Question re: cs55

Sounds like you are on track.

Go ahead and cook something.

If your latch doesn't get any snugger give Cookshack customer service a call and ask for Bill or Tony they can walk you through some adjustments.

I had a similar problem with my 008 Smokette. I called Cook Shake customer service. I explained that I had as much smoke coming out around the door as I did coming out the smoke hole. They sent me a new door and everything is fine now. He assumed the door was sprung. They were most helpful.

Call cookshack customer service if there is any doubt. They will help in a heartbeat.

My smokette has only one door latch but it has a small bolt with a lock nut on it and I can adjust how tight the door is by adjusting the nut on the swing latch. I don't know about this specifically on the 55.

Some smoke came out of the corners of my door for the first one or two smokes on my smoker but every thing sealed up after that. If you have any doubt call Cookshack during business and they will answer and fix any concerns with your smoker you have.

I purchased a model-50 the week after Thanksgiving. Both during the seasoning process and for the 2 cooking sessions that followed, a lot of smoke came out around the top-left door hinge. I researched my smoker on-line at cookshack.com and here at this forum, butI bought my smoker on-line from the Charcoalstore.com (it was significantly less $$$). I called Dave Nass (Charcoalstore owner) while in the middle of smoking my first pork butt and described the problem. He said not to worry; smokers are like a pair of shoes. The more you smoke the more they break in to fit the specific smoker. As time goes on the smoke will seal around all leaking areas and tighten up. I believe he's right on that point. I suppose we'll both find out as we do more smokin'!

Hope that helped. Dave is a really nice guy and loves to give CS owners advice or answer any questions or concerns (he is a Cookshack dealer afterall). Give him a call if you want a 2nd opinion ... 800-777-8444 x275

CS designs them to leak a little (can't define little) but the idea is that it's IMPOSSIBLE to manufacture a perfect fit. They get it very, very close and through multiple uses, the seasons seals it.

And it is a smoker so smoke escaping won't have any impact on the final product.

Welcome to the forum, Harley Nut. It's a great bunch of folks. We're glad to have you here.