New 820D owner

[jerryp3]

I received a Pitt Boss 820 for Father's day. I have cooked 4 Boston butts. Each time I cooked 2 at a time. After 6 or 7 hours cook all hell breaks loose. Smoke stars coming from everywhere on the smoker. Temp jumps to 375 or higher. Temp set on 250.. I just had to turn it off and let the thing cool down. Meat temp was at about 180. Finished in oven. I think it may have been grease fire. Butts had lots of fat and large fat cap. Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[MikeInFla]

Have never had this happen while doing a Boston butt. The drippings should fall on the drip pan and drain out the side. When the cook was done and the grill cooled did you inspect everything? Was the firepot overflowing with pellets? Was there a lot of grease in the barrel?

 

[jerryp3]

Have never had this happen while doing a Boston butt. The drippings should fall on the drip pan and drain out the side. When the cook was done and the grill cooled did you inspect everything? Was the firepot overflowing with pellets? Was there a lot of grease in the barrel?

Lots of grease under grill plate. Fire pot filled with ashes. And on top of plate. Didn't catch much grease in catch pan
Looks like the grease isn't flowing to catch pan correctly. Temp stayed ok until this happens. Ironically it was almost the same amount of time until.this happened in both cooks.

 

[DaveXDm9]

Lots of grease under grill plate. Fire pot filled with ashes. And on top of plate. Didn't catch much grease in catch pan
Looks like the grease isn't flowing to catch pan correctly. Temp stayed ok until this happens. Ironically it was almost the same amount of time until.this happened in both cooks.

make sure the deflector plate is cleaned especially at the sides at this where the grease flows down the plate. If there is any obstruction it will flow over the sides.

 

[jerryp3]

make sure the deflector plate is cleaned especially at the sides at this where the grease flows down the plate. If there is any obstruction it will flow over the sides.

Thanks Dave. I'll check this out. Planning to do a chuck roast cook tomorrow.

 

[jerryp3]

Thanks Dave. I'll check this out. Planning to do a chuck roast cook tomorrow.

I think o noticed on a video someone had the plate covered with foil. What's your opinion on that?

 

[MikeInFla]

The foil is there just to make cleanup easier. I do it 100% of the time on mine because I do not have the "sear" option slider for some reason (it is an older Pit Boss). If you are searing steaks or whatever you don't want foil on it. But if you are just smoking something it just makes clean up much easier.