Beer Forum

For some reason I can't get my outdoor cooker to stay lit when I open up the gas all the way (it blows its self out). Anyone have any ideas? On my last batch, that I did last night (foil boil), I got the wort to a rolling boil for the first half of the boil. However by the time I'd added all the extract I was just getting a lot of steam coming off the top. I think I did boil down to perhaps slightly more than 5 gallons (starting at about 5.7gallons + extract), though I'm not sure exactly how much since I left the last bit that was in the kettle because it had all the cold break crap in it (so I only had like 4.67 gallons in my fermenter, which was fine by me). Anyways, any idea on solutions to the cooker problem?

don't turn it up that high???
also try adjusting the air intake thing
BUB

Where's the air intake setting?

usually a metal disk with slots in it where the hose attaches to the burner
It should rotate to allow more or less air in.
BUB

afr0byte wrote:Where's the air intake setting?

On mine, this is a turnable disk where the propane hose enters the burner.

Kai

Spiders also like to crawl up in there and nest. Make sure there aren't any obstructions. I had some slag from the casting process blocking the path that I had to drill out.

If everything is all clear and adjusting the air intake doesn't help you run at full open, get a good set of drill bits. The current jet size should be around 7/32" but use the drill bits to determine the size. Then go up by 1/32". What's happening is that your propane pressure is too high for the jet and is pushing it through at too high of a velocity. Opening the jet will slow it down (and supply more gas).

Don't get greedy and keep opening it up or you'll get the same effect but this time from too much gas. It that happens, you can solder up the jet and then drill it out to a smaller size.

You may already at the too big of a jet size so if going up a few sizes doesn't fix it, go ahead and solder it up and drill it smaller than the original. It's a tight balance that should have been handled by the manufacturer. That's why it's likley something blocking the path.

Sometimes, homebrew shops will put a high pressure regulator & hose on a system designed for a low pressure setup.

Thanks, didn't know what the metal disk was. *UPDATE* I tried adjusting the oxygen input, and it worked like a charm.