temps vary during cook

How did the food taste?

Some stick burners turn out great tasting Q, and the temp must vary quite a bit (normally) as more sticks are added. I don't think an 8* swing is very large, and the cycles shouldn't concern you if the temp swings aren't great. If you can set it and forget it, and turn out great Q, I wouldn't worry about it. Remember you're mechanically adding a wood type fuel supply to create temp. This isn't a gas oven.

Again, how did the food taste? Why did you not stay with the Primo Oval?

Is the FEC level? Leveling the cooker solved that issue for me. Call Cookshack and see if they can find a solution.

It sounds like you don't have enough cooks on it to be even close to having it broken in. The longer you use it, the more the temps level out, and that seems to be with any of the controllers.

I have the old Traegers, and I was so frustrated when I first started that I was ready to send them back. The more I used them, the better they worked.

Like any piece of equipment, there may be problems, but give it some time. One thing's for sure is that Cookshack will make it right if things don't start to work out.

Thank, guys.

The food was great. First brisket cook and my buddy made all kinds of ooo's and ahhh's while devouring. I said I want to perfect the technique this summer, he said I already had.

I'll check to see if the unit is level; then watch it for a month. As you say, it's probably not a problem. It's just that I am used to no temp fluctuation at all.

I still love the Primo Oval. But its capacity is so limited; I can only do 2 chickens in true indirect, or 4 racks of ribs. And now I am thinking that the charcoal fire is so close to the food, it seems to impart a little too much creosote and heavier smoke than the FEC. (this could also be from the mesquite lump we use out here). So the poor thing having served me well will now be reserved for hot fire cooks for those prime New Yorks I discovered at Costco (ask for the whole bag and they're only about $9/lb in prime, and they are every bit as good as Wagyu; I cut 'em 3 fingers thick, vacuum pack 'em and freeze 'em til I need 'em--they're great!)

quote:

Originally posted by dixiecal:
...prime New Yorks I discovered at Costco...they are every bit as good as Wagyu; I cut 'em 3 fingers thick, vacuum pack 'em and freeze 'em til I need 'em--they're great!)

Now that's a steak.

All FEC are not created equal. @ 8 degrees you have one of the good ones. Mine varies 100 degrees. Cookshack says they are working on it ... 8 months ago. Mine is not getting better with age, its getting worse.

We were fortunate when Primo was giving a large oval,the stand,season's worth of their charcoal to the winners of state champiopships/qualifiers.

We found it to be best as a direct cooker,also.

Of course the FEC s remained the main cookers.