Start with a piece of poster board and a sharpie. Write "FREE" on it and place it by the curb. JK
From what I've seen the char grilles can be a pain to bring up to spec. I highly recommend a UDS, easy to build and can do it with out a welder.
Current Smokers: Junk Char Griller, Mini UDS (Hydrant build), UDS (Bud Select can)
I guess we aren't much help with your current situation.
However….
I too had a Chargriller and here's what I did.
First I burned the paint off the FB trying to get it up to temp with a charcoal fire.
Then I converted it to propane. This is easy with the kits sold on the internet - they're made for this model because they're so popular. About $100.
That conversion allowed me to put a 303 size juice can over the burner with wood sealed up in it with tin foil to generate smoke.
I then had a piece of 3/16 sheet metal cut for a baffle plate to lay inside it with about a 3 inch gap at the far end then I moved the chimney to the other end.
Voila! - reverse flow.
This is how the rig still operates today at a friends house and that's been nearly 4 years now.
So you CAN use it but it will take a little work/investment.
And on the eighth day God created barbecue …. because he DOES love us and he wants us to be happy.
Current smokers: Egor (trailered RF) and Easybake (tabletop pellet drive)