Best way to go from 400 to smoke

[Harriska2]

Does anyone know the Best way to go from 400 to smoke in a newer MAK 2?

[TentHunteR]

A common issue with pellet grills. Check out this thread: http://www.letstalkbbq.com/index.php?topic=22118.0

In a nut shell;  it's always harder to go from a higher temp to a lower one in a pellet grill.  The easiest remedy is to open the lid for a minute or two to dump the heat out, which should trigger a pellet feed and keep you from having a flameout issue.

[sparky]

From 400° go to 275° for awhile then to smoke.  Let it sit at 275° at least for 15-20 minutes or a little bit more.

[Kevin_NJ]

I learned this lesson the hard way yesterday. Tried going from 350 to Smoke and had a flame out. Second one of the day, the first one was from damp pellets in the auger. First time that's ever happened and I've run my MAK in all kinds of weather. I guess the wind blew the rain hard enough at the right angle to get some in. The odd thing was I didn't see any evidence of water intrusion in the hopper when I added pellets in the morning, and it ran a good 15-20 min before the flame out.

Still love my MAK. With the exception of the two flame outs (can't blame either one the MAK really) it ran non-stop from 9 am Sunday to 6:30 am Monday.

[teesquare]

Does anyone know the Best way to go from 400 to smoke in a newer MAK 2?

Just curious...Why are you wanting to go from 400 - to smoke temps? Tell us about your cook....

[Harriska2]

I didn’t want to start the oven so I cooked a pie first at 400. Then let the pie cool and refrigerated.  I then started some sort of pork loin ribs.  The MAK recipe was good but they were a bit dry and I think its because I didn’t get it down to temp, took about an hour.  I set to smoke, tried to open the lid to cool but it seemed to keep the auger going and it would go higher in temp, like from 270 to 280.  So I turn it off with an immediate shutdown and started back up after leaving the lid open a couple minutes. Still took at least 1/2 hour from about 250 to get to smoke.

[smokeasaurus]

Gotta go down slowly. As mentioned raising the door for a spell and then adjusting down is a great way to go...........

[tlg4942]

   I don't have a Pellet grill.....  yet .... 
  But I am curious. Why not just turn it off and open the lid a couple minutes then restart?
 Is there an issue with turning it off and back on too soon?
 

[smoker pete]

   I don't have a Pellet grill.....  yet .... 
  But I am curious. Why not just turn it off and open the lid a couple minutes then restart?
 Is there an issue with turning it off and back on too soon?

Good point ... I would also shut it down - the cycle takes 20 minutes. Then start it back up and leave it in the smoke mode to start the cook and proceed from there.

[mrbbq]

Smoker Pete---also, remember that the grill will still be hot. So open the lid during the cool-down to help speed up cool down mode. Then keep the lid open for another half hour to let the MAK really cool down, then re-start. But yeah, like you said.

[TwoPockets]

I am just an old hippie. I thought 420 was smoke.

[HighOnSmoke]

I am just an old hippie. I thought 420 was smoke.

Technically correct Ken! 

[smoker pete]

Smoker Pete---also, remember that the grill will still be hot. So open the lid during the cool-down to help speed up cool down mode. Then keep the lid open for another half hour to let the MAK really cool down, then re-start. But yeah, like you said.

Will do Bruce. Thanks for the advice ...