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9 replies

FEC 100 Igniter

FM Former Member
I'm on my 4th smoke on my FEC100, and it seems to be taking longer to ignite every time. The first time, it was going in 10 minutes or so, last time it was closer to 20. Tonight, when I fired it up, I reset the controls after 25 minutes because I didn't want to lose that much cooking time, and it still took another 15 minutes to ignite. It seems to always work...eventually. Is this an indicator that the igniter may be going south?

Also, does anybody know if the igniter stays on when you have the pellet hopper lid open? When it takes a while to ignite, the pellet cup starts getting full, so I take some out. It would literally overflow if I didn't do that. I'd like to just leave the hopper lid open until it ignites a handful of pellets, then close the lid and let it go. But if that turns the igniter off, it won't work.
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N nordyMember
Just a few thoughts/suggestions...

Before every cook I clean out the fire pot, and then add a small handful of pellets. If you aren't sweeping the pot out you could have ash buildup over the ignitor.

You can also put a handful of pellets in there and squirt some starter gel in there and start it manually. Will be lit and flaming quicker that way.

Pellets wont run with the hopper lid open, but I think the ignitor may stay on, I don't know for sure though.

I suppose it could also be a factor of the pellets you are using as well...
cal 2cal 2Member
What you might try, is after the cook is over and the pot has cooled and been vacuumed out. There should be two little Phillips screws that are in the very end of the pot. It will be the end towards the exhaust, take those out and the whole pot will slide out a ways.

Take your vacuum and sweep out all the dust and pellets that have been built up in there. It could be that there is enough build up in there the fan is not able to blow air out the wholes in your pot very good. Ya know, you have to have air as a mixture for a good fire.

I do this every few months and it seems to help the pot burn better, or at least I feel like it does.
J joemMember
Call Tony at tech support. He will work with you until it is fixed. You may have a loose connection or the insulation on the wire is cut. I always sweep out the pot and throw in a hand full of pellets before turning it on. The hand gel works but you can also jump start with a blow torch if you want but mine always lights in under 10 minutes with the ignitor.
FM Former Member
I will try deep cleaning the fire pot, cal, but I can feel the air coming out of the holes in the pot. Also, once it does ignite, it looks like a jet engine (i.e., the blower is working like a champ).

I won't be working on it for at least the next 18 hours while these pork butts smoke, though.
T techguyMember
After you clean your firepot put your hand in there and make sure you can feel the ignitor in the bottom of the pot. Sometimes a crust can build up on the bottom of the firepot and you think it is empty when the ignitor is really still covered. This can cause the delay in starting like you describe. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Bill or Tony at Cookshack (800)423-0698
Last edited by Former Member
FM Former Member
Tony is describing PelletCrete.

The ash becomes compacted in the bottom and depending on WHICH Ignitor you have, it could actually get to the point where it covers the Ignitor.

But call Tony, they'll help you out.

It shouldn't take longer each time, especially if you clean it out and then put a handful of pellets into the pot. If it's overflowing, it's not lighting.

You don't HAVE to have one. I know of people that never use them and always start them manually, but it IS easier if it's working.
FM Former Member
Thanks for the suggestions, fellas. I will pull the fire pot and do a full investigation and cleaning when I get a chance. It may very well be pelletcrete around the ignitor. I did have a small issue with pelletcrete during one of my previous smokes.

And for lurkers/potential buyers...I am just trying to work through kinks in my first few smokes. It may seem like I am complaining about the FEC, but I really do love the thing. I have never tasted BBQ that had flavor like I can get from this product.

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