Gameco Burner

[Hogan]

Just bought a Gameco wok burner from their Auburn factory for my HLT and kettle. Same one as Sosman has and I have used his pic below. The salesman gives a good discount for home brewers.

Only issue with it is that the bowl fits inside the rim / skirt of the 50 lt keg. He suggested that this may inhibit the oxygen flow around the burner and reduce it capacity. He advised that if this was the case then it would be better to remove the rim of the keg or drill more air holes in it to allow for more ventilation.

I am aware that a number of other members have this type of burner and I would appreciate hearing from any who did have this problem.

Cheers, Hogan.

 

[Jye]

Hey Hogan, I use the same burner with my converted keg on top and the burner fits perfectly inside the bottom of the keg. After about 30 brews I havent had any problems with it but the salesman is probable right and it could be worth trying a few holes.

Cheers
Jye

Pic of HLT

 

[Samwise Gamgee]

I've got the same burner and it works a treat.

But i recommend letting it run for about 30mins in a well ventalated area before you brew with it.
When I first fired it up for my first AG, **** tins of smoke and fumes filled the garage from the paint on the burner.


Cheers,
Sam

edit: smoke/fumes caused a cracker of a headache too

 

[Hogan]

Thanks Jye - didnt want to go ripping off the skirt if there was no reason. Might put some holes in it to be on the safe side. Apparently the poor ventilation has been the cause of sooting in some setups.

SG - will take that on board also.

Cheers, Hogan.

 

[Jye]

Apparently the poor ventilation has been the cause of sooting in some setups.

I havent had any soot with this burner.

 

[Jazzafish]

I have this burner... fits flush under the keg, like a custom build. However I do get alot of soot. Maybe it is worth putting some air holes in???

 

[Hogan]

JazzaFish.

When researching what to buy I found that there were some posts that gave the wok style a big serve. Those related mainly to soot and poor heat capacity - the reason why I queried the salesman. Seems that if there is a soot problem it may be sorted out by increased cross ventilation.

Cheers, Hogan .

 

[hockadays]

I've got this one and it fits real snug under the keg and it has no problems getting O2 or with soot. It has pretty big holes on the side for air. I don't use mine over half power and that seems like plenty..\

Matt

 

[Pumpy]

Hogan Can I see an ignition pilot on the burner ??

Pumpy

 

[Hogan]

Yes Pumpy - its a manual pilot ignition but it saves burning off your pinkies trying to light the main ring. Very simple to operate and the ring flame can be adjusted from the reg or the turn screws on the handle.

Cheers, Hogan.

 

[Bobby]

i have the same burner andused it for the first time today. it was great.
after having it running for 90 min it wont look like it does in the pic above. all the enamel has been burnt off.

i didnt have any problems with soot. however i dont have my burner hard up against the keg/boiler i have about 5-10cm gap.
installing a heat sheild might be wise depending on your set up.

 

[Hogan]

Bobby,

I was looking at Jye's pic and he has his ball valve set well back from the side of the keg. I have seen posts where the plastic handle has melted because of the valve being fitted too close to the wall. Is that what you mean - having a heat shield between the wall and ball valve?

Obviously you would not fit the spiggot over one of the vent holes in the rim in the first place.

In a pci Jye posted late last year he shows the underside of his kettle with two braces running across the rim. His burner apparently sits on them so the top of the bowl is flush with the bottom of the rim. His keg is obviously smaller in diameter to mine as my bowl fits inside the rim.

After giving it some thought I think a few 20ml air vent holes drilled in the rim will allow sufficient ventilation. The bowl is made to accomodate a pot / wok whatever sitting directly atop it so I dont think having the keg sitting in the same manner should cause a problem.

Cheers, Hogan.

 

[Jye]

In a pci Jye posted late last year he shows the underside of his kettle with two braces running across the rim. His burner apparently sits on them so the top of the bowl is flush with the bottom of the rim. His keg is obviously smaller in diameter to mine as my bowl fits inside the rim.

Hogan, with those braces (I have now removed them) the burner still sat inside of the keg. The pic above shows the burner sitting inside of the keg, I will try and find a better pic.

Edit - added pic

This is an older pic with the braces and you can see the burner sits inside the bottom of the keg very nicely, I have since removed the legs and just sit the burner on the ground and the keg on top.

 

[Hogan]

[/quote]

Hogan, with those braces (I have now removed them) the burner still sat inside of the keg. The pic above shows the burner sitting inside of the keg.
[/quote]


You've cleared that up Jye. That was one of the original pics I was referring to but now that you have explained the perspective I am now on the same page. Fired it up this morning - goes like the clappers.

There is a nut with washer on a threaded spiggot that runs under the shaft. Does that have something to do with regulating the air to the burn ring?

Cheers, Hogan

 

[Jye]

There is a nut with washer on a threaded spiggot that runs under the shaft. Does that have something to do with regulating the air to the burn ring?

Yep, I just wound mine right out.

 

[Hogan]

Cheers mate.

 

[Bobby]

i was originally going to do the same as jye but i end up doing this instead because my HLT and kettle are different.