The Universal Bowl Adaptor (for kettles and bullet smokers) uses a toggle bolt, washer and wing nut to secure the adaptor against the smoker vent. This how to install guide walks you through installation and provides some tips.
If you want to consider the drill method that enables you to install the adaptor higher, checkout the Kettle / Bullet alternative drilling guide.
What you'll need to proceed
- Smartfire "Universal Bowl" adaptor
- Your kettle/bullet smoker of choice
- Kettle install: Flat screwdriver
- Recommended: a second set of hands to hold the adaptor while securing the internal wingnut!
- Recommended : small Alfoil tray or old tea cup saucer as firebox shield
High level approach
We want to install the Smartfire close to one of the legs of the smoker and towards the 'front' of how you've orientated your smoker for easy access. Once we've secured the adaptor we'll want to provide some basic shielding in the firebox to prevent ash/embers falling directly through to the adaptor and/or superheating it with live fuel.
Videos!
We've got setup videos for both bullet smokers and kettles!
Bullet Smoker Steps (no drill)
A bullet smoker is the simplest so we'll start with that.
- Assemble the barrel onto the adaptor. Lock nut inside, silicone washer on the outside. Tight but not breaking the silicone washer is the goal. Reference photos here
- Figure out which daisy wheel you want to affix the adaptor to. Towards the front on the side where you'll have your power source is recommended.
- Clean the inside/outside of the daisy wheel as required
- The recommended location for the Smartfire barrel is towards the top of the daisy wheel and not direct aligned with a daisy wheel. We want the Smartfire to be blowing against the smoker wall, this helps protect it against ash/embers.
- You can change the bolt location with the grommet hole as appropriate so you get the best matchup
- If you have a Weber Smoky Mountain then you'll need to bend one or more of the daisy wheel tabs towards the centre of the wheel so that they fit under the bowl.
- Secure the adaptor with the washer then the wingnut, making sure it's level and holding securely. Doesn't need to be super tight.
- Double check that you haven't directly aligned the Smartfire coupler with a hole
- Test the fit with the Smartfire to see that the adaptor is secure enough.
Kettle Smoker steps (no drill)
If you haven't seen the video, checkout the video!
To do the install on a modern kettle with an "one touch" ash sweeper system we need to remove the sweeper that sits above the vent that we want to attach to. Then we can affix the Smartfire adaptor to that vent and still use the other two vents with manual control as you desire.
High Level Steps
- Remove ash catcher
- Locate sweeper #3
- Remove lever
- Remove sweeper
- Redo lever assembly
- Attach Universal Bowl
- Check for fit
Detailed Steps
- Assemble the barrel onto the adaptor. Lock nut inside, silicone washer on the outside. Tight but not breaking the silicone washer is the goal. Reference photos here
- Unclip the ash basket. The other vents will be closed while the smoker is running so it's no needed when using with Smartfire.
- Locate sweeper #3, its the sweeper that the open/close lever doesn't pass beneath. Otherwise the lever would hit the adaptor assembly when you try to use it!
- Mark the lever for reference and mark on the inside of the kettle where the arm was.
- Remove the lever. Flip the kettle over and wiggle a flat screwdriver under the lever bar and twist lever to unclip the tab facing up. Then rotate lever to align notch so you can pull it out.
- The sweeper assembly will fall out, so be ready for that. Remove sweeper #3 from the assembly and leave the other two connected.
- Attach lever. Insert sweeper assembly from below. Insert lever into the first hole to hold it. Push the sweeper assembly up to get lever notch through. Rotate lever so the tab clicks up into smoker.
- Check the lever function is working smoothly, and blocking the other two vents when in the closed position.
- The recommended location for the Smartfire barrel is to fire straight into the side of the smoker wall. We want the Smartfire to be blowing against the smoker wall, not directly through the vent, this helps protect it against ash/embers.
- You can change the bolt location with the grommet hole as appropriate so you get the best matchup
- Secure the adaptor with the washer then the wingnut, making sure it's level and holding securely. Doesn't need to be super tight.
- Double check that you haven't directly aligned the Smartfire coupler with a hole
- Test the fit with the Smartfire to see that the adaptor is secure enough.
Done!
All done. Just remember to keep fuel on the grate at least 1-2" away from the adaptor side. Live fuel sitting right against the adaptor will superheat it, which likely will result in melting things. A small alfoil tray or old tea saucer can be very useful so nothing is forgotten or accidental falls of stacked fuel.