Hark TEXAS PRO-PIT HK0527 User manual

TEXAS PRO-PIT
Owner’s Manual
ASSEMBLY, CARE & SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Product Code: HK0527

3
TEXAS PRO-PIT
Warranty Details
The product is guaranteed to be free from defects in workmanship and parts for a period of
12 months from the date of purchase. Defects that occur within this warranty period, under
normal use and care, will be repaired, replaced or refunded at our discretion.
• This warranty does not cover units that have been altered or modied.
• This warranty does not cover damage due to normal wear and tear, rust, abuse or
improper maintenance.
• This warranty does not cover surface scratches or heat damage which is considered
normal wear and tear.
• It is recommended that you keep your sales receipt, as Hark Enterprises Pty Ltd
requires proof of purchase for any warranty claims.
The benets conferred by this warranty are in addition to all rights and remedies in respect
of the product that the consumer has under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 and
similar state and territory laws.
Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer
Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and for compensation
for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the
goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does
not amount to a major failure.
After Sales Support
Telephone: [phone]
[phone]
Email: [email protected]
YEAR
WARRANTY

4
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS, WARNINGS & SAFEGUARDS PRIOR TO ASSEMBLY & OPERATION.
FAILURE TO DO SO MAY RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY.
DANGER DANGER
- The Texas Pro-Pit is for OUTDOOR USE ONLY.
- Never operate the smoker unattended.
- The use of alcohol, prescription or non
prescription drugs may impair your ability to
properly assemble or safely operate the smoker.
- Never operate this smoker within 7.5 metres (25
feet) of any flammable liquids.
- Keep the area clear of all flammable liquids,
combustible material including but not limited
to wood, dry plants and including grass, brush,
paper and canvas.
- Use this smoker only on a level, stable non-
combustible surface like brick, concrete or dirt.
Do not use smoker on or around any surface that
will burn or melt, such as on wooden decks, dry
grass, wood rails, vinyl or plastic.
- Never use inside an enclosed area such as screen
patios, garages, buildings and tents. Keep a
minimum clearance of 3 metres (10 feet) from all
sides of the smoker to all overhead construction
and 1 metre (3 feet) from any walls or rails.
- Never operate this smoker under any overhead
roof covering, awning or overhang.
- Keep your hands, hair and face away from any
naked flame. Do not lean over or into the firebox
or grill when lighting or operating the smoker. This
smoker has an open flame. Be careful of loose
clothing and hair that could catch fire during
operation.
- Use caution since flames can flare-up when fresh
air comes into contact with fire. Take caution
opening lids.
- Use caution when opening lids. Make sure the
lid is pushed all the way open and resting on the
back stop. If not fully open it could fall back to
closed position and cause an injury.
- Always wear shoes and protective clothing during
operation of this smoker.
- Never use this smoker as a heater.
- The smoker is HOT while in use and after use.
Always wear protective gloves or mitts when
operating the smoker. Avoid touching hot
surfaces at all times.
- Keep CHILDREN AND PETS away from the
smoker at all times. Do not allow anyone to
conduct activities around the smoker during or
following its use until the unit has cooled.
- Never move the smoker when it is in use. Allow
the smoker to cool before moving or storing it.
- Never leave hot coals or ashes in the smoker
unattended. Always wait for the grill to cool
before removing hot coals or ashes and dispose
of them in a non-combustible metal container
and then dose with water to extinguish fully. Wear
protective gloves to do this.
- Never use in or on recreational vehicles and/or
boats.
- Never use this product for anything other than its
intended purposes. This smoker is not intended
for commercial use.
- Accessories and cookware not supplied by Hark®
are not recommended. Never use glassware,
plastic or ceramic cookware in the smoker.
- Do not modify the Texas Pro-Pit. Any changes to
the smoker will void the warranty.
- Do not use in windy conditions or days of a Total
Fire Ban.
- Do not exceed a temperature of 260 ºC (500 ºF).
Do not allow charcoal and or wood to rest on the
walls of the firebox or cooking chamber. Doing so
will greatly reduce the life of the metal finish.
- Only build the fire on top of the wire charcoal
grates.
- The smoker is extremely heavy. Use caution when
moving or lifting to prevent strains or injuries.
- Always ensure a tin can is in place under the
grease hole. Empty or replace regularly.
OUTDOOR USE ONLY
SAVE AND FILE THESE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

5
A. PARTS LIST
NO. Name
1 Cap Nut
2 Spring
3 Smoke Stack Damper
4 Large Lid
5 Large Warming Shelf
6 Smoke Stack
7 Sealing Gasket
8 Side Handle
9 Cooking Chamber
10 Cooking Grills (3)
11 Bafe A (2)
12 Charcoal Grates (3)
13 Long Legs
NO. Name
14 Front Shelf Brackets (1set)
15 Wheels (2)
16 Firebox Bracket
17 Bafe B (2)
18 Bafe C
19 Wheel Axle
20 Bottom Wire Rack
21 Front Shelf
22 Wheel Legs – Short
23 Ash Drawer
24 Thermometers (2)
25 Firebox Lid Stop
26 Ash Drawer Bracket
NO. Name
27 Fixture Plate
28 Firebox Base
29 Air Damper
30 Firebox Charcoal Grate
31 Firebox Cooking Grills (2)
32 Firebox Top
33 Shelf Bracket (2 Sets)
34 Firebox Lid Handle
35 Small Warming Shelf
36 Adjustable Shaft
37 Grease Can Holder
38 Firebox Lid
39 Small Lid

6
B. HARDWARE PACK
Name QTY
M6-15mm Bolts
62
M6 Nuts (Black)
33
Flat Washers
16
M6 Lock Nut (Silver)
1
M12 Lock Nuts
2
M6 Spring Washers
2

7
C. ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1
—Remove hinge locking screw from left hand hinge of cooking chamber large lid (4) and slide
lid off the hinge pins.
—Remove hinge locking screw from left hand hinge of cooking chamber small lid (39) and slide
lid off the hinge pins.
STEP 2
—Stand the cooking chamber (9) on the small lid end fig. 2.
—Fit the bottom wire rack (20) to the short legs (22), inserting the location pins on the rack
into the hole at bottom of the wheel legs - short (22) and attach the legs to the base of the
cooking chamber (9) using 8-M6x15mm bolts, 8 flat washers and 8-M6 nuts.
g. 1
g. 2
step
step
step
step

8
STEP 3
—Fit the long legs (13) to the bottom wire rack (20) by inserting the location pins on the bottom
wire rack (20) into the holes on the bottom of the long legs (13). Bolt the legs to the cooking
chamber (9) using 8-M6x15mm bolts, 8-Flat washers and 8-M6 nuts.
STEP 4
—Insert the wheel axle (19) through the holes in the wheel legs - short (22) and fit the wheels
(15) onto the wheel axle (19) and secure with 2-M12 lock nuts.
g. 4
g. 3
step
step
step
step

9
STEP 5
—Attach the smoke stack (6) to the end of the cooking chamber (9) by fitting the sealing gasket
(7) and using 4-M6x15mm bolts and 4-M6 nuts.
—Attach side handle (8) to the same end of the cooking chamber (9) using 4-M6x15mm bolts
and 4/M6 nuts as per fig. 5.
STEP 6
—Attach the smoke stack damper (3) to the smoke stack (6) using the dome nut and spring
supplied with the smoke stack (6).
STEP 7
—This step requires 2 people to lift the smoker and place it onto its legs. Try to minimise stress
to the legs.
—Through the hole in the bottom of the cooking chamber (9) insert the grease can holder (37)
so that it hangs under the cooking chamber (9).
g. 5
g. 6
g. 7

10
STEP 8
—Fit the firebox bracket (16) to the wheel legs (22) using 2-M6x15mm bolts.
STEP 9
—On the firebox top (32) fit the firebox lid stop (25) into the slot near the opening and bolt to lid
using 1-M6x15 bolt & 1-M6 nut.
STEP 10
—To the firebox base (28) fit the ash drawer bracket (26) using 4-M6x15mm bolts.
g. 8
g. 9
g. 10

11
STEP 11
—Fit the air damper (29) to the end of the firebox base (28) using 1-M6x15mm bolt and 1-M6
lock nut.
STEP 12
—Turn the firebox top (32) upside down and fit the firebox base (28) to it using 6-M6x15mm
bolts.
STEP 13
—Turn the firebox unit over so that it is sitting on the ash tray bracket (26) and screw
2-M6x15mm bolts into the holes at the side of the elliptical cut out leaving a space of 5mm
between the head of the bolt and the side of the firebox unit.
g. 11
g. 12
g. 13

12
STEP 14
—At the end of the cooking chamber (9) with the elliptical hole, fit the Firebox unit locating the
2-M6 bolt heads through the keyhole slots and resting against the firebox bracket (16). Secure
using 4-M16x15MM bolts into the cooking chamber (9) and 2-M6x15 bolts & 2-M6 nuts into
the firebox bracket (16).
g. 14a
g. 14b
g. 14c

13
STEP 15
—Slide the ash drawer (23) into the firebox ash drawer bracket (26).
STEP 16
—Fit 4 shelf brackets (2 pairs) to the cooking chamber (9) using 8-M6x15 bolts.
STEP 17
—Fit the front shelf brackets (14) onto the cooking chamber using 4-M6x15 bolts & 4-M6 nuts.
—Ensure that the front shelf brackets (14) are in the open position shown in fig. 17.
g. 15
g. 16
g. 17

14
STEP 18
—Fit the 3 charcoal grates (12) into the bottom of the cooking chamber (9) as shown in fig. 18
below.
—Fit baffles (11, 17 & 18) above the charcoal grates (12) in the cooking chamber (9).
—Fit 3 cooking grills (10) into the cooking chamber (9) above the baffles (11, 17 & 18).
—Fit the large warming shelf (5) and the small warming shelf (35) into the cooking chamber (9).
—Fit the firebox charcoal grates (30) into the bottom of the firebox unit (28 & 32).
—Fit the 2 firebox cooking grills (31) above the firebox charcoal grates (30) in the firebox unit (28
& 32).
STEP 19
—Fit fixture plate (27) to the end of the firebox unit using 2-M6x15mm bolts.
g. 19
g. 18

15
STEP 20
—Refit large lid (4) and small lid (39) to cooking chamber (9) and secure with hinge locking
screws (supplied).
STEP 21
—Fit firebox lid handle (34) to firebox lid (38) using 2-M6x15 mm bolts at the top and 2-M6 nuts
below fig. 21a.
—Fit firebox lid (38) & firebox lid handle (34) assembly onto the firebox unit and secure with the
hinge locking screw fig. 21b (supplied).
g. 21a
g. 21b
g. 20

16
STEP 22
—Fit adjustable shaft (36) onto the firebox lid (38) by screwing the threaded end into the hole at
the side of the firebox lid (38).
STEP 23
—Fit the 2 thermometers (24) into the cooking chamber large lid (4) and the cooking chamber
small lid (39). Secure with the nuts already provided inside the lid.
g. 22
g. 23

17
Assembly of your Hark Texas Pro-Pit is now complete.
g. 25 below shows how the assembled unit should look.
g. 25
g. 24
STEP 24
—Locate an empty tin can (standard soup or peeled tomoto can).
—Remove the lid and empty contents.
—Place the tin can onto the grease can holder (37).
—A can must be in place under the grease hole at all times. Once the unit and the can have
fully cooled after use, remember to empty or replace the can as required.

18
D. PREPARING TEXAS PRO-PIT FOR USE
Before cooking, the following steps should be followed to both cure the finish and season the
interior steel. Failure to follow these steps may damage the finish.
Coat all the interior of the firebox and cooking chamber with vegetable oil (do not coat the
cooking grills). The oil may be any vegetable type and can be applied with a towel, rag or basting
brush. An aerosol spray can is ideal and will be the easiest and fastest way to coat the interior.
NOTE: DO NOT APPLY OIL TO THE PAINTED SURFACE OUTSIDE THE SMOKER.
—Build a small fire in the Firebox (refer to our Lighting Your Fire section). The Smoke Stack
Damper (3) and Firebox Damper (29) should be ½ open. Allow the temperature to gradually
rise to no more than 150ºC.
—Close all lids and burn for at least two hours. The longer and the more gradually heat rises,
the better.
—Care should be taken not to scrape or rub any surface during the curing process.
—After you have burned your fire for 2 hours or more, you will notice a shiny black coating
developing on the inside of your smoker. This is a protective resin that comes from the
burning wood. This resin will help seal the inside of the smoker for many fantastic cooks
ahead.
—It is advisable to repeat this process on a yearly basis to help prolong the life of your smoker.
—Ensure that you hang an empty tin can from the Grease Can Holder (37) under the Cooking
Chamber (STEP 24). A tin must be placed under the grease hole at all times and will need
to be checked regularly to ensure it is not full. Always wait until the smoker has fully cooled
before emptying or replacing the can.
—Your Hark Texas Pro-Pit is now ready for use.
WARNING
DO NOT APPLY OIL TO THE EXTERNAL PAINTED SURFACE OF THE SMOKER.
DO NOT APPLY OIL TO THE CHARCOAL GRATES, COOKING GRILLS OR ASH
DRAWER.

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ECARE OF YOUR TEXAS PRO-PIT
ASH AND RUSTING
The Texas Pro-Pit’s heavy duty steel construction will help extend the smoker’s life span.
The inside of the smoker should be treated like a cast iron skillet by applying cooking oil to any
rust should it appear (remembering not to coat the cooking grills). Remove ash after each use
and oil interior as required by the frequency of use.
Most rusting is caused after cooking with a fire that’s too hot. Inadequate maintenance and
protection from the weather also causes unnecessary rusting. What some people describe as
burnt out damage is really rust-out. The primary cause of rust damage is the failure to remove
ash after each use. Letting ash sit on the lower charcoal grates and in the bottom of the Texas
Pro-Pit, will eventually cause rust as it will get wet and hold moisture over time. Ash contains
corrosive elements that will rust through any thickness of steel.
It is advised that you clean out any ash or coal remains after every cook. Always allow the smoker
and the ash to thoroughly cool before cleaning and never dispose of hot ashes in a rubbish bin.
Use a protective grill cover to prolong life and store your Texas Pro-Pit in a covered area.
GENERAL CLEANING
Only when fully cooled should you commence cleaning the smoker. Clean the porcelain coated
steel cooking grills after each use by removing them from the smoker and cleaning them with
warm, soapy water and a non-abrasive scourer (brass brush is ideal).
To prevent rusting from developing inside the smoker, re-season with vegetable oil on a regular
basis (excluding the cooking grill).
It is also important to regularly check the tin can under the grease hole to check if it needs to be
emptied or replaced.
WARNING
NEVER USE THE SMOKER WITHOUT A TIN CAN POSITIONED UNDER THE
GREASE HOLE.
WARNING
NEVER HOSE OUT THE SMOKER WITH WATER.

20
F. LIGHTING YOUR FIRE
Lighting your re directly on the charcoal grates
—Remember, patience is a virtue! Cooking with charcoal and wood is more complicated than
using gas but you will get a much better result. Always allow plenty of time to prepare the fire
prior to cooking.
—Allow 30-45 minutes for the fire to start properly before cooking. To start a charcoal fire using
lump charcoal or briquettes, place two or three firelighters on the charcoal grates where you
plan to build your fire. Then pile the charcoal on top in a pyramid formation.
—Light the firelighters and let the charcoal burn. Once the coals have a light coating of grey
ash, you are ready to cook. Do not disturb the coals in this initial lighting process. They will
not look like they are lighting but you need to wait at least 45 minutes for this to occur.
—Have the Firebox or Cooking Chamber door open when you are lighting the fire to allow as
much air in as possible.
—If using wood to start your fire, start off with small pieces that are no longer than 30cm in
length. Make sure they are dry and able to burn. Light using firelighters or paper and as the
fire burns add larger pieces of wood to increase the fire.
—Always wear protective BBQ mitts when lighting your fire.
Lighting your re using a charcoal starter
—Fill the charcoal starter with charcoal or briquettes.
—Place three firelighters on your charcoal grate where you plan to build your fire.
—Light the firelighters and then place the charcoal starter over the fire.
—Have the Firebox or Cooking Chamber door open when you are lighting the fire to allow as
much air in as possible.
—Once the coals have a light coating of grey ash you are ready to cook. Do not disturb the coals
in this initial lighting process.
—Always wear protective BBQ mitts when lighting your fire.
WARNING
DO NOT USE SMOKER WITHOUT THE ASH DRAWER IN PLACE.
DO NOT REMOVE THE ASH DRAWER WHILE IT CONTAINS HOT COALS OR HOT ASH.