So I am resigned to the fact that I won't get my smoker to any real temps above 300 degrees. The cook started out above 300 and after the bird (at room temp) went on the temps fell. Yeah, I know they fall due to the bird but expected them to rise again.

Anyway, I have been feeding the pit by putting on two fresh cans of hot coals.

My question is when I feed the fire and it goes above 300 should I then close the bottom vents to 50% or leave 100% open? I tried the 50% reduction but the temps fell again.

Any thoughts?

Oh and if I'm just below 300 degrees, bout how long for a 12.5 lb turkey to cook? I'm so frustrated at this point I don't even want to check the thread with that info.

thanks,

jeremy

Where's the love? I guess everybody's eating turkey. LOL

You have to give any changes, like adding 12 pounds of meat, or making vent adjustments a good 20-30 minutes to stabilize. It sounds like you have put in plenty of lit fuel already. Open your vents all 100% and when the temp starts passing 325, lower them back to about 50%, and see if it doesn't settle in somewhere around 325-350. I assume your water pan is empty.

I just went ahead and opened the door for 10 min. Got the temps to 350 and am going to see if closing the vents to 50% will work.

Well, that didn't work too well. Reducing the vents to 50% shot the temps back down to almost 320 in about 10 min. Pushed them open a little more to see if that brings it back up a little.

Well, I give up on this cook. Just going to open the door to get the temps up and baby sit this guy until it's done.

I have no clue what the deuce happened with this cook. I mastered the pork butt, ribs, chicken, etc. This just went all to hell!

Unbelievable....this turkey came off in 3 hrs flat and was perfect.

No clue what happened during the cook to keep those temps so low. Chalking it up to the first-timer turkey gods.

happy thanksgiving!

Why were you closing your bottom vents if you were having trouble keeping the temps up? Opening the bottom vents allows more air to the fire which results in higher temps.

I know it is too late now, but another trick is to put the lid on slightly askew, this creates a good air draw from below and temps will shoot up...I found this out by mistake .