Add a "Smokin-It" Cold Smoke Generator to Timberline 850

[Slimpicker]

The clean-out screws, only one needs to be loosened to remove the bottom cover, very nice design.

OH very cool... just inspecting my rig it didn't look that way, that's good news
Going hunting this weekend but plan to install my new toy ASAP next week, thnx again RemE

 

[Smudge]

Hi RemE,
New to the forum and joined because I love to smoke meat and this post. I purchased the Bella from this post and loved what you did. I have a older Texas pro and after mounting I realized I have some questions I hope you can lend a hand with.
1. I mounted mine on the back side of the hopper with blind nuts for easy removal, what I’m worried about now (after the installation as always) is heat against the traeger and hopper. How did your heat barrier work? Any additional ideas for this?
2. Can you provide more detail on you latest plug you made to keep ash out of the cold smoke generator
3. I have yet to fire up and test but I assume it gets fairly hot at the bottom, is that the case?

 

[RemE]

Hi RemE,
New to the forum and joined because I love to smoke meat and this post. I purchased the Bella from this post and loved what you did. I have a older Texas pro and after mounting I realized I have some questions I hope you can lend a hand with.
1. I mounted mine on the back side of the hopper with blind nuts for easy removal, what I’m worried about now (after the installation as always) is heat against the traeger and hopper. How did your heat barrier work? Any additional ideas for this?
2. Can you provide more detail on you latest plug you made to keep ash out of the cold smoke generator
3. I have yet to fire up and test but I assume it gets fairly hot at the bottom, is that the case?

1- The Bella generates very little heat, the YouTube comparison video showed pretty low smoke temps, approx 80F They already space the unit away from your smoke box to reduce heat transfer but I went ahead and used that 1/8" insulation just to add more isolation and also contain some smoke leakage from the grill usage. I wouldn't worry about your pellet hopper getting very hot at all. See pic below of the pad I made up.

Link to thin Insulation (Gasket) material, I then wrapped it in heavy foil to protect it;

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072HQ2B2N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2- My latest plug is a solid piece of 3/4" stainless rod. I got a piece on Amazon along with a 3/4" stainless collar. At first I used the collar to seal the hole better, and on a single wall installation like yours, the collar may add stability to the rod when inserted. Since my grill is double walled, I ended up just inserting the rod from inside the grill until it hit the Bella's air injection tube, then marked the rod on the inside of the grill and cut it to be flush with the inside of the grill, it just sets in place and can be removed from the outside if I pull the Bella. To cut the rod, I clamped it in a vise and used a reciprocating saw to chop if off. I attached pics below of the two ways I used the rod, with and without the collar. With the collar I even added a swivel cover out of 26ga stainless sheet to hold the rod tightly in place.

Link to Rod;

Amazon.com: 3/4" Diameter, 304 Stainless Steel Round Rod, 10" Length, Extruded, 0.75 inch Dia: Home Audio & Theater

Amazon.com: 3/4" Diameter, 304 Stainless Steel Round Rod, 10" Length, Extruded, 0.75 inch Dia: Home Audio & Theater

www.amazon.com

Link to Collar;

Climax Metal C-075-S Shaft Collar, One Piece, Set Screw Style, Stainless Steel, 3/4" Bore, 1-1/4" OD, 9/16" Width, With 5/16-18 Set Screw: Setscrew Shaft Collars: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Climax Metal C-075-S Shaft Collar, One Piece, Set Screw Style, Stainless Steel, 3/4" Bore, 1-1/4" OD, 9/16" Width, With 5/16-18 Set Screw: Setscrew Shaft Collars: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

3- The Bella's lower half gets hot, you won't want to be touching it.

 

[Smudge]

1- The Bella generates very little heat, the YouTube comparison video showed pretty low smoke temps, approx 80F They already space the unit away from your smoke box to reduce heat transfer but I went ahead and used that 1/8" insulation just to add more isolation and also contain some smoke leakage from the grill usage. I wouldn't worry about your pellet hopper getting very hot at all. See pic below of the pad I made up.

Link to thin Insulation (Gasket) material, I then wrapped it in heavy foil to protect it;

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072HQ2B2N/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

2- My latest plug is a solid piece of 3/4" stainless rod. I got a piece on Amazon along with a 3/4" stainless collar. At first I used the collar to seal the hole better, and on a single wall installation like yours, the collar may add stability to the rod when inserted. Since my grill is double walled, I ended up just inserting the rod from inside the grill until it hit the Bella's air injection tube, then marked the rod on the inside of the grill and cut it to be flush with the inside of the grill, it just sets in place and can be removed from the outside if I pull the Bella. To cut the rod, I clamped it in a vise and used a reciprocating saw to chop if off. I attached pics below of the two ways I used the rod, with and without the collar. With the collar I even added a swivel cover out of 26ga stainless sheet to hold the rod tightly in place.

Link to Rod;

Amazon.com: 3/4" Diameter, 304 Stainless Steel Round Rod, 10" Length, Extruded, 0.75 inch Dia: Home Audio & Theater

Amazon.com: 3/4" Diameter, 304 Stainless Steel Round Rod, 10" Length, Extruded, 0.75 inch Dia: Home Audio & Theater

www.amazon.com

Link to Collar;

Climax Metal C-075-S Shaft Collar, One Piece, Set Screw Style, Stainless Steel, 3/4" Bore, 1-1/4" OD, 9/16" Width, With 5/16-18 Set Screw: Setscrew Shaft Collars: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

Climax Metal C-075-S Shaft Collar, One Piece, Set Screw Style, Stainless Steel, 3/4" Bore, 1-1/4" OD, 9/16" Width, With 5/16-18 Set Screw: Setscrew Shaft Collars: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

3- The Bella's lower half gets hot, you won't want to be touching it.

 

[Smudge]

Hi RemE,
Thanks so much for the quick reply. Snowing like crazy here so it’s a good day to order supplies and plan.

How did you hold/attach the foil covered gasket to the Bella?

Got other tips?

 

[RemE]

Hi RemE,
Thanks so much for the quick reply. Snowing like crazy here so it’s a good day to order supplies and plan.

How did you hold/attach the foil covered gasket to the Bella?

Got other tips?

If you look at the previous attached photo, it shows the foil covered gasket, held in place with a piece of aluminum foil air duct tape at the cooler top side of the Bella.

Other tips? I'm full of them, what subject?

Here's one, adding power tap for the Bella's air pump and other fun stuff;

Traeger Forum

Traeger Pellet Grill & Smoker Owner's Forum. Discuss BBQ Tips, Recipes, Reviews, How-to's, and more!

www.traegerforum.com

 

[Smudge]

That’s what I thought I saw in the picture. Got everything in my cart and ready to hit the submit button.

looking at power connections as well as a “storage” solution for pump and hose that I can attach to my bottom self (weather proof for those long brisket smokes).

 

[Slimpicker]

I made a hanger...
I drilled an OFFSET hole in my plug so it kind of points down and fits over the blow tube, pointing down keeps the weight of the plug towards the tube

 

[Smudge]

Hey Guys,
So I finshed the high temp gasket and cut a slip groove into one side of mounting tabs to assist in my particular mounting issue (one bolt is behind the hopper, now I just loosen the bolt and slip it off). I just realized I used steel bind nuts and not stainless steel. So.... my question is do I need to worry about rusting? If so any ideas for solving? My fist thought was high temp black BBQ spray paint, but I’m not sure I need to worry about it. I do not store my Traeger outside.

 

[Timmy]

Personally, i wouldn't worry about it.

 

[RemE]

Probably no issue.

My favorite anti-rust spray is "Corrosion-X". It's excellent, I use it on all my weather exposed stuff, including outdoor power outlets etc.

Available on Amazon

 

[Slimpicker]

Just had to break out my gun cleaning kit to clean the Smokin-it tube... wow does that thing get dirty and clogged...
but LOVE THAT SMOKE

 

[Smudge]

Probably no issue.

My favorite anti-rust spray is "Corrosion-X". It's excellent, I use it on all my weather exposed stuff, including outdoor power outlets etc.

Available on Amazon

That’s what I was thinking. Thanks RemE!

 

[Smudge]

Just had to break out my gun cleaning kit to clean the Smokin-it tube... wow does that thing get dirty and clogged...
but LOVE THAT SMOKE

Slimpicker.... great information! I will have to remember that.

 

[Smudge]

Personally, i wouldn't worry about it.

Thanks Timmy....kinda thinking the same thing

 

[Slimpicker]

Gonna have this baby on "Full Smoke Ahead" when I put that Turkey on.... apple pellets in the Smokin-it

BTW, I extended my tube 12" so now the smoke comes out right next to the fire pot and I get little to no blow back from the fan at all... all I get now is a Traeger full of smoke!!!!!!!!!!

316 Stainless Steel Round Tube, 1" OD x 0.083" Wall x 12" long, Seamless 7426982028550 | eBay

316 Seamless Stainless Steel Round Tube. 1" OD x 0.083" Wall x 0.834" ID. Wall Type: Seamless. PRODUCT INFO.

www.ebay.com

 

[RemE]

Gonna have this baby on "Full Smoke Ahead" when I put that Turkey on.... apple pellets in the Smokin-it

BTW, I extended my tube 12" so now the smoke comes out right next to the fire pot and I get little to no blow back from the fan at all... all I get now is a Traeger full of smoke!!!!!!!!!!

316 Stainless Steel Round Tube, 1" OD x 0.083" Wall x 12" long, Seamless 7426982028550 | eBay

316 Seamless Stainless Steel Round Tube. 1" OD x 0.083" Wall x 0.834" ID. Wall Type: Seamless. PRODUCT INFO.

www.ebay.com

Just slipped this tube over the existing one? Nice idea.

I'm going to add apple smoke to my turkey as well!

 

[Smudge]

Gonna have this baby on "Full Smoke Ahead" when I put that Turkey on.... apple pellets in the Smokin-it

BTW, I extended my tube 12" so now the smoke comes out right next to the fire pot and I get little to no blow back from the fan at all... all I get now is a Traeger full of smoke!!!!!!!!!!

316 Stainless Steel Round Tube, 1" OD x 0.083" Wall x 12" long, Seamless 7426982028550 | eBay

316 Seamless Stainless Steel Round Tube. 1" OD x 0.083" Wall x 0.834" ID. Wall Type: Seamless. PRODUCT INFO.

www.ebay.com

Just had to break out my gun cleaning kit to clean the Smokin-it tube... wow does that thing get dirty and clogged...
but LOVE THAT SMOKE

So are you doing away with the plug when you are not using the generator? I just finished making my plug but if there is no blow back when you extended the tube, I may rethink this.

 

[RemE]

I would stick with the plug when not using the Bella. The grill is slightly pressurized in normal use so it would still back flow into the Bella when it isn't running.

 

[Smudge]

Hey RemE and Slimpicker,
I guess I’m confused so looking to be educated please. What was Slimpicker talking about when he said “little to no blow back from the fan at all”. I have yet to fire up my Bella so I’m confused between Slimpicker’s comment and RemE original post comment about blow back and the need for the plug. Thanks for the understanding.