Odd Charcoal Webber Grill Phenomenon

[Zappa]

All,

For many years while indirect cooking on my Webber only one side of the grill stays lit, Right Side North East.

Particulars are:
1- I use lump charcoal,
2- I start the charcoal in a chimney, get it to a good burn and pour ½ on the left and right side,
3- I use Webber’s right & left coal separators, keeps the coals to either side,
4- The Webber grill has nothing around it, Free Standing,
5- New vent controls installed,
6- I added burning red coals to the left side to try to restart it with no luck,
7- I installed a thermostat on the hood about ,¼” down and away from the top vent,
8- I run the grill between 250Fand 350F,
9- The 8 year old Webber is in good condition,
10-Color is Red,

Any suggestions on how to get the left side going?

Should I be content with just one side?
Do I need both sides burning?
Sunday I cooked an 8 Pound fresh pork shoulder for 5 hours with no problem.

Thanks,

Zappa

[flavrmeistr]

Sounds like you're doing just fine, Frank. If you're doing a slow cook, you only want heat on one side anyway. Especially w/larger pieces of meat. If it bothers you, try rotating the top so the vent is above the unlit section. Or, take the lid off completely for an even burn. Slow roasting? Don't sweat it.

[Zappa]

Thanks for the suggestion concerning the vents. I'll look into that.

Zappa!

[Nancy Berry]

Could be a wind direction problem or one of the vents on the bottom of the grill could be loose and closing up or getting clogged with ash while you're cooking.

To deal with a possible wind problem, try rotating the whole grill 90 degrees. And make sure the vents are all clear and open during cooking.

[Pappy]

This may sound ridiculously obvious, but you don't know me anyway, so here goes...

.Is it possible that you always dump out the top half of the chimney on one side, and these coals are not fully lit yet, so they peter out? While the other side gets the bottom half of the chimney where the charcoals already have a good burn going?

Just a thought. Otherwise, I like the idea of spinning the lid so the cover vents are directly over the reluctant side, drawing as much air as possible across them, hence "stoking" the fire.

-Bill

[Zappa]

Bill,

Thanks for the idea. There is a grain of truth in what you typed. Next time I’ll make sure both sides are REALLY burning before I cover and step down the vents.

As to the vents, the vent is directly under the offending left side.

Zappa!

[Uncledave]

If you want to see the left side lit, walk around to the other side of the grill. :)

[xavier]

It's the color. Go out an buy a black grill.