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Here are photos and detailed descriptions of all the parts that make up the current 22-1/2" Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker. Visit the Parts Schematic page for a diagram showing the relationship between the various parts and their part numbers, or visit the Assembly page to see how they are assembled. Click on any of the pictures to view a larger image.
Three
Major
Sections
The Weber Bullet has three major sections:
When these three sections are fitted together, they achieve a fairly good seal—not airtight, but a good seal. This is one of the secrets of the WSM's ability to regulate and maintain temperature easily. The sections come apart for easy cleaning and transportation.
Lid Assembly Handle Set Thermometer Thermometer Bezel Damper Kit
The lid is constructed of heavy-gauge steel with a porcelain enamel finish inside and out. It is fitted with two handles, an adjustable vent damper, and a thermometer. The handles are made of gray, heat-resistant nylon plastic and have the Weber logo stenciled on them. The vent damper exhausts smoke and heat from the cooker, allowing them to pass over your food for that great barbecue taste. Most WSM owners leave this vent completely open at all times during the cooking process, since inadequate ventilation can cause an off taste in foods. It may be partially closed if the cooker is running much hotter than desired, and should be completely closed at the end of a cooking session to extinguish the coals. The damper is made of rust-resistant aluminum and is fastened to the lid with a 1/4" aluminum tubular rivet. The two tabs are used to grasp the damper to adjust it, and each damper hole has a stop tab that limits the open/close motion of the damper. There is also a date of manufacture code stamped into the damper. The thermometer is positioned opposite from the vent damper. It is housed in a plastic bezel and is fastened to the lid using a wing nut. Photo 7 shows an interior view of the lid.
Middle Cooking
Section
The middle cooking section is constructed of heavy-gauge steel with a porcelain enamel finish inside and out. It holds two grates where all the cooking action takes place, plus the water pan and the access door through which fuel, smoke wood, and water are added during the cooking process. The water pan and cooking grates rest on four grill straps that are fastened to the inside of this section. Photo 9 shows two of the holes used to attach a grill strap. Note that sometime in 2010, Weber changed the shape of the access opening on the 22-1/2" WSM, making the top corners round instead of square (Photo 10).
Charcoal Bowl Damper Kit
The charcoal bowl is constructed of heavy-gauge steel with a porcelain enamel finish inside and out. It contains the charcoal grate and charcoal chamber in which the fuel and smoke wood are placed. The bowl sits on three sturdy aluminum legs that provide a stable base for the cooker. There are three adjustable vent dampers in the charcoal bowl. These dampers are identical to the one in the lid. Each vent damper is adjusted independently throughout the cooking process to control air flow into the charcoal bowl. By increasing or decreasing air flow, fuel combustion is increased or decreased, thus raising or lowering the cooker temperature. Each damper may be fully open or fully closed or somewhere in-between depending on the need to control cooker temperature. Closing these three dampers and the lid damper at the end of a cooking session will extinguish the coals. Photos 13-14 show an interior view of the bowl.
Cooking Grates
The Weber Bullet has two nickel-plated cooking grates with a combined surface area of approximately 701 square inches. The grates are supported by four grill straps fastened to the inside the middle cooking section. The top grate has two handles and is situated near the top of the middle cooking section. It is the same grate used in all Weber 22-1/2" charcoal grills. The bottom grate is slightly smaller in diameter, has no handles, and is situated 9" below the top grate. The smaller diameter is necessary to provide clearance between the grate and the grill straps.
Water Pan
The water pan is constructed of heavy-gauge steel with a porcelain enamel finish. The water moderates the temperature of the cooker, provides a moist cooking environment, and catches any drippings, preventing them from flaring-up on the hot charcoal below. The pan is supported by the same grill straps that support the two cooking grates.
Charcoal Grate
This grate rests in the bottom of the charcoal bowl on the three screws that attach the legs to the bowl. It holds the charcoal chamber into which the fuel and smoke wood are placed. Ashes fall through the grate to the bottom of the charcoal bowl.
Charcoal Chamber
The charcoal chamber is constructed of heavy-gauge steel with a porcelain enamel finish. It is placed on top of the charcoal grate and keeps the fuel centered on the grate and prevents the dampers in the charcoal bowl from becoming blocked. The perforations provide airflow to the burning coals and smoke wood.
Access
Door Assembly
The access door has an offset section along the bottom edge that engages the opening in the middle cooking section. Tabs at the bottom of the door allow it to hang down in the open position from the middle cooking section. The knob turns a latch on the inside of the door that secures it to the middle cooking section. The door is made of rust-resistant aluminum and is stamped with a pebbled finish. The knob is made of a hard, black, heat-resistant plastic.
Heat Shield
The heat shield is held in place by tabs on the three legs. Sitting just below and not touching the bottom of the charcoal bowl, the heat shield and the air gap it creates help protect your deck or patio from the heat generated by the cooker. It also has the added benefit of reflecting heat back into the cooker, making it operate more efficiently. The shield is made from rust-resistant aluminum and has a hole in the center to allow rainwater to weep out. Hardware Pack
A small cardboard box containing these parts:
Legs
Three rust-resistant aluminum legs are attached to the charcoal bowl using two screws, two nuts, and two steel washers per leg. The tabs projecting from the short side of each leg are used to hold the heat shield in place.
Grill Straps
Four grill straps are attached to the inside of the middle cooking section using two screws, two nuts, and two fiber washers per strap.
Fasteners
These fasteners are used to attach the legs and grill straps:
Owner's Manual
The owner's manual contains assembly and operating instructions, cooking tips, smoker care information, helpful hints, and recipes. A product registration card is also included.
Vinyl
Cover
Weber includes a full-length, premium-quality vinyl cover with the WSM. It has elastic strips at the bottom that provide some closure around the charcoal bowl. The Weber logo is printed on the cover. The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker comes with the following warranty (current as of August, 2009):
The warranty takes effect on the date of purchase. Photo of rounded access door opening: 2011 by Sheila Cochran |
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© 1997-2013 Chris A. Allingham LLC The Virtual Weber Bullet is an unofficial Weber product fan site and is not affiliated with Weber-Stephen Products LLC. |
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