Traeger temperature problem

[Mark hembree]

My issue is the temperature varies by 35 degrees from left side of the grill to the right side of the grill. Mine is a new pro 575

 

[Timmy]

I havent check my 780, but both slabs of meat are within a couple dgrees of each other IT. If i do have an issue, i will rotate as others have suggested. Initially my set temp and grill temp were 40+ degrees different until i put the new rtd and controller in.

 

[RemE]

My issue is the temperature varies by 35 degrees from left side of the grill to the right side of the grill. Mine is a new pro 575

This is part of learning your grill, my 850 is also much hotter on the left, just the way the airflow works out.

 

[Night Air]

We bought a Traeger Scout for the in-laws after seeing how thrilled they were with my 32" Pro. Out of the box the temperatures soared over 300 degrees when we had it set on 180 degrees. I was disappointed with the performance but after thinking it over, it dawned on me that if one were to light a fire in a suitcase things would heat up pretty quickly and that's basically what the Scout is, a suitcase. I doubt the sensors are to blame. It is of my opinion that if the controller is calling for fuel because the temperature sensor is reading a temperature below what the thermostat is set, it is just telling the auger to feed pellets; pretty simple. Unfortunately, by the time the temperatures match and the thermostat is satisfied, the burn pot is loaded up with pellets and they have to burn off, causing the temperature to rise, and then drop back to where the thermostat is set and the whole cycle repeats itself. The larger units can absorb the extreme fluctuations better because of the larger heated areas, but If the Scout were an engine I'd say it's running too rich when floored and needs to be leaned out a little. Unfortunately my in-laws and the Scout are across the country but I have a simple idea. I would like to try cleaning out the hopper and reducing the amount of exposed auger by at least 25% with a something as simple as a piece of tape or by gluing a piece of plastic across 1/4 of the opening and then check to see if it tames down the wild temperature sweeps and then increasing or decreasing the amount of exposed auger until the temperatures don't swing so wildly. If anyone tries this, please post your results for the rest of us and also so that I can look good for the in-laws.

Thank you.

 

[grahambuilt]

We bought a Traeger Scout for the in-laws after seeing how thrilled they were with my 32" Pro. Out of the box the temperatures soared over 300 degrees when we had it set on 180 degrees. I was disappointed with the performance but after thinking it over, it dawned on me that if one were to light a fire in a suitcase things would heat up pretty quickly and that's basically what the Scout is, a suitcase. I doubt the sensors are to blame. It is of my opinion that if the controller is calling for fuel because the temperature sensor is reading a temperature below what the thermostat is set, it is just telling the auger to feed pellets; pretty simple. Unfortunately, by the time the temperatures match and the thermostat is satisfied, the burn pot is loaded up with pellets and they have to burn off, causing the temperature to rise, and then drop back to where the thermostat is set and the whole cycle repeats itself. The larger units can absorb the extreme fluctuations better because of the larger heated areas, but If the Scout were an engine I'd say it's running too rich when floored and needs to be leaned out a little. Unfortunately my in-laws and the Scout are across the country but I have a simple idea. I would like to try cleaning out the hopper and reducing the amount of exposed auger by at least 25% with a something as simple as a piece of tape or by gluing a piece of plastic across 1/4 of the opening and then check to see if it tames down the wild temperature sweeps and then increasing or decreasing the amount of exposed auger until the temperatures don't swing so wildly. If anyone tries this, please post your results for the rest of us and also so that I can look good for the in-laws.

Thank you.

I just purchased a scout and I am having the exact same issues. I contacted Traeger and the tech had me run some tests and had me make some adjustments while they were on the phone, they determined the controller was bad and sent me a new one. I just installed it and I am still having the exact same issue, according to the tech when initially starting the grill and set on smoke it should feed pellets for 15 to 20 seconds and then pause for around 30 seconds before adding more pellets. my auger runs continuously.with both the original controller and the replacement they sent me?

 

[Night Air]

I just purchased a scout and I am having the exact same issues. I contacted Traeger and the tech had me run some tests and had me make some adjustments while they were on the phone, they determined the controller was bad and sent me a new one. I just installed it and I am still having the exact same issue, according to the tech when initially starting the grill and set on smoke it should feed pellets for 15 to 20 seconds and then pause for around 30 seconds before adding more pellets. my auger runs continuously.with both the original controller and the replacement they sent me?

Well, that's just a bummer. What are the odds that you have two bad controllers? I think the odds are better that Traeger built a smoker that was a great idea, but just too small. I haven't been into the guts of the Scout but I assume they use the same components as the larger smokers? Is there any limit to how long it will continuously feed?

 

[grahambuilt]

Well, that's just a bummer. What are the odds that you have two bad controllers? I think the odds are better that Traeger built a smoker that was a great idea, but just too small. I haven't been into the guts of the Scout but I assume they use the same components as the larger smokers? Is there any limit to how long it will continuously feed?

No limit, it just keeps running, the latest tech I spoke with is sending me a new auger motor. She says there must be a malfunction in the motor not allowing it to pause, seems unlikely to me and I am getting tired of being there repair man on a grill I have owned less than three weeks and malfunctioned on the first use. I would think an upstanding company would say I am sending you a new grill and a return slip for this one. I build custom homes for a living and in my opinion there policy would be like me having a customer with a crack in the drywall and telling them I will get them some tape and drywall compound so they can fix it themselves.