We Fixed Our Pit Boss Temperature Issues in UNDER 5 Minutes!

[@madbackyard]

🔥 Heat Deflector Mod now available on Amazon. Check it out HERE ➡ amzn.to/456wwWA 🔥 Flame Tamer Style Diffuser ALSO now available on Amazon. ➡ amzn.to/45SFZRx

[@75novaguy73]

That diffuser is twice as expensive as smokeslikeaboss but the heat deflector is half as much

[@youmustbekidding7341]

A Better brand of a pellet grill is available everwhere

[@jmc041071]

Will the heat deflector work on a Pit Boss 700FB1?

[@TrevorRoberts-h9e]

I wish someone just made a flat version of the broiler shield without the option to sear. Would solve both of these problems.

[@daviddillow2113]

The diffuser in your link is much larger than the one in your video. Most of the reviews on amazon say it is too big for their pellet grill.

[@robertstewart5989]

You should not have to modify a $700 pellet smoker. Pit Boss needs to fix this.

[@mikewiththebluecar]

In my opinion it should’ve been fixed during their testing phase. These seem like common sense fixes.

[@mikesouders1]

I tried this. Then put thermometers throughout the grill. It ran 60° hotter than the temp read out said. Then I pulled the end cap mod and the temps averaged what was on the read out. It seems the engineers did account for this.

[@GlennPearsonDIY]

@@mikesouders1 I think it depends on the model. Yours might not be the same, or the design has been updated. This video is just almost a year and a half old.

[@carlossantini3605]

My new 850 model was redesigned and doesn’t need that piece

[@mikewiththebluecar]

@ mine came with the piece under the left side of the heat shield already installed but I did have to put a piece of steel channel over the fire to distribute the heat better. Before I installed that piece of channel the left side of the grill was 70-90 degrees hotter than the right. After installing it both sides are within 1-2 degrees of each other at 250 degrees but I did notice that at 350 degrees the left side gets about 40 degrees hotter than the right. It’s better than before but still not perfect at hotter temperatures.

[@vernonverrett844]

Thanks for being so kind to share these Useful tips for the Pitt Boss grills.

[@madbackyard]

Thanks for watching!

[@tsbrooks007]

Shout out to Mad Backyard for sharing these potential fixes! I've been frustrated with temperature issues since the 1150 came out. I'm ordering the deflector and tamer as soon as possible! Hopefully, Pit Boss will have enough sense to incorporate these two modifications into there production line so that new sales customers won't suffer our fate, and pay you a consulting fee as well.

[@madbackyard]

Ha, I won't hold my breath, but thank you for the kind words!

[@mikyflyy3175]

Believe it or not, it's been hard for me to find helpful videos with my pit boss, but this video was great. GOD bless you!

[@madbackyard]

Good to hear! Thanks!

[@heavyg2968]

I finally did my homework and came across this video. I purchased the two mods for the curved air gap and a diffuser over the firebox for my PB1100 Pro Pellet and Gas split. I was never able to keep my large low and slow cuts on the pellet grill long enough and therefore they were never as tender as I hoped. The center of the grill would run 20-40 deg over the firepot and therefore it cooked too quickly. Roasted a 5.5 lb pork butt yesterday and it pulled away from the bone with ease and I could tell it was going to shred nicely. Very happy with these changes and now I have hope for tender brisket the next time I smoke. Thanks very much for this info.

[@triage9082]

I just got this combo too and I think I'm having temp regulation issues too. Set to 270 fluctuates between 270 to 285. Can you link me the stuff you bought?

[@sslocke]

Pit Boss seems to have addressed the issue of heat going to the temp probe themselves. Just checked and my Nav 850 has a rounded off the area that the broiler sits on. So it's nice they tried to fix that issue.

[@madbackyard]

850s have always been rounded for some unknown reason…

[@michaelkeohane7941]

I really appreciate your taking the time to give assistance for these Pit Boss Smokers. I am still new to the game of smokers. I bought a Pit Boss 1150 at my local Lowes back in Summer of 2022. It took me three or four smokes before I realized that the very important piece of metal that should have been at the end of the heat deflector was missing and causing my cooks to take entirely too long because of the false temperature. I did the mods and it helped a little, but I have found that my Pit Boss to be an epic failure. It is less than two years old and it struggled last year to get to 350 and stay there. I probably got a lemon. I have a friend who has the Pit Boss 850 and she doesn't have half the problems. I am going to spend the extra money and get a Traeger Ironwood XL. It is a lot of money, but I have had some really frustrating smokes with this Pit Boss. What is most annoying about the Pit Boss 1150 is that they are still making them without the heat deflector mod.

[@tsbrooks007]

I agree with you on the temperature issues you mentioned. I've had my 1150 since the summer it came out and I've been through 3 control boards including the original one, an augur motor and a fan. Luckily the control boards were replaced under warranty (pretty good customer service in the 1st year, but still a pain). The rest out of pocket but not expensive. I just replaced the inner temperature probe before seeing this video, in hopes of getting more accurate temps. Shout out to Mad Backyard for sharing these potential fixes!

[@tvideo1189]

If I am not too late, look at the Camp Chef Woodwind series. GREAT pellet smokers, MUCH better than Traeger.

[@mlwilson69]

Ordered both for my Austin XL and Laredo 1000. I have to say they made a major difference in my temp fluctuations. I would, definitely, recommend the diffuser and air gap mod to anyone having temperature issues.

[@madbackyard]

Awesome, thanks for the feedback, it's always good to hear that products I recommend are working for other people besides just myself! 🤪

[@UnavailableUserID]

Thanks for this ! I just bought a Pit Boss 1250 Competition Series and made my own for free with scrap laying around the garage.

[@madbackyard]

That is awesome!

[@jeremytrice6284]

Your video helped tremendously!! I’m a fabricator. Took a piece of 20 gauge stainless and made my own rolled ledge for the flame broiler to set on. Also remember to use stainless steel for that little piece of C channel that you put over the broiler. Some steel is cooked with chemicals and may get end up in your food. Thanks 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@madbackyard]

Nice!👍

[@edwardcowburn2632]

The air gap on my pro series 850 is rounded on the left side already. I bought the flame tamer a few years ago and it works wonderfully! It was well worth the money. Thanks so much for this video. Keep up the good work.

[@madbackyard]

Thanks so much!!

[@johnnycortez46]

​​@@madbackyard I just bought the navigator 850g. Haven't used it yet. Maybe that flame tamer would work on mine. Or just cut a piece "C" Channel and use it

[@samuelsaeturn]

I purchased both of these items a couple of years ago from smokes like a boss and I can confirm that my 1100 has way better temperature control now!

[@dhansel4835]

Pit Boss 1150 temp Run-A-Way I purchased my Pit Boss last November when Lowe’s had their $500 off sale. I used it twice without any problem. The cooking temp was rock solid. Yesterday, Feb 14th I put some chicken leg quarters and hamburger meat on the Pit Boss. I had the temp set at 270 deg F. I have been watching the You Tube videos on cooking chicken leg quarters at 270 deg F. for about 3-4 hours. I was outside watching things when in about 2 hours my temperature went from 270 deg to 310 deg F. I hadn’t changed anything. I called Pit Boss and talked to Mr. Jo. He hadn’t had a clue. He ask what kind of pellets I was using and I told him Oak Kingsford pellets. He said he never heard the name Kingsford pellets or charcoal bricks. The pellets were new and dry so I don’t know what was going on. I always clean out all the pellets when I cook. This includes all the pellets in the auger tube. Anyone have this problem?

[@South40613]

Great info. I have the issues you addressed. Though I have a different problem now the display board is hard to read. Also it shuts off at random. I unplug it to reset.

[@madbackyard]

I’m definitely not an expert on electronics but sounds like it may be a controller or power supply issue that there is no way to fix other than replacing. I would contact Pit Boss tell them to send you a new one.

[@lafawnduh1543]

I just got a pit boss last weak and was struggling with the temps. Thank you for the tips. Awesome video.

[@madbackyard]

Glad it helped, thanks!🙏

[@shannonlambert8826]

Thanks for the video . I just looked at my pit boss and yeah my thermometer is coated with a lot of grease and chard food . I have to clean now after watching this .

[@madbackyard]

Glad it helped!

[@Shamrock365lawn]

Omg! Thank you! I upgraded my panel to wifi/bluetooth and got these….nailin the temps now

[@madbackyard]

Glad it helped!

[@MrLemurman]

I am new to pellet smoking and have a Lockhart Platinum which has put a lot of ash in the box and I was on the phone with Pit Boss this morning and I mentioned I had just ordered the diffuser and the lady told me that ANY 3rd party accessory would void the warranty.... having read many here that have already installed these two items, I think it is the right path to a fix for many....

[@madbackyard]

You can use the diffuser without screwing it in. It just slips right into the slots on the flame broiler and the weight will hold it in place.

[@ramonlawrence8375]

Just bought a Pitboss sportsman 820 and had the heat issue because of the center being hotter. So glad i came across your page🙏.

[@madbackyard]

Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching!

[@toddthompson3311]

I know I'm late to all this, but you guys at Mad Backyard are awesome! Thanks so much for your videos!

[@madbackyard]

Welcome aboard! Thank you!🙏

[@Sebastopolmark]

GREAT video. I have a Camp Chef and it seems that all the pellet brands have their own unique problems. One thing I didn't hear you say how important it is to keep that temp. probe CLEAN. Once the probe gets caked up, the grill temp can vary quite a bit so CLEAN THAT TEMP PROBE! !! !!!

[@madbackyard]

Thanks! Yes, you are absolutely correct, thanks for pointing that out!

[@mngold3464]

I've been having so many problems with mine and it's so disappointing. Gonna try this and see if it helps

[@EduSouza-d6f]

I have that problem right now with my pit bbq thanks for the tip I’ll buying as soon i can

[@dtrust68]

i needed this video like a year ago lol. the temps were like 30 to 40 deg off. thinking it was the thermometer they sent me a new one and i had the same issue. got tired of it, so i sold my pit boss.

[@madbackyard]

Haha. Well thanks for watching!

[@Farcry-yh4mu]

I just bought a Pro850 from Lowe's and they've already fixed the gap issue by the probe. I did buy the diverter for over the firebox. Thanks for the tip

[@scottallberry]

I bought the same grill a couple months ago and I noticed the curved bit was already fixed

[@Deluxe4066]

Didn’t feel like spending $80 on them since the reason I went with the pit boss is because it was cheaper then all the others. Instead I went to Lowe’s and bought 26 gauge sheet metal for $9 and made took some measurements and cut them my self with my harbor freight shears.

[@madbackyard]

That’s great!!

[@ericskelton8109]

@@madbackyard I hope the sheet metal wasn't galvanized.

[@austincurrier7460]

@@ericskelton8109probably not i hope . If your trying to save money why would you buy the galvanized stuff lol

[@badouglas33]

Make me one, please. 😊

[@MichaelCook1981]

@@ericskelton8109A36 steel isn’t usually galvanized.

[@techguy3507]

Thank you. I kept saying there was a crazy hot spot in the center. I'm new to this so I was so happy to hear I was right! I'll order the part!

[@suicidebylifestyle9267]

I've got a smaller pitboss and the firepot is directly underneath the temp probe, so simplly opening the lid you get swings like a damn acrobat.

[@dennisklinedinst]

Thanks for a very informative video. Hoping the deflector solves my temp issues. Will let you know. I"ve ordered the deflector.

[@madbackyard]

Right on, thank you!

[@heavyg2968]

Thanks!

[@madbackyard]

Thank you so much!!

[@lauriemillage3369]

Happy 4th of July! This video on dealing with inaccurate temperatures was very helpful. We are new to smoking and the few cooks that we have done to this point did not turn out as well as hoped. We believe a big part of the less than desirable result was due to the huge temperature variations. The ambient temp (measured on the grate), over the burn pot was almost 100 degrees below the set temp of 250. The temp at on the hopper side of the grill was about 20 degrees below the temp at the burn pot, and the temp at the smoke stack end was about 30 degrees less than at the burn pot. We have a PS850PS2, so the curved deflector was already incorporated by Pit Boss. We purchased the massive Flame Tamer referenced in your Amazon link. It evened out the temps very well. Pit Boss should incorporate this into future builds. I have a couple other questions I’m hoping you can help us with. When you select your cooking temp, for example, 250 degrees, do you expect the ambient temp a couple of inches above the grates to be at 250 or do you assume the ambient temp to be 20-30 degrees less than the set temp? We put a Meater in the middle of a pork butt approximately, about 3” above the grates and the temp was around 220. We are unsure whether we should increase the set temp to allow us to reach the 250 at the middle of the butt or leave it at 250. The second question is in regards to the hopper design. We were told by Pit Boss that a 20lb hopper should last around 16 hours when set at 250. We filled the hopper with new pellets. After 6 hours, the hopper was still 3/4 full but there was a tunnel of no pellets exposing the auger. Is there a fix to get the pellets to fall evenly so we don’t have constantly jiggle the grill to make the pellets fall? Thanks in advance !

[@madbackyard]

Hi Laurie! Glad the flame tamer helped with your temp issues. There's nothing wrong with turning the temp up to 270 or so if you find your Pit Boss running a little below your setting. I hadn't found the flame tamer mod yet back when I made this video so my smoker tended to run too hot which is why I kept it back a little at 250 knowing it might be creeping up to 270 in reality. I love using the Meater as well but keep in mind there sometimes will be a cooler "bubble" of air around your meat which is where the Meater is reading, especially during the first half of the cook. This is just from the cooler temp of the meat itself, evaporation, etc. So, its normal for the Meater to read a little lower than the true cooking temp. It will usually come up more to what you expect as the meat cooks and gets hotter. As far as the hopper, I made a video showing how to remove the grate so you can brush and even out the pellets with your hand if you want to. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6GWg6udh82rba8. If you don't want to do this, you can use a paint stick to jostle the pellets and even them out so you dont have to shake your whole smoker. Hope that answers your questions! Thanks for watching the channel!

[@jojofixer]

My Pit Boss has given me an overheat error from day 1. A new control panel didn't fix it but THAT metal side piece will this afternoon. Thank you!

[@madbackyard]

Hopefully does the trick, thanks for watching!

[@kensharp1630]

I gave up on the direct flame option on my Pit Boss. I purchased a Heat defuser from Smoke Daddy which is modified for the pit boss curved sides. Enjoy your videos.

[@mJones6]

Hello. Just got the PB850 ps2 and it has the rounded lip on both sides. Doesn’t have the fire pot cover. Good to see them making corrections! Maybe they saw your video!

[@madbackyard]

Hey Michael- thanks for watching! I believe I heard that they never changed the rounded lip on the 850 for some reason. A couple other people have told me their 850s don’t have this issue. All the other recent models, as of right now at least, do though. The smokes like a boss guys have the full list on their website. Thankfully you don’t have to deal with it!

[@BlueandSong]

I have have the same Pit Boss, PB850PS2 and just checked their list and looks like Heat deflector isn’t available for my model.

[@shanesimmons6127]

This was a really helpful video. I ordered both today. Excited to see the difference

[@madbackyard]

Glad it helped Shane! Thanks for watching!!

[@marilyndoucet3106]

Where can I order these items? 2:27

[@madbackyard]

​@@marilyndoucet3106 I bought mine from smokeslikeaboss.com. There are also Amazon versions available now, keep in mind they are not exactly the same but many have purchased them and reported good results: Heat Deflector Mod ➡ amzn.to/456wwWA 🔥 Flame Tamer Style Diffuser ➡ amzn.to/45SFZRx

[@tonykuriger573]

Got a pit boss pro 850 about 3 months ago. The ledge for the heat-shield is curved to match so seems like that feature has been fixed as standard. The extra shield for the firepot sounds nifty though.

[@madbackyard]

For whatever reason the 850 never had this problem. But on most other models they made a straight edge. I will have to look at some new floor models this spring to see if they ever changed it on the larger versions.

[@upstatecre8]

Man thanks posting this video! Your material plus the ideas in the comments is enlightening!

[@madbackyard]

Thank you so much!

[@FSULAUBACH]

Thank you for this. I've been having crazy temp differences between what it was reporting and what it actually was. I just ordered this it should be here today fingers crossed because it's been driving my bunkers trying to figure out!

[@madbackyard]

Glad it helped, thanks for watching!

[@75novaguy73]

Neat. I watched a video on their website and it appears that not all pitbosses have this issue. Maybe just the older ones??? I got to go pull the cover on ours and check now. We've only done the bake off and cooked in it once so wasn't really paying attention to that. We have the slider for searing etc but I do believe ill be making one from a sheet of stainless myself now that I know what it looks like. Now that I know this is an issue for a hot spot in the middle It does explain some of the oddities we experienced in cooking. I will order that side cover tho for the probe if ours doesnt have it.

[@chrisyerp174]

Did all these mods years ago where where ya at lol. I did thermal images via my fluke got my temp deffs to 8 degrees across my whole top

[@madbackyard]

Awesome!

[@gchomuk]

Great info here, thanks. I've suspected the temp readings on my Pitboss 700fb weren't accurate. Was excited to see this fix. I checked the website you mentioned, and they don't list the 700fb. Hmm. Might be time to disassemble it, clean it, and have a look. My first pellet smoker. My son found them on sale over the winter, and he talked me into buying one, too. I'm glad I did. It's much easier to use than my WSM. Consequently, I use it more often.

[@madbackyard]

I love my WSM. First smoker I ever bought. Everything I have made in It has tasted Amazing. But yes, it can be an ordeal to setup and cleanup for a just a simple meal.

[@duanehenicke6602]

That's the first thing most notice once buying a pellet grill. You cook way more outside than you ever did. I love mine for baking.

[@bradleygray2511]

Wrap temp prob loosely with tin foil. I was struggling with temp issues on my copperhead v5 for three years and finally figured it out. Tin foil is your friend brother! Thanks for the tips

[@madbackyard]

Interesting...thanks for sharing! What's the rationale behind doing this? Just to keep it clean or to lower the perceived temperature?

[@mikebingham469]

Very good info! New Pit Boss owner here. Keep ‘em coming! 👍

[@madbackyard]

Thanks!! Make sure to also check out our website madbackyard.com!

[@whitetiger6868]

I am in Northern Illinois so in winter i have a welding blanket from a harbor Freight that i use to cover the smoker to help hold in the heat better for those cold winter smokes. I had a vertical smoker from Pit Boss originally and it had a heat diffuser that came with it. I wonder if that would work here if they offer it as a replacement part

[@madbackyard]

Great tip!

[@scottconwayfitness]

This is incredibly helpful. I just bought my first pellet grill (Pit Boss Pro 1600) last week, and have noticed exactly what you just described. Thanks for all of your content!

[@madbackyard]

Glad it helped! Thanks!

[@travisguilbeau8404]

I went with Pitboss specifically because the sear plate but I wasn’t aware of the issues I’d have. I’m glad I found this, I actually ordered the flame tamer. I didn’t need the air gap mod because my pit has the round plate. We will see how it goes!

[@Jaykav99]

Same for me with the 1150...good luck to us both now i have to some how wait patiently for the mods to ship lol

[@travisguilbeau8404]

@@Jaykav99 let me know how it works for you. As soon as I get it I’m doing a Boston butt!

[@ericmoran9510]

Is it the same size for the 1150 and 1600. I just got a 1600 proseries today.

[@edaced4]

Excellent vid! So, theoretically you could wad up some aluminum foil and put it the space by the thermometer?? You could probably make a "cover" for the pot as well...just thinkin here

[@madbackyard]

Yes. I actually tested with a rolled up wad of aluminum foil before ordering the piece itself and it worked the same. Just annoying to have to constantly reposition every time you move the flame broiler. As far as the cover for the fire pot, I'm not sure if you were implying to use foil there too, I would NOT. Unless you really know what you are doing with sheet metal and can fabricate a similar mod, I would just order theirs.

[@marcusdavilla1310]

Concise and very helpful- Thank you!

[@madbackyard]

Glad it helped!

[@stebstebanesier6205]

I have a ZGRILLS smoker, got it back in 2019, before prices went crazy. I love it, never had a bit of trouble with it, only complaint is that it didn't have casters on the hopper side legs, but, nothing a welder and some casters ordered from Amazon didn't take of.

[@madbackyard]

Yes mine has performed well too. I only wish the lid and frame were a little more heavy duty but temperature control has been great. Thankfully they must have switched to adding 4 casters since then!

[@TheJbaker19]

GREAT video, thank you! I just got my Pit Boss 850 and I thought you'd like to know: they fixed the flat/round heat deflector problem! My heat shield rests on 2 rounded ends, out of the box. I'll be buy that flame tamer soon though :)

[@jackratcliffe2916]

I just ordered both items that you use. Look forward to share my experience. I'm retired , 75 years old, Tool & Die Machnist and Master Pattern Maker. But I'll let these people make mine..just saying

[@madbackyard]

Haha, well thanks for watching. Sometimes it’s just easier that way isn’t it!

[@Kevin-bi3qt]

Thank you for this video. I made these modifications, and it was a great improvement.

[@madbackyard]

Great to hear! Thanks!

[@fixandfoodgman6987]

Awesome Thks just got into smoking and noticed the temp flux

[@erickatica6790]

I made this from thick sheet metal, works great, thank you

[@DaveHess]

To prevent the heat from coming up the grate, I put heavy duty foil over the entire curved dome. It also keeps the grease off of it.

[@Shak22B]

I just used foil on the plate today and had some odd results. Seemed like my cook took an extra hr - 1.5 hrs. I think the foil caused even further temp issues.

[@ericviola8659]

I noticed my temperature fluctuations were happening because of smoke residue/grease building up on the wired connection prongs for the probe. The prongs for me were located on the backside of the pellet hopper behind a metal guard that can be unscrewed. There are wires with metal prongs at the end that connect into each other. Its the probe connecting into the controller board. After removing the guard, the prongs have a rubber guard around them. I found residue all around the outside and the inside of the rubber. I cleaned them with 90% isopropyl alcohol with q-tips and it helped immensley. I do keep the actual probe clean too but it doesnt help near the amount as keeping the connector pieces free of residue. My original problem was the grill kept overheating and shutting off after 6 months of decent use. Tried a few different things but that was the culprit, and it also helpes with temperature fluctuations and keeping the correct temperature that is read on the sceen. I regularly clean once per month or 2 now and haven't had any issues at all with overheating or incorrect temperatures.

[@madbackyard]

Thanks for sharing that tip! It’s not an area I would think to check on the grill for grease buildup but I guess it can happen!

[@ericviola8659]

@Mad Backyard ya its on a pitboss 580 square inch. I bought an Austin xl onyx and noticed it didn't have those prongs on the outside of the smoker any where. So it's probably just specific to that models or models that run the connection on the outside

[@madbackyard]

Cool, thanks for sharing!

[@Hurc]

The pro 850 has the curved seat already thankfully, but I did just order the piece for over the burn pot. Thanks for the info. Good vids. Smoke On

[@madbackyard]

Cool, thanks for watching!

[@juliestockton8079]

Thanks for this very informative and helpful video!

[@roguerebel2023]

As I was watching this I was thinking that my Pit Boss wasn't flat on the left side that I remember so I checked, and sure enough mine is rounded on both ends. I have a PB820PS1 which is about four years old, so maybe the newer models are flat. The only issue I have had with it is that priming doesn't work anymore, otherwise it has been a great unit!

[@madbackyard]

Yes, some of the previous models were rounded. I’m not sure why they made the change on the 1150 and other newer series. That stinks about priming. So the auger still turns normally, just not when you hold the prime button?

[@holcombgl]

Have both mods. Have the 3 window flame tamer. I have the older Pitboss 1000. Same issue lack of smoke flavor unable to cook anything over the middle even on the top rack it gets crispy on the bottom of the meat. Temps all over the place. Get more accurate temps with the heat shield to the side. However get issue with flame going out with the boiler plate over the middle especially on lower temps not so much on higher temps. Also it takes a while for the grill to get up to temp with it on as well as it is burning a lot hotter with it on if you measure across the grill but you do get more even cooking. I have had my Pitboss for 6 years. So I am just riding with it until I can pick up a new pellet grill but Pitboss will not be an option next go around. Borrowed my friend old Traeger not the one with the PID system. Cooked ribs at 225 on both with same seasoning and the difference in flavor and presentation was vastly different.

[@madbackyard]

I have had a good experience with the Z Grill if you are looking for an alternative to Pit Boss that's not as expensive as a Traeger. Supposedly it was started by some designers who used to work at Traeger but I'm not 100% sure if that's true. It's definitely not built as solid and heavy duty as a Traeger, or even the Pit Boss for that matter, BUT it has really even and consistent heating if that's the main thing you are looking for. Here's the full review on our website. Thanks for watching! www.madbackyard.com/z-grills-pellet-grill-review/

[@holcombgl]

@@madbackyard Thanks for the response. I think I will just dish out the money this time. Looking at a rectec or the weber ex6. Leaning more to the Weber for its features.

[@chuckmarkham9303]

Thanks VERY MUCH for this info!!.My PitBoss Pro Series 850 was getting as much a 30-40 degree difference from display Temp to ACTUAL temp.Was going to buy a replacement Temp probe until seeing this video. Kudos to you!!

[@madbackyard]

Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching!

[@BLUDSHOTiZ]

They mention that the Austin XL Onyx does not need the air gap mod but I'm going to look into the flame tamer, thanks for the info!

[@madbackyard]

Thanks for watching! I'm not sure about that model. Just check if the lip of the shelf it rests on is already curved and flush against it. I know that's how the 850 pro series is.

[@BLUDSHOTiZ]

@@madbackyard yeah they're curved from the factory on the new onyx.

[@paulfamilyadventures439]

I'm frustrated right now trying to cook ribs. Just ordered suggested mods, I hope they give you a commission. Thanks for making this video!

[@madbackyard]

Ha, no commission or affiliation with them. But the parts worked for me. In the meantime try putting your ribs on upper rack with an aluminum water pan below to block and disperse some of the direct heat from the fire pot.

[@madbackyard]

You can also ball up some foil into a tube and shove it on the shelf where the heat deflector will eventually go to block the hot air from hitting your thermostat. Somebody else commented with that idea and it’s a good one.

[@toms.3977]

Custom fabricators are awesome! Some things you just can't do yourself.

[@kurtjunkersfeld6074]

Great video. I recently got a PB 850 Pro Series from Lowes. I've done some good cooking on it and got some good results, but I've been seeing some comments around about inaccurate temperatures and I stumbled up on your video. Happy to report that the first fix you had (the deflector thing) is actually included in my Pitboss so they must have watched your video :P. My PB isn't the same as yours, so I don't have that big flat plate that's level with my burn pot like yours. I think I'll go get some steel and just make a simple defelctor that will rest on the bottom of my grill and work like that deflector, kinda wondering if there's some way I can add a lever similar to the searing plate lever that slides the deflector out of the way... don't know that I want to hack up my grill that much though so I think I'll just do it the hard way and remove the burner plate every time. Thanks for all of the tips!

[@madbackyard]

Thanks for the kind words! Yes, the 850 has always had a curved lip from what I understand. Not sure why it's different on just that model, but at least you dont need that mod. I took out the big flat plate you mention because other people claimed it did nothing and was throwing off their temperatures. I'm not sure if it helped but it definitely hasn't hurt anything. And I saw Pit Boss stopped including it on newer models as well so they must have found the same thing. The flame tamer still sits on top of the burn pot even without it. In fact I pull on it a little and squeeze it around the screw heads so it actually sits very snug and doesn't move around at all once it pinches down on them. If I want to knock it off to sear I open the sear plate and knock it out of the way with a slotted screwdriver and I don't have to take the flame broiler off while cooking. Hope that helps!

[@ogghostprepper9138]

Just got a Pit Boss Sportsman 1000 for Father's Day. Wife and kids surprised me. Doing steaks on it today. Looks like I'll go out to the shop and fab these 2 parts before I put food in it.

[@madbackyard]

What a great present, thanks for watching! Hope you enjoy the new smoker. Make sure to check out our other pellet grill videos and all our Pit Boss recipes at madbackyard.com.

[@velmasshaggy]

Thank you sir. I recently purchased the 1600 series and I've noticed that it's so big it's hard to keep an even temperature across the entire space

[@madbackyard]

Glad I could help, thanks for watching!

[@oysterphish7516]

Did this fit your 1600

[@thomasmeeks55]

which heat deflecter would i need for the Pit Boss Wood Pellet Pro Series 850-Sq in Hammertone Pellet Grill with Smart Compatibility

[@madbackyard]

I would check the smokes like a boss website. They have a running list of compatible models.

[@RonRabie]

I don't know when you did this but my new Lexington has this temperature baffle built in.

[@RonRabie]

Also, the plate over the slots in the broiler plate is solid, which adds metal between the firebox and the cooking aea.

[@madbackyard]

Good to know! Maybe they watched this video… 🧐 😆

[@woody65536]

I am going to try putting foil over the broiler when I do ribs and brisket instead of getting the flame tamer.

[@madbackyard]

Let us know how it works for you!

[@5.56JMAY]

I also see on their website that they have firebox mods with 3 and 4 window options. Wondering how these would compare to the original

[@madbackyard]

Yeah I saw those recently too. I may try the 3 window one to help direct more heat away from the left side which tends to get hotter with the flame broiler being closer to the grates on that side.

[@tonymo4138]

@@madbackyard I did testing before and after the diffuser. I ended up being within 30 or so degrees across the grill. I contacted Smoke Like a Boss, and they suggested the 4 window. I tested afterwards, and with the exception of the edges, I'm say within 10-15 degrees across the grates. The only thing I've noticed now is that due to the Flame Tamer, my temp runs a bit under the probed temp, so I end up cooking slightly hotter.

[@johnnycortez46]

I have the navigator that I just bought. I'll check my heat and see if I need the different heat shield

[@madbackyard]

Thanks! Lets us know how it works out!

[@87espinoza87]

Great video explaining this. But it just seems like more work then it’s worth.

[@madbackyard]

Thanks for watching! It’s really not. Once you place the mods there’s not much else to do.

[@87espinoza87]

@@madbackyard once you did these two changes was the temperature more consistent long term. This is literally the main reason i moved away from purchasing the pit boss. I’m still like one week away from making my finale choice.

[@madbackyard]

Yes it has been. If you want out of the box temp consistency and evenness in a similar price range then check out the Z grills line. I have the 700D3 and that thing runs like clockwork. However, no searing option. Only indirect heat. That’s the trade off with Pit Boss having that flame broiler plate with the direct heat option which is really nice for finishing sears on steaks, chicken wings, roasts, etc. Can’t do that on the Z grill.

[@johnnyhoover5870]

Glad I found your channel. I made my own cover for the fire box but never thought about the gap by the thermometer. Thanks for the video.

[@madbackyard]

Right on Johnny, thanks for watching!

[@reddog907]

My 1150 has the heat diffuser and is curved , I have never had a problem with fluctuating temps. As for the flame tamer I do a lot of searing and prefer that it does not get covered. Thanks for your tips.

[@madbackyard]

Thanks for watching Rob! Glad to hear you haven't had temperature issues like I did. I like that the flame tamer is easily removable when you want to use the direct heat. You can even use slotted screwdriver through the grates and knock it out of the way so you don't' have to take everything out to move it.

[@reddog907]

@@madbackyard ha ha I like the screw driver trick , food for thought , pun intended. Cheers

[@madbackyard]

Nice.

[@masonryjoe]

Wow, just looked to get one and out of stock indefinitely, what happened, guess I'm going to have to make one ! I subbed and liked, cheers !

[@madbackyard]

hi Joe- Thanks for the sub! They go in and out of stock pretty frequently. I would just check back in a day or two.

[@masonryjoe]

Ok, Thank you !@@madbackyard

I have a PB Pro Series with the smoker on the left side and grill on right. I like it, but seem to be experiencing an unexpected temperature increase on last several smokes where I have it at 250 and look at it later and it is rising to 500 or more. I have had one flame out (probably because I didn’t notice the unacceptable temperature increase in time). When I have caught it, it doesn’t help to turn the heat down to 200 or lower. Have to keep the lid open, until it goes down. But doesn’t always stop it from taking off again and blowing past 250 in excess of 350-400. Then it stops and goes back to normal through the rest of the cook. Messes with the meat and not good. I clean the fire pot before each cook. Not sure hat to do. Have you heard of this happening? Love your videos! They really are helpful.

[@AllenFranco-mc4wh]

Did you ever figure it out mine is doing the same thing

@ I did not, unfortunately.

[@klvs2ply]

did the heat deflected over the fire pot on my pb laredo 1000 and my temperatures were wacked. a simple piece of hd aluminum foil over the top of the sear plate just in the center works like a charm in the laredo 1000

[@madbackyard]

I wouldn’t advise putting foil on or over your burn pot of flame broiler.

[@klvs2ply]

@@madbackyard i just lay a small piece on the bottom rack above the fire box and sear plate and it works perfectly. I tried a heat defuser and my grill wouldn’t work right no matter what direction I turned it. The problem is the sear plate doesn’t seal completely especially once they get older.

[@ctech01]

Thanks for the info. I have a PB850PS2 Pro Series. With the smaller cooking area, it can be tricky moving large cuts of meat around and not getting it over searer. The 4-window Flame Tamer is the mod i have been looking for. I just ordered it, and Subscribed, Thank you.😎

[@madbackyard]

Glad it helped, thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@jakesmith5739]

Thanks guys, awesome video. I am experiencing the same issue with the PB 1150 running below the setting. Thanks!

[@madbackyard]

Glad it helped, thanks for watching!

[@jackratcliffe2916]

Thank you for sharing your video . I enjoyed the information . I have a 1600 Elite and will try the plate there at the temp. gage area. Thank You again

[@madbackyard]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks!

[@oysterphish7516]

Did this fit your 1600?

[@lequadagilbert8532]

Thanks for that info! What’s the brand of thermometer you’re using?

[@madbackyard]

That was an older one, but you can use any good probe thermometer. Make sure they come with the little clips to attach to your grates. I now like this one from Thermopro: amzn.to/3MVAoSB

[@imadjawad4408]

very helpful🙂, thank you for sharing!

[@madbackyard]

Thank you! 🙏

[@stone8597]

I own a Louisiana smoker that looks a lot like the Pit Boss. I am having the opposite problem. To get the grill to as low as 200 - 220 I have to set the computer to 170, and that is low as the computer goes. Any though on how to solve the problem? Thanks, and this is an excellent video.

[@madbackyard]

Thanks for the kind words! I haven’t used a Louisiana pellet smoker personally but a couple thoughts come to mind. Make sure the temperature probe is very clean. You can use some isopropyl alcohol on a paper towel to wipe off any accumulated grease that may be blocking heat from getting to it thus giving you a lower temperature reading. Secondly, it’s HOT everywhere in the country right now. It’s really hard to keep temps down in any smoker under 200 on a hot day especially in direct sunlight. Try moving the smoker to the shade and also opening your exhaust vent all the way on hot days to get that airflow moving through a little faster. Hope that helps!

[@kirbybruc]

Thanks for the video, I'm going to buy a Z Grill.

[@madbackyard]

😆

[@RicoRich74]

Great video and tips 🔥🔥🔥

[@madbackyard]

Thank you!

[@michaelnemeth689]

Great video. Just placed my order!

[@madbackyard]

Glad it helped, thanks for watching!

[@phtevenchevas3960]

Well done video! Great tips

[@IzzyEatz]

Cleaning the temp gauge And the vent chimney. Open all the way changes stuff to

[@madbackyard]

Great tip about cleaning the temperature probe! I found a little isopropyl alcohol on a rag works well to get the built up grease off.

[@IzzyEatz]

@@madbackyard I had temp issues with mine… I had to replace the motherboard and Rod lighter after 2 years…. They make em very cheap

[@carlpettey5651]

Thanks you for your video. I went to their site and it appears they don't support the 820S model I have and couldn't find another company who makes one. Wish I could upgrade to a newer model but am retired now and not in my budget.

[@mikewiththebluecar]

I’d love to see an option to have a rod connected to the flame tamer so you could pull it out of the way when you want to use the sear option. All you’d need is a small piece of sheet metal bent 90 degrees to mount to the bottom of the grill to act as a guide and stop for the rod.

[@timothywagner9878]

Thanks for the video and sharing your knowledge. I just got the heat defuser. Do you think I need both the heat defuser and the flame blocker? I have the 1150 plus Pit boss. Thank you again for sharing

[@madbackyard]

Heat diffuser will help with your overall temperature accuracy issues (what display says vs what temp the pit is actually at). But you will still have a hot spot over the firepot without the flame tamer. Just try cooking for a couple weeks and see if it bothers you you can always order it then. Another option is to put a pan of water in the center and cook food on the top rack. But this can be kind of a pain to do every time. Let us know how it goes, thanks for watching!

[@timothywagner9878]

@@madbackyard Thanks for the advice I see a big improvement on my temps with just the defuser. I’m doing a chuck roast. I’ll go ahead and order the flame blocker and then the temps should be really close

[@madbackyard]

Awesome, good luck with the chuck roast!!

[@redneckgearheadgarage495]

Pit boss seems to have made some upgrades. My wife won a pitbos 850 and the curved plate sits on a curved mount.

[@dspur3994]

Z Grill temp probe, fire pot, and diffuser plate design just like my 2016 Traeger.

[@madbackyard]

Yes, they are very similar in design. I think I read somewhere that Z grills was actually started by some old Traeger engineers.

[@wadec6799]

Awesome video can I ask ya right now if you were gonna buy a pellet smoker for under 500 bucks what would ya buy?

[@KikoValleyMan]

I ended up getting the PB850DX still new to me but love it so far.

[@JamesLennard-t1l]

Great video! Have you run into any problems with the Pit Boss temperature being too high (e.g. higher than what you set the control to)? Ours is always too hot. Pit Boss sent us a new temperature probe, but that didn't fix the issue.

[@madbackyard]

Thank you! Make sure to also kelp the temp probe very clean with isopropyl alcohol so it’s reading the true temp. I think the flame tamer might help as well if the issue is mostly in the center. If it’s the entire pit boss and WAY off, by like more than 50-100 degrees, as I’ve heard some people say, you may need a new control board and it’d be better just to contact pit boss about getting a new model.

[@mattrowe1229]

i watch all your r vids,always meessing with gillls, do you think by adding aluminumfoil to a pitboss heat difuser wold reflect the heat downward and not up to the plate, i have the pb150 tabletop model

[@madbackyard]

Thanks for watching our channel!! Someone on here mentioned balling up some aluminum foil to go in the spot where the heat deflector plate would go near the temperature probe to accomplish the same goal of blocking the hot air. I think it’s a great idea to try out before you buy the deflector to make sure it works for you. I think that’s how I’m understanding your question. As far as the flame tamer, I would not use any aluminum foil near the fire pot as it’s just going to burn up and adhere to stuff and make a mess. It just gets too hot in that area.

[@mattrowe1229]

@@madbackyard k,thanks

[@The_Real_Indiana_Joe]

My pit boss is rounded on the left side, they must have changed that. The hot spot in the middle was a problem though. I took a flat piece of steel (about 5"x7" or so), drilled a hole in each corner and put a small carriage bolt through with a double nut so I could adjust the height. I put it on the heat shied right over the hot spot and adjusted the height so it sits right below the grates. It did the trick, no hotspot 😁

[@jonathanl790]

Alternative option for the cheap/frugal people like me: Ball up heavy duty foil into a fat sausage and place under the heat diffuser to seal the gap and put a 6”x18” or 12”x18” 16gauge steel plate bent into an arch over the fire pot.

[@madbackyard]

I did experiment with folding some foil over the gap (I didnt ball it up like you say, that would have been a better idea!) before I placed my order to prove that the concept would work. I does work but can be a pain to constantly position and replace so I went ahead and ordered the heat deflector from them. Thanks for watching!

[@jonathanl790]

@@madbackyard the foil part is definitely a convenience trade off, but a foil sausage will typically stay put once it is smooshed under the deflector. Mine has only had to be repositioned after removing the deflector for cleaning. I'm not trying to take away from the correct "tool" for the job, but I like giving people different options and finding ways to save here and there (within reason) for more meat money is fun. Anyway, great video!

[@Shak22B]

​@@madbackyardThoughts on foiling the heat diffuser and sear plate? I see it recommended a lot for easy cleanup, but I had some temp issues with it when I tried.

[@shanepowell5115]

Thanks for making this video 😊

[@madbackyard]

Thanks for watching!

[@jmethlouthi]

I have a z grill 450a which is my first pellet smoker and a Pro Series 2 1150. The zgrill runs over 100 degrees hotter on the right side of the grill. Way higher temp swings on the zgrill vs the pitboss.

[@madbackyard]

That’s interesting because as I show in the video my z grill has a much more even temp than my Pit Boss because of the dual heat diffusion.

[@danielploy9143]

Interesting. You think you could use some aluminum sheet pans on top of the heat diffuser?

[@madbackyard]

Hi Daniel- On the cooking grates, yes. It would be hard to position a pan right on the curved flame broiler and definitely don't put directly on the fire pot. The one from smokes like a boss is designed to have clearance and airflow which is why ok to position right on the firepot. I like to also sometimes use a disposable aluminum pan with water in it right in the center on the cooking grates above the fire pot and put my meat up on the top rack. This not only adds moisture to cooking chamber which helps with smoke absorption, but adds another layer of heat diffusion from below too. Thanks for watching!

[@danielploy9143]

I’m gonna install them with angle brackets under the grate. I’m not a fan of the rounded flame broiler style that pit boss uses. I’m using two heat diffusers above the burn pot. The aluminum pan will sit a couple inches above the heat diffusers and a couple inches under the grates. Get it good and level to use water in pan if wanted. Was originally worried the aluminum would get to hot and possibly become toxic? Water should be my friend if the pan gets too hot. I found a 18” x 26” pan on Amazon. Full baking sheet.

[@madbackyard]

Sounds interesting…let us know how it turns out!