Help with Magma Gas Kettle A10-005

[Cruiser1]

I have recently aquired a Magma Gas Kettle that came along with my Mac 26S. Tried to run it yestereday and cook a lamb chop for experimentation but a bit concerned over the huge heat output.

I am running it off a 1lb Colman Propane cylinder but the flame seems to me to be extremely high. The flame come out very fiercly from under the 4" plate that sits in the middle of the radiant screen. It uses 12 ceramic briquettes.

On the highest setting the flame rises 2-4" above the Cooking Grill and on the lowest setting it rises about 1-2" above the Cooking Grill.

I placed the lamb chop on a folded piece of aluminium foil and placed it to one side of the grate - due to the fact the flame at lowest setting was so fierce. This tended to let the edge of the chop burn so I then moved the chop into the centre. I removed the lid a couple of times in order to readjust the chop and overall it took about 20 minutes to cook - needless to say is was cooked but a bit tough. The chop was pretty well welded to the aluminium foil by the time the chop was cooked.

The valve I am using is in the attached picture.

Can anyone advise what the problem may be??

 

[ffaubert]

What colour are the flames?

 

[timebandit]

It seems that they make different grils for every where, maybe the regulators ore different.

check here for information--
http://www.magmaproducts.com/Products/Grills/Marine_Kettles/marine_kettles.html

 

[Mac]

I have the same problem. On the lowest setting it has a huge flame. I can't even do sausage or hamburgers because of the flare ups. I called Magma and they said to send it back and they would look at it.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

the round magma grill right?

I do not use briquettes I have the all metal cover, it defuses much better - but you do have a hot spot in the center you need to get use to...

http://magmaproducts.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product553.html

(its actually two parts, a ring with fingers and the cap... you can boil water pretty fast wtih the grate and cap removed...)

http://magmaproducts.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page5.html

but the problem at low volume is it can blow out in wind... alum foil or maybe the veggie tray?
http://magmaproducts.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page76.html

Also: does the volume control work properly? if not get a new one... don't mess around the the regulator! I keep mine in a tupperware container when not in use.

personally had I to do over, I'd get the rectangle type.. more even heat.

 

[Cruiser1]

What colour are the flames?

I have had a good look at the flame Frank and it could best be described as orange regardless of high or low heat setting.

The Radiant Screen (as it is refered to in the Magma parts list) is made of fine expanded metal mesh and gets very, very hot around the edge of the 4" metal plate in the middle of the screen. I can't imagine it should be that hot otherwise the screen itself would burn through very soon. I have attached a photo showing the Radiant Screen with Cooking Grill above it - the ceramic briquettes have been left out of the photo in order to get a better view.

Bill - regarding the dome you use, the parts list says 10-466 Stainless Steel Radiant Plate (non-removable dome) but I gather the dome on your SS Radiant Plate has a removable dome in the middle - is that correct?

Bill - when you say you would prefer the 'rectangular type' do you mean rectangular BBQ or rectangualr regulator?

I thought I could purchase a thick round SS pan to cook in but I am sure it would get very burnt and may then start to rust - even then it may not cook properly. I am concerned also that the the lid gets so hot and becomes burnished and may also start to rust. The plastic handle on the lid gets too hot to touch with a bare hand.

Jerry - did you purchase your A10-005 new recently? If you have had it for some time was there a period of time when it worked OK?

 

[MrBill_FLL]

Jerry, the link you posted is what I have, its 2 parts, a bottom ring with fingers and the dome, the dome does come off (after removing the grate), and you could put a tea kettle on top of the ring to boil water faster.

your situation is not correct. either you need more bricks or the dome or the regulator is bad.

had I to buy a new gas bbq, I'd get

http://www.boatingsolutions.com/Force-10-Stow-N-Go-Propane-Barbecue-P11282C0.aspx

much more even cooking, and more surface.

the round one has a hot spot in the center, and its hard to cook a lot at once, without burning since the round hot spot on center... but I can control the flame on low if not too much wind.

I recommend you get a new regulator, then a dome if the new regulator doesn't solve the problem...

 

[ffaubert]

You might want to run a venturi brush through the pipe leading to the burner. Spiders have a habit of building nests in there if the unit has sat any amount of time outside.

This causes improper air mixture resulting in long orange flames. A proper propane flame is a blue cone with a lighter blue mid cone and a tight short yellow/orange cone on the outside.

I live in Canada and have to do this a few times every spring. I don't use the BBQ in the winter and the spiders build in early spring. After propane has run through the piping a few times, only the hardiest of spiders will try to build a nest in there.

Give it a try. Nothing to lose and everything to gain.

 

[Cruiser1]

Thanks, your suggestion was right Frank - when I looked down the venturi it was like the Spanish Armada coming at me! Must have had spiders in there at some time and that explains why the Magma looked very unused.

Just for future reference of others the venturi lock nut screws off very easily from the bottom of the pan - I just used a pair of multigrips. I then poked a piece of plastic tube down the venturi and a piece of string down the plastic tube. After taking the plastic tube out I attached a piece of cloth to the string and pulled it back and through a few times. That didn't get all the cobwebs off the inside of the pipe so I soaked the cloth in acetone and pulled it back and through a few more times - then washed the venturi in soapy water. I have attached a picture of the bits I used. Will keep an eye open for a small venturi brush to put in my repair kit as it looks like I need to give the venturi a brush ever few months.

It was amazing the difference it made - Magma worked perfectly last night doing lamb chop, sausage, sweet onion (in foil wrap), sweet potato, potato.

Thanks also to Timebandit, Jerry & Bill for all your input. Hope that might solve your problem too Jerry and save sending the unit back to Magma.

 

[ffaubert]

No worries. Glad I could help.

 

[timebandit]

Glad it was an ez fix.

You might try a bit of scotch bright on the string.

ummm, food

 

[ffaubert]

Ummm, Scotch

 

[Cruiser1]

Sounds like it might be worth trying both the scotch bright and the scotch!