Weber Kettle Sensor Slot Modification

[@wstewart5532]

Thanks for the courage! I finally took the plunge and did this to my WSM after all these years of closing the lid on those wires. I took a teensy little file I had and cleaned up the edges just to have one less thing to worry about, then applied a little black hi-temp paint to the bare metal with a q-tip. Gonna go look at your videos now...

[@CookingWithRy]

I'm just picky about pinched wires. It's probably a little over the top, but I like it :) Good idea on the paint!

[@darbojenkins]

Just added a notch to my new kettle, works like a charm, no lid notch needed. Thank you for the all the tips!

[@chuckwilkins3581]

3 years later and still a big help. I was debating about the silicon but, you sold me on the heat issue. So a small slot it is. I have a felt seal on the lid. So the hole will be minimal for heat and smoke loss. Thanks for the how to with the sharpies.

[@papitoram]

In spite of my general aversion to power tools and lack of “handymaness” I mustered up the moxie to pull out my dremmel tool and went for it. Works like a champ!

[@gsrrr888]

Thanks! Finally got around to doing this myself after more than a year. Good thing about waiting, is I saw the comments about not needing to cut the lid.

[@SkunkMonkey991]

I deliberated what to do and wound up drilling a small hole a hair larger than my probe under where my BBQ Dragon shelf is and it works great and keeps my probe lead wire out of site. Great mod for multiple leads. Thanks.

[@brandoguy3338]

Run them through the little bottom vents…hang it off the vent handle….no need to over complicate things. Love man.

[@antoniobaskerville6823]

Thank you so Much for this video. I,m sending the silicone probe Port back to Amazon lol . I was on the fence about this issue. Since I saw this video ,I feel more Confident about making this small modification. Thanks 😊 Again.

[@Chris-tg7qb]

Great idea! I just finished a mod for a bottom vent gauge.(standard inexpensive Weber 22 inch Kettle) Works awesome too! I have no problem modifying my kettle because each time I do I put a lot of thought into it, just as you did. Nice job!

[@CookingWithRy]

I think by the time I'm done with mine I'll be able to call it Frankenkettle :)

[@BigLewBBQ]

Ok Ry, why cut the lid? If the groove in the bowl lip is sufficient for one wire, why not just notch a second groove in the bowl lip an inch or a few inches away from the first. That way you wouldn’t have to be so meticulous about setting the lid back on and having it line up with the wire slots. You would also be able to rotate the lid if and when needed. I’m not criticizing, just trying to comprehend the benefit of a lid notch instead of two bowl notches. Thanks. Good instructional video. Just don’t see why a lid notch is superior to two bowl notches.

[@CookingWithRy]

The initial idea was so that I could have multiple wires stacked in that slot and believed the lid slot was necessary. As it turns out, it isn't 100% required. there is plenty of clearance with the lid in any position. So, the idea is 50% good, but it still works :)

[@BigLewBBQ]

Cooking With Ry Thanks for the quick reply. So your one bowl lip notch will accommodate two or more wires with the lid in any position? That’s good to know. I’ll be doing this soon to my Kettle, yet leave the lid intact. If I video it, I’ll be sure to reference this video. OK?

[@CookingWithRy]

Sounds good. And yeah that kettle slot should be plenty for three wires without the lid pinching :)

[@matthewmcclellan8083]

As soon as ran across this I knew I had to do make the modification. So I dusted off the Dremel that was used for Pinewood Derbies many years ago. What a difference having this probe slot makes rather than passing the probe wire through the vent on the lid. Glad I read Big Lew BBQ's reply. Was a very simple modification. Required for those of us who use the Slow and Sear.

[@BigLewBBQ]

Matthew McClellan Thanks!

[@alanosborne1947]

I put a silicone grommet in my weber grill and it works fantastic. I'm able to open lid with no wire interference and gives accurate temp!

[@mud27ratz1]

He talks about it being close to the charcoal. I don't know about you, but I normally do no put 50 lbs of charcoal in the kettle. It the charcoal is within 4 inches of the top, how does he even get the grill on.

[@wackyp]

I'd drill a small hole (same diameter as the width of the intended slot) at the bottom limit of the slot before cutting it with the dremel. This way your cut will be very clean, end at the hole and not skip past uncleanly...providing you have good control.

[@CookingWithRy]

Great tip!

[@BSBBQ]

Nice. I simply fed it through the vent hole. My model has the lid holder, so the lid is good for me. But I hadn't thought about those without the lid holder.

[@CookingWithRy]

Yeah the lid holder would make using the vent hole workable :)

[@FrankC656]

Hi Ry! Just asked you a question on another one of your videos.....found my answer in this video lol. Cheers!

[@johnmiddleton726]

GENIUS! Thank you!

[@thepoboy9698]

Thanks Ry, that's exactly what I needed to know. Keep the great vids coming.

[@rollofffrank2008]

Thanks, just what I was looking for!

[@markzucker4320]

Did you touch up the bare metal to protect from corrosion? I just bought a new Weber Master Touch to replace my 1997 model. I am a little skittish trying it on my new toy but a neat idea.

[@CookingWithRy]

I didn't but that certainly would be a good idea.

[@ronaldjones8134]

What is the tool called and where do you get the tool to do the cutting?

[@CookingWithRy]

It's called a Dremel. You can get it at many hardware stores, or online at Amazon. I provided a link to one on Amazon in the video description :)

[@ronaldjones8134]

I saw the dremel on Amazon but didn't see the link that you posted in the video description. Which cutting bit and file (?) do I use. First time doing any type of mod to my weber 22. Appreciate your advice.

[@davidstokes925]

Well thought out. Read where the grommet can only take 600 degrees.

[@mrodeif]

SBS Kettle Grill already has a port for it

[@pmoney3688]

Thanks for all your videos sir! I really learned a lot from you. Is it possible to replace the wings on the bottom of the kettle? Mine are shot. And I’m just not comfortable with tearing them out

[@CookingWithRy]

I believe they sell a replacement kit but I haven’t had to do that yet.

[@sonnygeesbbq2725]

hello good video and mod i just ordered the mods for my offset smoker to do the same thing

[@CookingWithRy]

It's a worthwhile mod, especially for the offset.

[@sonnygeesbbq2725]

i have a oklahoma joe smoker i love it

[@sonnygeesbbq2725]

i did all the mods now i'm doing the hold on the side for the wires

[@sonnygeesbbq2725]

are you on facebook?

[@CookingWithRy]

facebook.com/cookingwithryne/

[@stevewetzel7457]

Does this bring in enough air that you can no longer snuff out the burning charcoal?

[@CookingWithRy]

No. It's so small I've seen no effect on that at all :)

[@joonaslehtonen7965]

I really cant figure why probe holes with silicone plugs (like in smokey mountain) aint a standard issue on weber kettles. If you drill a hole in the kettle then the warranty expires... not that kettle has alot of moving parts to break that you couldnt fix yourself.

[@CookingWithRy]

The issue with the kettle is usually that those silicone probe ports aren't rated for direct flame contact, and in the kettle base it can get pretty close to the burning charcoal. On the WSM it's usually far enough from those coals to be okay.

[@thepoboy9698]

Hi Ry, I'm jus wondering if I cut for the probe in the same position as you, am I limited to cooking long cooks only on the opposite side and will this wear out the one side quicker?

[@CookingWithRy]

With the slot I keep the fire opposite of that, or it I'm using two sides with the meat in the middle I just line the probe position up with the slot so that no wire or probe is directly over coals. I haven't noticed any wear on that side, but I usually use a briquette basket of my Vortex to contain the charcoal, so they don't often have any direct contact with the kettle walls :)

[@lightman500]

Hey Ry....now that you've used this slot/port for a while, are you still happy with it? Would you cut it in a different location? I just got a new Master Touch kettle, and I would like to make the mod like you did for my thermometer wires. Just checking to see if you're still happy before I make the cut

[@CookingWithRy]

I would not cut the lid slot as I learned there’s plenty of room in the kettle slot. Just remember I’m sure it voids the warranty but I’m happy I did it :)

[@lightman500]

@@CookingWithRy Thanks!

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

maybe : make the lid slot wider for ease of use without guillotining the wire. Thanks for posting the vid - its on my todo list

[@CookingWithRy]

Good idea. And extra points for using the term 'guillotining' :)

[@crich4103]

What size of bit did you use (if you remember) on the bowl after the using the cutting disc? Was it a cutting bit? Thanks for all your videos, picked up used red limited edition 22” kettle last week, learned lots from your videos. Subscribed!

[@CookingWithRy]

I believe it was a 1/8 " metal drilling bit.

[@Weedo1184]

I did this also. Thanks for the video.

[@SonicBoomC98]

I'll definitely have to do this

[@Rick-5728]

Why not just drill a hole through the kettle body, right below the rim, basically right where the bottom of the slot is?

[@CookingWithRy]

It would have to be a fairly large hole to be able to feed probes through. Some have pretty large housings.

[@issombeituni]

Any rust?

[@CookingWithRy]

None so far but I’m in a fairly dry area.

[@vincentlok8894]

MAybe touch up the hole with a bit of paint to prevent rust!

[@TheBababa420]

Ry, Im new to the Weber Kettle, how accurate is the built in thermostat?

[@CookingWithRy]

It's accurate for lid temp, but for accurate grate level temp you really should consider a remote thermometer with an ambient temperature probe. The lid temp is often 150+ higher than the temp at grate level :)

[@Avanta751]

Super great idea ...... Thanks

[@CookingWithRy]

My pleasure :)

[@papitoram]

Done!

[@timmartinez135]

I enjoyed your video. I'm not cutting into my Kettle 26. Nope.

[@CookingWithRy]

:)

[@robertbarnum4452]

I'm worried about cutting the porcelain away then rust and short life on kettle 🤔,

[@sting1111]

Great idea!

[@praetorxyn]

For anyone who doesn't already have a kettle, it's worth mentioning that some of them have ports for this. Like the SnS kettle has a probe port AND a port for a blower fan (BBQ Guru Pit Viper etc).

[@johnfrazier3678]

👍

[@TheJohnnyMannion]

Great odea

[@lettingthebearout7528]

Seriously, Weber didn’t anticipate this??

[@williamfriggle]

And even after other companies put things in their grills for sensor wires, Weber still does not do it. Go figure.

[@colinbutler2552]

agreed but...as long as Weber is selling grills, and they certainly are, why would they bother ? When the sales start to go to SnS or others... you'll see Weber make some fast changes...thats just business...

[@tbowen12]

I run mine through from the bottom vents

[@randyj5833]

But now your lid have to line up with the kettle in the exact same spot every time. You can't move it around at all. Additionally you've created a leak although there is probably already a leak from the crimp wire I'll give you that much. But yours is worse. I think it's a great idea in theory but not being able to move my vent holes not so good. Then what do you do if you have multiple probes. I'm not going to hold it against you... LOL... You can't hit a homerun every time.

[@CookingWithRy]

I haven't really noticed leakage that has any impact on cooking, and I generally try to have my grate lined up with whatever fuel arrangement I'm using so the probes are near the sensor slot. Doesn't work every time, but most :)

[@MrT4free]

You ruined it 😧😧😧

[@CookingWithRy]

Works fine for me.

[@alexchliwnyj5941]

NO and NO just NO.