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Thanks for your experience. i will follow up with John and see where it goes. I wonder if it is a random problem with certain units, or whether it is a problem with all of them. Tom

Stoker problem over labor day I have had fairly continuous problems with my Stoker, with the fan running continuously. i did a 20 hr cook over labor day weekend, and it happened several times. i turned it off and rebooted, and it seemed to clear the problem temporarily. The problem i had was that i never got to the point where i could trust the SToker, and that defeats the purpose of having it. At 3 in the morning, i disconnected the fan, set the lower damper and maintained temps where i wanted them manually. I have not called John yet, but does he have a fix for this?? Is it a replacement issue, reloading of software, temp probe (which seemed to be reading accurately the entire time), or something else? Tom

At ease!!! Those would be called 'slippers'. ...but they might fill up with water in bad weather. tom

I finally decided, after a year of having my KK, that he needed a suitable cover. Since my KK has a name, Captain Stanley, I needed a fitting (no pun intended) uniform. The collaborative result of John Edwards (of Johnnies Jammies fame) and I is below. We worked back and forth for a month, with sample materials etc, and my local embroidery shop to make the nametag for the Captain, and the result was better than expected!! For those of you who have fully 'adopted' your KK into the family, give em a name, and show it proudly!!! VRTom

Thanks all for the suggestions. Right now i have a basic cork to stop close off the inducer hole after a cook to put out the fire. That seems to work just fine for now. Am keeping my eyes open for a more permanent, and heat worthy solution. I will check lab supply places online to see what that might turn up. Tom

The only problem i have is that my KK is in the elements, and the fan wouldnt like rain and snow! I am thinking about turning a wooden plug, as i don't often use my KK at really high temps. that, or a trip to the hardware store to see what might be available, or adaptable. i am thinking along the lines of a cover plate or something like what is used when you have a kitchen sink with an unused hole for a sprayer nozzle or something like that. i haven't checked diameter of those holes, or their plugs yet, but it might be a good leisure activity in the next few days. Tom

Inducer port plug Dennis, i just got a Stoker for Christmas, and did a 9 lb Standing Rib Roast with it, and it turned out awesome. But now i have discovered that i need an inducer plug. I just found this thread, and would like to know if i can get an inducer and polder plug from you.

Actually, I think its just decoration. I got an Ultimate just after Christmas, and everything that Dennis sends is top of the line, and that includes the drip pan. But don't worry, after a few uses it looks like every other drip pan! My struggle was to actually USE IT for the first time. I am still lining with aluminum foil to keep it looking pretty! Tom

Welcome DMAX. If you're talking Dunkirk Md, i am about 45 minutes away, at Pax River. I have just been buying lump charcoal at Tru Value and Lowes, haven't even gotten to Wal Mart yet. But...... as for smoking woods, there's a great guy almost on the way to your office, near Waldorf. There's a guy who sells firewood on the south side of Md 228, half way between 210 and Waldorf. He sells hickory, apple, cherry, mulberry (he sez some folks swear by it) and several other woods. if you need better directions i can pass them on. Tom

Several months ago I stumbled upon Dennis’s website as I was researching a new BBQ. I had been using a 25 year old aluminum charcoal BBQ, a gas grill and a little water smoker and it was time to upgrade. I am glad I found the KK. I took delivery of my Gen II Ultimate KK #356 on Dec 28th, about 3 weeks after I ordered it. From the moment the truck arrived, I knew I made the right choice. Even the crate is impressive and thoughtfully designed. How many crates have you received that come with their own crowbar!!! When you invest in a ‘grill’ like this, you have pretty high expectations, and I can tell you that it has met every one of my expectations, and then some. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are evident everywhere, from the fit and function of the doors, vents and grills, to the aesthetics of the design and color. It looks great, and it works great. No shortcuts have been taken. This thing works as advertised. The dome opens and closes with one hand, and aligns perfectly. The precision vents allowed me to adjust temperatures within 5-10 degrees the first time I lit it. The grills each fit precisely into the main body of the grill, and have details built in that make them even more functional, such as the hinged main grill and open portion of the lower grill that allow addition of more charcoal or smoke wood during use without having to remove the grills. The KK forum, and the folks who contribute, are an added bonus. If you’ve got questions, they have answers!! And Dennis has been incredible in getting me off to a great start. His customer service is the best I have ever seen. I am a VERY happy camper. If you have any reservations about getting a KK, do it.

Of course, you certainly haven't chased temps all over the place....... Now, my rationale for not putting a full load of charcoal in when i started was cause i wanted to try my hand at temp management without putting in smoking wood. so i waited till i had stable temps, then put smoking wood in with additional lump. is that what you do, or do you always put smoking wood with your lump whenever you load it, so its always there?? Tom

I am using lump charcoal, (Quik Joe or something like that. forget the name, but was the only stuff available locally). I didn't do anything special when i loaded the coal basket, i just filled it about 1/3 full, and i started it with the gas ring for KK. From somewhere else in the forum, i did about a 2 m inute burn with the gas ring, then shut it down. i cracked the top about 1/4 turn, and the lower vent just cracked. I stabilized the fire at 220-250 for 4 hrs before i reloaded the basket to the top along with several pieces of hicory and oak interspersed, then loaded a butt. Since the temps had been stable for several hours right where i wanted it, i didn't touch anything, and closed it up again. TEmps dropped to below 200 about 30 min later, so i opened the vents a bit. Temps rose to 300, I closed them down some more and temp dropped again. ultimately when i went to bed after 1 1/2 hrs of adjusting (3-4 adjustments) the temps were closer to 250. I got up about 5 hrs later and discovered temps at 300. Ultimately results were pretty darn tasty, just a little overdone! Tom

Great, thanks. I was talking to my brother last night and he also recommended the Maverick, the same one, I think. I am debating getting a BBQ guru, but having spent my budget and then some on my KK, I am fighting a 'perception' issue with my wife!!! She's been supportive so far, but I think I will wait a few months and then get a guru!!! Tom

Thanks all for the responses! The first attempt was a great success!!! had pulled pork tonight, along with a few sides. nobody ate anything but the pork!! John, next time you make it to Pax River, give me a call. I am 10 minutes from the base! By the way, which Maverick did you get. I had a remote thermometer I picked up a few months ago from Lowes, but it hasn't worked right since the day I got it. Intermittent at best!! Tom

Well, all seems to be going pretty well now. I finally went to bed at 130, i had managed to get the temps down, but when i went out around 530, temps were almost 300. i tweaked the lower draft door closed a tiny bit (the dome has been open the whole time about 1/3 turn). its now 10, and temps have been at about 220 for a while. Smells great!! Dennis, the KK made the transit just fine, a small spot, about 2x2 in abraded on the inside where one of the grills rubbed the inside of the K, I don't think its anything. I do have one part that i have no idea what it is. it looks like a handle, all stainless, about 10 in long, with a threaded stud sticking out one end. What's that for? Tom

OK all, i feel a bit like a voyeur as I have been visiting the forum for several months now without you all knowing it!! When Dennis offered his Gen II with free shipping, that pushed me over the edge, and i just took delivery on an Ultimate Dark Terra Blue with Dark Charcoal grout. It is pouring down rain here in Southern Md, and has been for the last 2 days, but i finally lit it off this afternoon. I was doing a dress rehearsal for my first cook. I was able to get the temps stabilized around 225-250 deg, and decided to go ahead and try my 1st butt. I started it about 1130PM, and now temps have been all over the place!! Waiting to see where it stabilizes, so I can go to bed. BTW, i know the requirement for pic's!! Will get some out once it quits raining, and I can get my KK to its new home. The garage ain't it!! Tom