FEC Shut Down In Middle of Cook on 4th!

Without a fire, it's typically 1 of 2 things.

No pellets or no air. With a huge pile of pellets, it sounds like the fan wasn't working.

Call CS customer service, tell them the issue and they'll walk you through it.

The 2nd problem of a weird noise could be pellets grinding or it's binding somehow. Had to tell without hearing.

The fact you got a first the second time tells me it's probably not the fan but may be an issue with pellet feed, but then the "pile of pellets" throws that one out.

Call CS and make sure you describe the two diff sets of issues.

Please post a msg as to what they say. Its always nice to know if I / someone ever runs into the same problem.

Jack

"Briggsy"

I will call CS Support and see what they tell me. I'm also going to do a test firing tonight with nothing in it and see what it does. This is only my 10th cook on it. I bought it new in May 2010.

I don't know if this has any bearing on anything but I do move the unit around using my pickup. I lay it down flat on it's back and secure it and then drive it to wherever I'm cooking. I don't know if something could have been knocked around during transport, but I guess it's possible. There are only so many moving parts in this unit, but only certain ones would impact the operations and cause the problems I was having.

James

I haven't been able to use my FEC-100 for a while but tried firing it up today and let it warm up and temps got up to 240 like I wanted. I walked away and came back to find temperatures diving quickly back to 175 and then 158. I opened the unit and no fire and a huge pile of pellets! I heard the fan working and felt airflow when I put my hand underneath the hopper what gives! This unit hasn't seen 15 complete cooks yet and it's treating me like this. Unbelievable.

Your issue would seem related to the igniter. Have you spoken with anyone from Cookshack about this? I feel your frustration and pain but yours is a rare exception. Keep the faith...someone will get you back on track.

Falco,

Did you ever call CS Customer Support, they're happy to work with you and seeing that it was a couple of weeks between posts, we definitely want to get your up and running.

I'm not sure it would be the ignitor, if you can an initial fire (do you?) and it goes out, then it's airflow/fire choking off.

It actually fired up for about 1 hour and got up to 245 and I thought all was good. I even cooked chicken for about 2 hours and that was fine. But, yesterday the temperature died and then I shut it down and tried to refire it and it actually did not come back on. This is frustrating out of such a high tech unit like this. This was supposed to make life easier than using the big drums that I normally cook on. Are these units all so quirky?

I will get with CS support by phone Monday and see what's going on. Any suggestions on how to check the airflow for problems. Anything I can check myself I'd like to check.

Thanks,

James

Can someone walk me through the steps to manually light the pellets with a MAPP torch which I have? Do you light the pellets and wait and then turn the unit on? How does the unit know not to dump a bunch of pellets in after you initially turn it on. I would imagine once you have a fire that you should be up and running because the igniter would not be an issue. I want to see if it will run if I manually light the fire.

You can dump a little sterno or hand sanitizer on the pellets and light. Turn the unit on. I leave the hopper door open so the auger doesn't continue to dump pellets in the firebox. Once a good fire is going, shut hopper door.


Just in case this hasn't been addressed, make sure firebox is completely clean before each cook. Especially around the ignitor. Sometimes a crust can build that will not come out with a simple shop vac

My friend here in town who sold me the unit is going to look at it for a few days and try and see what the issue is. He is a wizard with all FEC units. I'll let you know what he comes up with and post those results back here. This is a fairly new unit so I am very surprised at the tough luck I've had so far.

Thanks for all the feedback.

Well.when all else fails,call the guys at service- that actually know stuff.

We on the forum are always willing to make wild guesses and send you as many different directions as we can ,but figure you might prefer to go ahead and actually start cooking.

I will call Cookshack today. My friend actually works for Cookshack as a distributor and also knows how to take any FEC unit from the 750 down apart and put it back together. He competes at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo each year. I will keep you guys posted on what the problem actually is and what solution we come up with.

I doubt it's the igniter, mine hasn't worked since about the fourth time I used it, all you have to do is light it with a butane torch, although you DO have to be sure the pellets are really going.
What I do is watch the smoke for the first half hour. Of course, there shouldn't be much. If there's a ton of smoke (think smoldering pile of leaves) then you didn't get the pellets fired up well.

This same problem just happened to me!!! It was smoking like crazy and I opened it I found the pot full of pellets and smoldering. I cleaned it out and turned it back on then came in and called Bill at Cookshack. He said there was an issue with a filter of some kind in the electronics that cause the auger to continue dumping pellets. He is sending me a replacement part that he said would solve the problem. Fast and helpful service. The only problem I have is that I wish they would notify owners of these problems when they know about them. Someone could have a much worse outcome than me....like a fire! A recall program would be nice! Keep existing customers safe.

quote:

Originally posted by Hubba-Dubba:
The only problem I have is that I wish they would notify owners of these problems when they know about them.

If you have concerns about how CS works, call them up directly. They don't monitor the forum and they REALLY prefer to hear from you directly. They like the personal approach (as you saw with Bill).

I know CS and if they had an issue that major, they would let you know. They've never had an issue like this (actually first I've heard of it) so I don't think it's major.

I'm not sure how filling the pot would be an issue with a fire, you'd have to have an ignition source and if it's burned out, no fire?

Key is, my advice is NEVER treat this as a set it and forget it. I think too many people do that.

I monitor it. I put a probe thermometer in and monitor the temps remotely.



Call them

quote:

Originally posted by FalcoX:
Can someone walk me through the steps to manually light the pellets with a MAPP torch which I have?

Throw a handful in, light them up. Make sure they are lit/glowing. The unit should not be on.

As soon as you turn the unit on, the fan MAY blow out the flames, but if they're lit/glowing, the fan will continue to make them burn.

Do NOT leave the unit. Wait until the fire is going. Monitor it until it does.

quote:

Originally posted by SmokinOkie:
I monitor it. I put a probe thermometer in and monitor the temps remotely.

I agree 110%. Does not matter what smoker I am using, I want to know what it is doing. Why tempt fate?

SmokinOkie - CS did hear from me direct. It was after that, that I came on the forum to see if there had been similar issues and found that there has been. I posted what I did in an effort to share my experience and most of my post was very complimentary of CS.

Bill did say that they have had problems with the previous design and they are sending me a replacement part, so this is a problem they have been aware of.

Is it a major issue? Maybe not to some but it is if your income depends on the piece of equipment!

Was it a fire hazard? No this problem wasn't (I was in scouts and understand how fire works). I was referring to other possible problems in general that could be dangerous.

It's good advice to not "set it and forget it" I NEVER FORGET IT! However, this is my business and I have my smoker in a mobile kitchen. It doesn't take long when something goes wrong to ruin the meat which means more to me than than having to change our dinner plans cause I messed up supper. It means $$$$ lost!

I appreciate your your previous, current and future advice but I post wasn't a complaint about CS but a compliment that I finished with a concern. I'm sorry if the concern took away from the rest of my post.

Thanks
Todd

No worries Todd.

Talking to Bill isn't the same as talking to Customer Service. The service guys will fix the problem, that's what they do. You're doing great bringing it here to share/ask, but I always post when someone has a suggestion that they contact CS about their concerns. Specifically Customer Service. They don't really monitor the forum.

The Technical team that helps with support isn't the same as calling Stuart and letting him know or Customer Service.

As it is your business, I would put a monitor on it to monitor for high or low temps. Just a prudent step. 99 out of 100 we haven't seen issues like this, but when you're in a business 1 out of 100 isn't a good deal.

The remote probe with alarms is the way I'd go to prevent future loss.

Glad they helped and appreciate the info, first I've heard of it.

Russ

Russ,
When I called the CS number and explained my problem Bill is the one they sent me to. I didn't realize I wasn't actually talking to someone in CS. Who is Bill? I Think Bill did fix the problem by sending me the replacement part that he said would fix my problem. Next time I have an issue I will try to remember to specifically ask for Customer Service. Thanks for that tidbit of info!

Would you have a good recommendation on a remote probe and monitor system for me to purchase?

Thanks again for your support!

Cookshack has two guys in Tech Support. Tony and Bill. We are both part of the Customer Service Team.


Bill

Okay, trying to explain my way out of the hole I dug.

Everyone at CS is in Customer Service, that's just the way they operate.

BUT....

Depends on what you're trying to accomplish. Not everyone is an expert on the technology (that's the tech guys Bill and Tony and Stuart too).

If you're wanting to know how it's run and recommendations for changes, go to Stuart. He's the Presdient and will deal with those things (sorry Stuart, it always goes to you doesn't it).

Me? I'm just a non-paid moderator of this forum for 10 years, so don't ask me anything.

I was happy with the service I got and I'm happy with my smoker! Bill addressed my problem and provided me with the solution, which is the replacement part that's on it's way.

I assume when I call and explain my problem that they will send me to whomever is best qualified to resolve the issue. I really hope I don't have to get to know you guys to well. No offense, but if I do that means I'm having a lot of issues. however, I don't expect that will be the case. Thank you for a solid product and quality customer service.

Russ, I spent a lot of time on here before buying my FEC100 and as a result read a lot of your responses to issues. In my short history on here you have been very consistent with your advice. "Have you called CS?" Well as soon as I had my problem that's what I did. You've defended the company and products, when people complained or criticized, by stating the obvious and reminding us that common sense usually solves the problem. So Russ I don't think you dug yourself a hole!

But it does appear that they monitor the forum....HAHA

Thanks for everything!

quote:

Originally posted by Hubba-Dubba:
..But it does appear that they monitor the forum....HAHA

Thanks for everything!

Actually, no, I emailed them yesterday to make sure the problem was all fixed. I do that most times because I never want them to miss the fun posts like this one.

Thanks for the feedback.

Let's start a new thread on the therm. Jump down to the Thermometer forum and let's help you there.

Russ