New Auger and low temps still an issue

[SillyRabbit]

I contacted Weber about not being able to maintain low temps. It reaches temp, then drops 50-60 deg, then takes 15-20 minutes to get back to goal temp. Grill repeats this 2-4 times before it stabilizes. So, they sent me a ramp and a welded hopper\auger tube. I am still having the same issue. On a long cook, it isn't an issue. I did some baby back ribs and it took over an hour for it to finally settle in at 225, dropping down to 170-180 randomly. Overall, the ribs came out great after 5.5 hrs, so no issue. But I was trying to reverse sear some NY strips and the grill never stabilized during the initial cook. I pulled them when they hit 120 and cranked the grill to 600 and it had no problem reaching 600 in about 12 mins. The steaks turned out good,so I'm not really complaining and I expect some temperature fluctuation, but 50-60 degs seems problematic. I was using pit boss pellets.

On a side note - when I replace the auger\hopper there was a lot of ground pellets in the auger and the gasket between the original hopper and auger had failed and was pushed out of place due to the amount of pellet dust. Seems like the shutdown process is creating dust when it reserves the auger.

 

[dudemcnally]

I would suggest trying a different brand of pellet. I have found that lumberjack pellets work extremely well in my SF, and they're almost half the price of weber pellets. I've found them on sale for $6.99/20lb, normal price is 8.99 in my area.
That being said, I have noticed on some cooks it can quickly reach whatever set temperature, and every once in a while it can fluctuate a bit before it stabilizes. This seems to me to be a software issue, my assumption is they will update the algorithm and this problem will go away. Mine still produces great food so IMO it's not something to worry too much about.

 

[SillyRabbit]

I would suggest trying a different brand of pellet. I have found that lumberjack pellets work extremely well in my SF, and they're almost half the price of weber pellets. I've found them on sale for $6.99/20lb, normal price is 8.99 in my area.
That being said, I have noticed on some cooks it can quickly reach whatever set temperature, and every once in a while it can fluctuate a bit before it stabilizes. This seems to me to be a software issue, my assumption is they will update the algorithm and this problem will go away. Mine still produces great food so IMO it's not something to worry too much about.

I picked up 3 bags of lumber jack yesterday. Pit Boss in the hopper is about at the sensor level, should go through those this evening.

 

[dudemcnally]

awesome dude, I hope that helps somewhat. The only problems I've ever had with my SF have been when I tried a brand of pellet called B&B. After I found lumberjack I've been golden. I still have some temp fluctuation as the SF eases up to the desired temperature, but typically mine is at temp within 15 min of startup. If I adjust temps, it can be slow to gain temp, but it seems to me to be software. Like they're really trying to not overshoot the temp at all costs. I'm sure they'll update the algorithm and things will improve

 

[Rickyjk619]

What version auger motor is everyone using currently? Rev D, Rev E, or Rev F or some other version. I’m asking because Weber sent a new Auger motor and it’s Rev D and supposedly the newest version. Anyone have any clue?

 

[martijn]

I have the rev D version. No idea if it's really the latest version, but so far it's working for me with the new augur and chute.

 

[Rickyjk619]

I changed out the auger motor and the glow plug. Fired up the Smokefire got it to 600 took no time at all. Reduced to 250 and held great, test over. I come back 2 hours later fire it to 400 and she made it 170 and had a unexplained power failure. So I wait the 15 minutes it takes and fire it back up to 400 that was almost a hour ago and it’s struggling to get to get to 400. It made it to 360 and has fallen back to 350 now. The fan motor is running wide open. I and just on my last nerve with this smoker.

 

[Bruno]

I changed out the auger motor and the glow plug. Fired up the Smokefire got it to 600 took no time at all. Reduced to 250 and held great, test over. I come back 2 hours later fire it to 400 and she made it 170 and had a unexplained power failure. So I wait the 15 minutes it takes and fire it back up to 400 that was almost a hour ago and it’s struggling to get to get to 400. It made it to 360 and has fallen back to 350 now. The fan motor is running wide open. I and just on my last nerve with this smoker.

I want too love mine. I have a lot of money invested in upgrades. My friend wanted to buy one really bad and I talked him into a rec-tec rt-700 for the same price and honestly I’m a little jealous.

 

[dbk402]

Seem to be having same problem. Have a new auger from Weber...haven’t installed it.
I swear my grill was working spot on before the latest fw.

 

[Bruno]

Seem to be having same problem. Have a new auger from Weber...haven’t installed it.
I swear my grill was working spot on before the latest fw.

Yep, fucking annoying going backwards!!

 

[Rickyjk619]

Yep, fucking annoying going backwards!!

I received a email from Weber yesterday and they are working on a update to fix the issue. They can’t say when it will be out but they are hoping soon. I hope it fixes the issue.

 

[Andy]

I contacted Weber about not being able to maintain low temps. It reaches temp, then drops 50-60 deg, then takes 15-20 minutes to get back to goal temp. Grill repeats this 2-4 times before it stabilizes. So, they sent me a ramp and a welded hopper\auger tube. I am still having the same issue. On a long cook, it isn't an issue. I did some baby back ribs and it took over an hour for it to finally settle in at 225, dropping down to 170-180 randomly. Overall, the ribs came out great after 5.5 hrs, so no issue. But I was trying to reverse sear some NY strips and the grill never stabilized during the initial cook. I pulled them when they hit 120 and cranked the grill to 600 and it had no problem reaching 600 in about 12 mins. The steaks turned out good,so I'm not really complaining and I expect some temperature fluctuation, but 50-60 degs seems problematic. I was using pit boss pellets.

On a side note - when I replace the auger\hopper there was a lot of ground pellets in the auger and the gasket between the original hopper and auger had failed and was pushed out of place due to the amount of pellet dust. Seems like the shutdown process is creating dust when it reserves the auger.

I purchased this grill directly from Weber. Had temp. issues from the beginning. 2 augers, software update and a pellet slide later still have the same issues. I’ve had pellet grills and smokers so I’m not new to this. I tried sifting the pellets and still no change. The entire problem, at least for me, is the auger reversing and crushing the pellets to dust. If I vacuum the auger in the hopper as well as where it dumps pellets before every cook it works fine. I/we shouldn’t have to do this with a thousand dollar smoker. I’m trying very hard to love this thing but if Weber can’t make it work as advertised I’m returning it and demanding a full refund.

 

[KevinD]

I think I have all the latest, welded chute, Firmware and Software, and control panel. Went to smoke a pork roast on Sunday and it took about 45 minutes to stabilize at 225. It kept trolling between 190 and 200. I do have version F on the auger motor after it came with E. D is the newest? That makes a lot of sense! Like an earlier post, when I changed the chute it was a solid mess at the base of the auger. Could not budge it with a good shop vac. Had to chip with a screwdriver. Weber rep with a SF since Dec said get used to cleaning out everything every several cooks. BTW I vac the inside after every grill and use a drip pan.

 

[Rickyjk619]

Ditto!!! I have the exact same issues.

 

[abmet]

The newest firmware seems to try to keep from overshooting temps overall mine has been working well. I have had where it took a while to stabilize at 225. got there in 15 minutes or so then dropped down to 190 for a while and after another 15 got back up to 225. I’ve run it at 300 or 350 a couple of times and it gets there in 15 minutes and holds steady. Seems like the new firmware still struggling with the lower temps still cooking fine for me fortunately,