Hey Herb, new YS640 owner here, trying to get everything prepped just right before using my new smoker. My new 640 has the black silicone smeared on the grease deflector crack, but the person missed some spots at each end. The silicone on the grease deflector and around the firebox is a shiny black, whereas the Permatex 81878 that the manual recommends is the ultra copper, which if I remember from my last exhaust work(!) is brownish red.
Is the 81878 still the recommended product or is the black one better, and if so is it the Permatex Ultra Black?
Thanks
John
Las Vegas
Yes, it is a copper red color. Since you have a new cooker, and have not fired it up yet, send an email to [email protected], with the following information and we will get you out some of the factory black.
Fullname
Shipping address
Contact phone number
Cooker serial number and build date.
Make sure to reference this conversation in the email.
The concern that you voice is for uncured 81878. Always allow any silicone to cure for a minimum of 24 hours before applying heat.
The latest versions of the manuals list 81160 and SB-188 as the silicone of choice, even though there high temperature stability is below 81878. The Yoder factory uses SB-188 for assembly.
For the SB-188 full tubes, I use a double folded over piece of cling wrap over the cut end of the tube, and then use a rubber band tightly wrapped multiple times around the cling wrap close to the cut end to seal it up. Works great.