Higher Temp issues / smoke in pellet box

firemanpeteMember

Hi All,

I have had my new FEC100 for about a week. So far, it has worked great at 225-325 temp settings. Tonight I was playing with some chicken and wanted to do it high heat (400*)

I set the Cook temp to 400, and hit start. After 45 minutes the oven temp was only 365*.

After an hour, the temp dropped to under 350*.

I put in my chicken, and for the next 90 minutes the temp never came about 340*-345*.

During the entire cook, the cook temp was set to 400*.

Also, I have noticed when I open the pellet hopper that there appears to be smoke coming out of the hopper. This time I mixed the pellets with my hand and the pellets near the bottom were hot.

I will call CS on Friday, but wanted to check with all of you.

Thanks

Pete

3/24/109:21 PM

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tomMember

Like you said"call Cookshack".

There are several different models,with different needs,settings,etc.

We could come up with an assortment of guesses,over the next week,as folks check in,but they give you actual correct answers.

3/25/106:20 AM

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maxqMember

This may sound nuts but is there anything blocking your vent?

3/25/106:41 AM

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tomMember

Or wind blowing into it,or any number of things,the techs at CS will walk you thru.

3/25/106:50 AM

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Former Member

The newer FEC (last 3 or 4 years) were redesigned to pass NSF inspection and the pellet shoot prevents the fire from working up the ramp, into the pellet box. (old traeger, straight through augers could in fact burn back up with a strong wind blowing in the pipe).

When I've seen smoke in the hopper on the new ones, it's because air flow is restricted (vent pipe or something) or a strong wind, both keeping the smoke from coming out the vent. The easiest route is back up the auger, out the pellet lid.

3/25/107:03 AM

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firemanpeteMember

I have a new FEC (made in December) with the IQ4. There was nothing blocking the exhaust and there was not any wind.

When I opened the door to put in the chicken, the fire was going good and flame was actually touching the end of the auger. Not sure if that is normal or not.

I will be calling CS tomorrow, but did not know if anyone had suggestions between now and then.

How long should it take to get to 400* from start-up?

Pete

3/25/109:03 AM

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tomMember

Once again,the plant will have more accurate specifics,than our occasional wild guesses.

Until they get tracked,maybe never.

3/25/109:40 AM

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steve6224Member

I have a 2006 FEC with the angled auger/pellet ramp. I recently purchased this unit used and although it seems to cook just fine, I also notice smoke coming from the hopper. My FEC is covered and no wind. Temp is usually about 250 ish. I just assumed that this was normal. as I know the angled pellet ramp should prevent a fire from starting in the hopper and the pellets are just warm

3/26/103:30 PM

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tomMember

Yep,while all of us sitting around,with no real info,can come up with anecdotes we might have heard,from somebody else that heard it from someone else,that had other models ,might pass by the forum and toss in something we thought might have applied to some cooker,might even hit on the same story.

Now,did any of our continuing stories,relate to what the original cook was seeking?

It would be nice,and hopefully we don't steer more in the wrong direction