think that raising the fire
grate
> actually interfered with the burn? Or maybe it allowed too much air to
move
> into the cooking chamber under the fire, never getting heated up? I really
> don't like cooking with the damper wide open, since it gives me no room
for
> adjustment. I'm confused, but I'm trying to decide whether I need to go
back
> and remove the legs. All thoughts and comments are appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Jerry

I'm no expert and think you'd come to this conclusion yourself, you
obviously got enough common sense, you're just a little frustrated right
now. Shit, that's part and parcel of 'Q, stuff that don't work quite right
from one day to another.
Head's up, my Charbroiler cooled down over time, at first it was a bear to
keep down, after 3 years a bear to get up. Don't know if others have similar
patterns or not. (Using a different cooker now)

Sounds like you're way ahead of the curve there and will find your answers
yourself shortly. I had the same problem with the Chargriller which I
finally started to solve with some grates from a different unit, used
cross-ways, same intent as you have, but better results. It raised the
cooking grate about .6 inches.
The only suggestion I have is two fold: Never mind, you already use lump
which minimizes ash, ok one suggestion: Cut them legs down by increments
(can't add back can ya?) I'd start with 1.5".

D
--

Duwop wrote:
> "Jerry" > wrote in message
>> OK, experts, after that long explanation, what do you think? I know it
> could
>> have been a bad batch of lump, but do you think that raising the fire
> grate
>> actually interfered with the burn? Or maybe it allowed too much air to
> move
>> into the cooking chamber under the fire, never getting heated up? I really
>> don't like cooking with the damper wide open, since it gives me no room
> for
>> adjustment. I'm confused, but I'm trying to decide whether I need to go
> back
>> and remove the legs. All thoughts and comments are appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Jerry
>
> I'm no expert and think you'd come to this conclusion yourself, you
> obviously got enough common sense, you're just a little frustrated right
> now. Shit, that's part and parcel of 'Q, stuff that don't work quite right
> from one day to another.
> Head's up, my Charbroiler cooled down over time, at first it was a bear to
> keep down, after 3 years a bear to get up. Don't know if others have similar
> patterns or not. (Using a different cooker now)

I've heard that can be a problem with other things besides cookers....


Sorry couldn't resist

>
> Sounds like you're way ahead of the curve there and will find your answers
> yourself shortly. I had the same problem with the Chargriller which I
> finally started to solve with some grates from a different unit, used
> cross-ways, same intent as you have, but better results. It raised the
> cooking grate about .6 inches.
> The only suggestion I have is two fold: Never mind, you already use lump
> which minimizes ash, ok one suggestion: Cut them legs down by increments
> (can't add back can ya?) I'd start with 1.5".
>
> D

Excess air under the lump should only make it burn faster, UNLESS the
airflow OUT of the chamber is lower than the amount coming in, that
could cause the smoke to build up and block the air from the lump. Maybe
with the legs on the smoke level is right at or just below the lump and
causing it to not burn as well.

Steve

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Steve W. wrote:
> Duwop wrote:
> > "Jerry" > wrote in message
> >> OK, experts, after that long explanation, what do you think? I know it
> > could
> >> have been a bad batch of lump, but do you think that raising the fire
> > grate
> >> actually interfered with the burn? Or maybe it allowed too much air to
> > move
> >> into the cooking chamber under the fire, never getting heated up? I really
> >> don't like cooking with the damper wide open, since it gives me no room
> > for
> >> adjustment. I'm confused, but I'm trying to decide whether I need to go
> > back
> >> and remove the legs. All thoughts and comments are appreciated.
> >>
> >> Thanks,
> >> Jerry
> >
> > I'm no expert and think you'd come to this conclusion yourself, you
> > obviously got enough common sense, you're just a little frustrated right
> > now. Shit, that's part and parcel of 'Q, stuff that don't work quite right
> > from one day to another.
> > Head's up, my Charbroiler cooled down over time, at first it was a bear to
> > keep down, after 3 years a bear to get up. Don't know if others have similar
> > patterns or not. (Using a different cooker now)
>
> I've heard that can be a problem with other things besides cookers....
>
>
> Sorry couldn't resist
>
> >
> > Sounds like you're way ahead of the curve there and will find your answers
> > yourself shortly. I had the same problem with the Chargriller which I
> > finally started to solve with some grates from a different unit, used
> > cross-ways, same intent as you have, but better results. It raised the
> > cooking grate about .6 inches.
> > The only suggestion I have is two fold: Never mind, you already use lump
> > which minimizes ash, ok one suggestion: Cut them legs down by increments
> > (can't add back can ya?) I'd start with 1.5".
> >
> > D
>
> Excess air under the lump should only make it burn faster, UNLESS the
> airflow OUT of the chamber is lower than the amount coming in, that
> could cause the smoke to build up and block the air from the lump. Maybe
> with the legs on the smoke level is right at or just below the lump and
> causing it to not burn as well.
>
> Steve

I'm no expert, but I'll give my thoughts regardless.
By lifting the grate, you may have disrupted the airflow through to the
cooking chamber too much, I think this is why they offset the fire box
in the 1st place.

Jerry wrote:
> I've got a CharGriller Super Pro with the side firebox. I've done all the
> usual FAQ mods, and I'm pretty well pleased with it, considering the
> relatively small amount invested in it. One issue has always been ash
> filling up the space below the fire grate during long burns. This seemed to
> block air flow and I usually struggled with temperatures during the latter
> hours. I've seen some mods that put a trap door in the bottom of the fire
> box, but that one is outside my capabilities. I just tried a different
> approach by putting some legs (about 2-1/4") on the fire grate to raise it
> up. I never use the cooking grate in the fire box, so this was not an issue.
>
> It seemed to work well with the ash issue, leaving plenty of space under the
> grate throughout the burn. I anticipated that I may create another problem
> by getting too much air flow under the burning lump and having trouble
> keeping the temp low enough. I've only used it one time since the mod, but I
> experienced exactly the opposite problem. I really struggled to get up to
> temperature in the cooking chamber. I finally got there, and maintained
> 235-250 throughout cooking, but only by leaving the firebox damper all the
> way open. In the past, I've usually maintained temperature with this grate
> only open about an inch or so. I always keep the exhaust damper fully open.
> With the damper wide open, I burned a lot more lump than usual.
>
> OK, experts, after that long explanation, what do you think? I know it could
> have been a bad batch of lump, but do you think that raising the fire grate
> actually interfered with the burn? Or maybe it allowed too much air to move
> into the cooking chamber under the fire, never getting heated up? I really
> don't like cooking with the damper wide open, since it gives me no room for
> adjustment. I'm confused, but I'm trying to decide whether I need to go back
> and remove the legs. All thoughts and comments are appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Jerry
>
>
I have the same cooker, I place a grate above the pieces that stick out
for the cooking grate, I placed a grate i got from Lowes across (13"
wide I think) this lets you pull out the ash pan, not disturb the coals,
so if ash builds up on long cooks you can empty out the pan. I've had
5-6 cooks since this mod. and it works fine.

"Duwop" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Jerry" > wrote in message
>> OK, experts, after that long explanation, what do you think?
>
> The only suggestion I have is two fold: Never mind, you already use lump
> which minimizes ash, ok one suggestion: Cut them legs down by increments
> (can't add back can ya?) I'd start with 1.5".
>

Thanks, Duwop. I'm a long-time lurker and I've learned a lot from your
posts. I'm primarily burning Royal Oak lump, although I've tried a few bags
of Kingsford lump. I figured the next step was to start lowering. The legs
are actually a temporary fix using stovebolts, until I could tell if it
worked. Some interesting comments, though, including positioning the fire a
helluva lot higher than I've got it. Oh well, gotta luv it...
Thanks again,
Jerry

"Steve W." > wrote in message
...
>
> Excess air under the lump should only make it burn faster, UNLESS the
> airflow OUT of the chamber is lower than the amount coming in, that could
> cause the smoke to build up and block the air from the lump.

Thanks. That was what I was figuring, but maybe I screwed up the flow. I'll
keep on trying...

"wide glide" > wrote in message
news:iDhGg.19695$u1.19144@trnddc05...
>
> I have the same cooker, I place a grate above the pieces that stick out
> for the cooking grate, I placed a grate i got from Lowes across (13" wide
> I think) this lets you pull out the ash pan, not disturb the coals, so if
> ash builds up on long cooks you can empty out the pan. I've had 5-6 cooks
> since this mod. and it works fine.

Interesting.... That's a helluva lot higher than I placed mine. I actually
thought about doing the same thing, but I was concerned about the fire being
too close to the firebox lid. You don't have any problems with burning coals
falling out when you open the lid to add more lump?

Jerry wrote:
> "wide glide" > wrote in message
> news:iDhGg.19695$u1.19144@trnddc05...
>> I have the same cooker, I place a grate above the pieces that stick out
>> for the cooking grate, I placed a grate i got from Lowes across (13" wide
>> I think) this lets you pull out the ash pan, not disturb the coals, so if
>> ash builds up on long cooks you can empty out the pan. I've had 5-6 cooks
>> since this mod. and it works fine.
>
> Interesting.... That's a helluva lot higher than I placed mine. I actually
> thought about doing the same thing, but I was concerned about the fire being
> too close to the firebox lid. You don't have any problems with burning coals
> falling out when you open the lid to add more lump?
>
>
no its just below the lid opening on the bottom side, add more fuel from
a chimney(sp?) so you kinda throw it to the back