Fire Pot overflow

What version of the FEC 100 do you have? Pre-ramp or ramp.

I have a new IQ 4 that I got 6 weeks ago

I have the same problem with my IQ4. I have only cooked on it twice as I don't trust it anymore on overnight cooks. One thing to check is make sure the fan is still providing some air to the pellets. I have not had a chances to check that on mine yet.

Mark

I also have a new fec 100, same problems, tony is especially good at helping,,,, that being said,, the starts up process is the same for me, and I have just come to the conclusion it takes two or three attempts to start,,, temp can go up to 300's, then settles down for even temp,, usually takes three hours to get an even 220. I just tried the , leave the door open during heat up,,, and that helped keep it in the high 200's. Again, Tony has been nice, but I think I like the dependability of the old style, Three grand for a unreliable product is a bit much

I have the IQ4 controller retrofitted on my older FEC100 and haven't had any problems. The only thing I can think of is that the fire takes a while to start. The unit makes noise, and then the noise stops. It's when the noise stops that the fire starting process starts. I got fooled the first time and turned it off and back on after the noise, maybe you're not giving it a chance to get started before restarting? I cooked a load of 21 racks of ribs last weekend and it took a little longer than usual to get back up to temp after I put the meat on (lots of cold meat to heat up), other than that it was perfect (as were the ribs).

Try this EACH time you start.

Take a small handful of pellets and throw them into the pot. That gives the igniter a good load to start with. Also make sure the igniter isn't covered with ash. If seen this a LOT and if covered, it keeps the igniter from lighting pellets.

There is a different cycle of igniter on the IQ series than the other FE's. In the old FE's it only ran on 3 min and never came back on. In those, when it smolders like there, I recommend you turn it off after 3 min, the right back on.

I have the FEC with the Traeger controller and the ramp. I had the same problem the very first time I used it. Figured out the "handful of pellets" trick on my own and haven't had problems since.

On the newer models the ignitor does not stick into the fire pot near as much as it did on the pre-ramp models. When the cooker is cool reach in the pot and you will feel where the ignitor is. Place the handfull of pellets on that side and you should always get a fire. I used to have problems with my ramp model lighting until I figured that out. Like others I also vacuum out the firepot after each cook.

Mark

quote:

Try this EACH time you start.

Take a small handful of pellets and throw them into the pot. That gives the igniter a good load to start with. Also make sure the igniter isn't covered with ash. If seen this a LOT and if covered, it keeps the igniter from lighting pellets.

Why should someone spending over $3k be expected to do this EACH time?

I cleaned all the ash out and threw in a handful of pellets and it started just fine. I also open the door and let the temp come off and it settled right to where it was supposed to.
Thanks for all the suggestions. It is nice to have help as I explore the nuances of the FEC 100. The critics all arrive tonite. They should be pleased.

I just don't bother with the electric starter

1. place small handful of pellets into pot
2. squirt fire starting gell onto pellets and litght
3.close door and time five minutes with your watch
4.turn unit on.

this has never failed unless you don't wait the five minutes.. also the temp never goes extremely high.

quote:

Originally posted by evets:

Why should someone spending over $3k be expected to do this EACH time?

Not sure what you're expecting so I hope you're not disappointed in the smoker.

EVERY smoke I've had, include huge offsets costing more than $3K required specific maintenance.

The tip is for 2 things.

The manual recommends you empty the pot each time and run the auger empty. Do you do that?
If you do, then it takes times for the auger to feed enough pellets to start smoking.

Also if the ash isn't cleaned out, it will choke the igniter.

ME, I like the fact that once the smoker starts I don't have to keep loading wood. Have to do that in the expensive smokers.

A handful of pellets seems a pretty simple task.

Personally I don't every start my smoker without preventive maintenace. I check the pot, check the grease trap, clean the racks if needed, replace foil.

And I don't get overflow, because I watch my smoker until it starts. If it goes 3 to 5 minutes and no smoke, I stop it before it gets to overflow.