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21 replies

FEC 100 Burner Problem

FM Former Member
Has anyone ever experienced this? This past summer I was cooking on my FEC 100 when all of a sudden it started excessively smoking, then blew the cap off of the vent pipe about 20' in the air. When I opened it the fire in the pot was so intense that it had caught the drippings on the drip tray on fire. It ended up melting the seals around the bottom. It even tripped the breaker within the controller. From what I could determine, somehow the fire pot got over filled with pellets and when they finally did ignite there was a small explosion which blew the cap off and started the fire. The person I spoke with at Cookshack thought there might be a problem with the fan, and promptly sent out a new fan and replacement seals. It had been working fine until yesterday when I was smoking a brisket in a hotel pan while shoveling the driveway. About 8 hours into the cook I noticed that an ungodly amount of smoke was coming out of the stack. Before opening the door I waited until the smoke settled down. When I did open it it was the same deal, the fire pot had been over filled with pellets and the fire was roaring something fierce. The fan appeared and sounded to be working fine. All I could do was dig an much of the pellets out as possible until the fire appeared more manageable. After that it worked fine through the rest of the cook and during the holding until time to eat. HAs anyone else ever experienced this? And, if so, can you tell me what the problem might be. My thought is that ash could be blocking the air flow, but the manual recommends cleaning it out every 60 hours and I try to do that at least every other cook.

Thanks,
Terry
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FM Former Member
Im way off on this one

Did you say it blew the cap off 20'? if so it almost sounds like your cap must be blocked somehow, Its sounds like it wasnt flowing enough or partically blocked with smoke and grease, take a look and see.
I never had the problem but my cooker is still new less than 2 months old, take a look at your cap a see if its plugged with smoke and grease to restrict Flow? it had to build up some preasure to blow the cap off 20 feet. also the fire didnt help.
Im cleaning my fire pot before evey use seems to run better this way.

Sorry to hear your issue, good luck and keep us posted..
Last edited by Former Member
FM Former Member
Nothing was clogged, I believe it was the rush of pressure when all of those pellets finally ignited. All I have hooked up is a 5" elbow, a 36" long 5" pipe and a rain cap. The cap was just pushed on, not screwed on. The first time this happened my unit was only about a month and a half old. I'm going to continue to moniter the sitiation with each cook, and absolutely be sure and clean out the ash before each cook. I will try and add a picture with my next post as well.

Thanks,
Terry
FM Former Member
I edited my post i was off, just was curious if the cap was breathing correctly because of the preasure.

Talk to Bill at Cookshack, he will help you sort it out.
Is the firepot continuing to dump pellets after whatever you high swing is, you will need to baby sit this to see if that’s happening??
That is a good observation before calling CookShack.
Last edited by Former Member
FM Former Member
quote:
Originally posted by BBQ Apprentice:
quote:
Reply

It does appear to continue to dump pellets, but I definitely will need to monitor it closely to know for sure.


Well keep us posted, and let us know what you may experience, as what you go thought to make it work.

Good Luck to you, i know you get it fixed Smiler
FM Former Member
Let's focus on the issue, because then you won't have the problem.

The issue "appears" to be that you're fire is going out. I say that because you don't get a bunch of pellets building up in the pot if the fire is going.

The IQ will send this and try to turn the igniter back on.

I think you need to monitor it a little close and see if that's what's happening.
FM Former Member
Just a thought. I had some fire pot problems last year. I found that after several cookings that pellets and ashes can build up inside the tube that the firepot is mounted in. After 4-5 rounds of cooking, I remove the 2 phillips head screws on the end of the tube. Remove the end, being careful of the igniter wires. Then vac out the dust and pellets. It is well worth the time it takes. ( Better air flow and fewer suprises) Good Luck
Y yellow-03Member
I once noticed my FEC to be smoking excessively. I opened the door to find the firepot overflowing with pellets.

I scooped out the pellets and when I got down to the level of the igniter I realized that the ashes had formed a crust which covered most of the igniter. I used a spoon to break through this crusty ash and get it out of the firepot. No more problems.
FM Former Member
quote:
Originally posted by Yellow-03:
...I realized that the ashes had formed a crust which covered most of the igniter.


GREAT observation. What people sometimes don't realize is that the ash does get compacted and reheated over several cooks and that crust can actually get pretty hard. If the ignitor can't get air, it won't work.
C coachMember
yes...has happened here. I noticed opaque white smoke coming from the tube then 'poof'... the coolest smoke ring! when the pellets finally ignited. Yes...the firebox was overflowing with pellets. I make sure now I have ignition before I walk off.

Great point Russ about the crust. I will always double check that as I vacumn and refoil. Makes perfect sense.
FM Former Member
Good Morning Everyone,

HEre's an update to the topic I started last week.
I've disassembled and cleaned the firepot in preparation for my prime rib smoke today. There was definitely a crust built up around the igniter so I have a good feeling that the problem has been solved. I will continue to closely monitor things as the smoke progresses. This is my first prime rib smoke and I've chosen to use apple wood in the process.
FM Former Member
quote:
Originally posted by BBQ Apprentice:
Good Morning Everyone,

HEre's an update to the topic I started last week.
I've disassembled and cleaned the firepot in preparation for my prime rib smoke today. There was definitely a crust built up around the igniter so I have a good feeling that the problem has been solved. I will continue to closely monitor things as the smoke progresses. This is my first prime rib smoke and I've chosen to use apple wood in the process.



BBQ Apprentice,

Just a question were you vacuming your firepot at all? and about how many times between cooks?
What im trying to find out is that I vacume out my firepot before every cook and im wondering if that crust around the igniter still would get buildup!

Just good info to shre thanks,
Last edited by Former Member
FM Former Member
I was vacuuming it most every cook, and after I had the problem the first time I started doing it every cook. the stuff that was built up in there would not vacuum out until I loosened it up with a screwdriver. Taking out the screws reall helped, you can slide it out and see what you're doing. But as someone else said, be careful because there are wires attached to it.
FM Former Member
The cook went off without a htich yesterday. Everything worked fine and the prime rib turned out excellent. The only thing I would do differently would be to start it later in the day, I didn't realize it would cook as fast as it did. Thanks to everyone who helped me troubleshoot the igniter igniter issue I was having.

Terry
FM Former Member
quote:
Originally posted by BBQ Bryan:
I'm guessing that vacuming it AFTER your cook would keep the ash from setting there and possibly drawing moisture and making it thick and crusty.


Just don't do it RIGHT after you cook Wink

The ashes will still be too hot. I have to make that warning, SOMEONE would do it too soon. I can just see the vacuum melting.

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