Am I a Doofus???

Bytor

Well-known member
Messages
535
Location
Knoxville, TN
Grill(s) owned
  1. Trailblazer
So, I have been using my Trailblazer since the first of the year. For no particular reason, I downloaded the manual and perused through it. I then realized that I have been using this with the drip pan installed incorrectly. I guess thinking the laws of physics when I initially put it together, the high end would be upstream to the drip bucket. Imagine my surprise when I just saw this diagram of the installation. Mine is the complete opposite...

Shield position.jpg

So, has anyone else done this (or wants to admit it....) and would this have any impact on my cooks? I always get liquid in my bucket and only minimal grease drip down on the right side of the pit. Of course, I'm going to blame the adult beverage(s) I probably had while doing the initial setup🍻
 
If yours was in opposite, we're you doing your cooks on a slanted driveway if you were still getting grease in bucket?
I had to have mine set inside my garage a bit due to rain one time. I found out my garage floor was not level, as grease rolled to opposite end of 590 smoker and started dripping between chamber and hopper.
 
If yours was in opposite, we're you doing your cooks on a slanted driveway if you were still getting grease in bucket?
My patio slab has about a 1" slope as it extends away from my house. The grill is set up parallel with the slope, so maybe that assisted with the flow towards the bucket .
 
Reversing the drip pan will actually increase the slope and improve the drainage. The problem is that the left side will be so high that the grate won’t sit properly (don’t ask me how I know).
 
Reversing the drip pan will actually increase the slope and improve the drainage. The problem is that the left side will be so high that the grate won’t sit properly (don’t ask me how I know).
Yep, the grate just barely misses the pan. I did think that was odd, now I know why...
 
“If yours was in opposite, we're you doing your cooks on a slanted driveway...”

Then I realized you were serious!

:LOL:
 
@Bytor have you noticed any difference since you changed it? I would wonder if that steep of an angle would cause the heat to rise back towards the left?
 
@Bytor have you noticed any difference since you changed it? I would wonder if that steep of an angle would cause the heat to rise back towards the left?
I have had two cooks since changing the pan around to the proper position. I haven't noticed any difference in cooking, however I have noticed the usual grease pool in the bottom right side of the pit is gone. I wouldn't get a lot, but just enough to have to clean out every other cook, or so.

After looking at how the lip sits on the ledge near the oil drain, the small lip wasn't fitting completely on the ledge. This was allowing grease to flow down to the underside of the pan and either burn off or drip. With it seated the correct way now, the pan rests completely on the ledge. The bottom pan edge nearest the drain is no longer greasy either. So, yes the unit can run with the pan installed backwards, it just doesn't function as it was supposed to.
 
@Bytor nice to know that it didn’t seem to affect the the cooking. One thing that I’ve done to help improve my grease drainage, I level the actual grill. Mine sits on a sloped patio. The 2 wheels in the back has a 3/4” piece of wood under them. Glad you got it all straightened out 👍
 

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