Timberline 1300 - first pellet - first impressions

[vxooxv]

When my MES30 finally stopped working I wanted to convert to pellet. A day before pulling the trigger on a RecTec my wife surprised me with a Timberline 1300. So here I am.

Disclaimer, I don't know much about the difference between smokers. Other forums seem to hold RecTec & Yoder in much higher regard. Who knows...

Now then, I've done 2 briskets and a Turkey which turned out pretty darn good so for that, I'm impressed. I do have a couple of observations/questions I'm sure someone else has solved or find equally annoying.

1. My Pellet sensor has a mind of its own. Seriously, I can put a 20lb bag of pellets in, and a few hours later it says I'm low on pellets. I suspect because the pellet auger feeds from a side and not the center. This means the pellets do not level themselves out and the sensor is actually measuring the "hole" being created vs the amount in its entirety. This is annoying, especially in the middle of the night butt cold and I receive an alert that I'm low to find out all I need to do is finger flick pellets into the created hole.

2. The pellet clean out door. Sure, this is useful if you have 15lbs of remaining pellets but what about all the other pellets you have to "spoon" out? Which leads me to my other questions,

2.a Has anyone removed the pellet screen, so it's actually easier to scoop out?

3. As good practice, do most people completely empty their pellets after each use? I have, due to the threat of moister and the fact I like to change them depending on what I'm smoking but...

4. This means also cleaning out the Auger. Now I have to perform the clear auger function, which seems to go on longer than needed. A. I understand if it's jammed you probably want it to toggle rotating in both directions BUT if I just want to clear it, why can't it go in one direction and be done? And I need to dismantle the inside of the smoker to continuously scoop out the pellets from the burn area?

If the cleanout tray was literally under the Auger in the pellet feeder and this thing had a setting to "clean" auger which simply rotated backward thus emptying all the pellets through a better positioned clean out door, this would make life so much easier.

Maybe some of the other manufacturers have solved these issues, but so far these are my minor announces.

 

[Slimpicker]

2.a Has anyone removed the pellet screen, so it's actually easier to scoop out?

Throw that thing away!!!!!

3. As good practice, do most people completely empty their pellets after each use? I have, due to the threat of moister and the fact I like to change them depending on what I'm smoking but...

You can obviously if you wanna change or live in a humid area...

Vacuum the pit and fire pot after every smoke if it was a long one... but cleaning out all pellets I don't think anyone does that... I don't

 

[RoadRunner18]

I keep my 1300 on the back patio. I do cover it after each use with a Traeger cover. I did remove the screws from the pellet screen, removed the screen and then replaced the screws. This allows the pellet screen to sit on top of the two screws and can be removed easily to clean out the hopper. I do empty the pellet hopper after each use, but do not remove all pellets from the auger. I remove the pellets after each cook to eliminate moisture. I use this cooker at least 3-4 times a week. I usually vacuum out the ash after every-other cook. If I am going to do a long cook, such as a low and slow brisket, I always start out with a clean grill. This grill has never stalled, and my only complaint is an inaccurate meat probe, even though I re-calibrated it before each cook. Since I bought the FireBoard II I don't even use the Traeger meat probe. For my needs it has been a great grill.

 

[GrillMeister]

I have an Ironwood 885 and a Century 22

1. My Pellet sensor has a mind of its own. I just keep my pellet hopper topped off. No issues.

2. The pellet clean out door. Sure, this is useful if you have 15lbs of remaining pellets but what about all the other pellets you have to "spoon" out? Which leads me to my other questions, I have one and never use it. I really don't see a big difference between pellets unless you shift from a strong wood (Mesquite or Hickory) to a milder wood like Apple, Cherry, Pecan, etc. I just use what's in there.

2.a Has anyone removed the pellet screen, so it's actually easier to scoop out? What pellet screen? seriously, it's there for lawyers and Darwin candidates.

3. As good practice, do most people completely empty their pellets after each use? I have, due to the threat of moister and the fact I like to change them depending on what I'm smoking but... I live in Austin, TX and don't bother to remove my pellet at all. I guess it depends on your climate, humidity and location of your grill.

4. This means also cleaning out the Auger. Nope. The closest I get to that is vacuuming out the firepot, otherwise the auger stays primed.

If you are in a humid area and your grill is NOT under a roof, then get a cover. If you do not grill on a regular basis (at least 2 times a week) then removing your pellets is a good practice. I'm grilling every other day thanks to working from home.

The big thing on the Timberline is the drip pan and drip area. Keep it clean all the times and if you are doing a low & slow on a fatty pork butt or brisket, put them on the upper rack with a drip pan underneath with some water for added moisture. You'll thank me in the morning.

 

[Blip]

I clean my grill when it’s time to replenish the pellet box. I grill 3-4 times a week. I live in Florida. The Traeger is on a hi-rise lanai and it’s always covered by the upstairs lanai. I’ve never had a problem with moisture in the pellets, even during the hot, humid summer. I only cover during major wind blown rain.

 

[RemE]

Welcome to the Timberline club, it's a "Vista Cruiser" of a grill for sure. Solid base unit with lots of potential as well!

I suggest cleaning often because the ash is very corrosive, so the cleaner the better. I generally don't empty my hopper and never clear the auger when changing flavors. If I were not going to be cooking for many weeks I might empty the hopper.

 

[John S.]

Welcome to the Timberline club, I keep my 1300 covered and on the back patio, I cover it after each use with the 1300 Traeger cover. I have also removed the screws from the pellet screen, then replaced the screws and put the pellet screen back on top of the two screws so it can be removed easily to clean out the hopper. I am using the Traeger at least 2-3 times a week and unless I am going to be changing out the pellets I do not empty the hopper and rarely vacuum the pellets from the auger ( by the time that I am at temp (30 min) whatever was in the auger has been burn and the new pellets are going down the tube). However I do filter my Pellets so that I am not pouring sawdust and pellet chips into the hopper. Pellet Filter
For any cook, I try to start out with a clean grill. If I am going to do a long cook, such as a brisket or Pork shoulder I always vacuum, otherwise I vacuum after every-other cook. At this point I have less than 100 cooks on this grill and it has never stalled or failed in any way. As to complaints:
1) There is a temp gradient across the Grill (but if you know about it you can work with it).
2) The meat probe is rather different than my FB2, I use the Traeger meat probe as a relative reference against the FB.

In the end I am glad that I spent the extra 200 for the 1300 vs the 850, I have grown to like the space....
( Thanks to roadrunner18 for the format)

 

[RoadRunner18]

No Charge, John S