Disappointed with problems with my new RT700

animallover526

Active member
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35
My grill was delivered a few weeks ago and I'm very disappointed with several issues:

1. Pairing with phone for wifi- It worked the first time but now it won't pair. One of the main reasons I bought the 700 was for the wifi, so I wouldn't have to keep physically monitoring the temps of the grill and internal of the meat.
2. Temperature fluctuations- Another main reason I bought the rectec over other lesser expensive grills was for the supposed lack of temperature fluctuations. I was led to believe that fluctuations would be limited to +/- 2 degrees. Yesterday, I was trying to cook beef short ribs. I had the temperature set at 225 degrees and it would go as high as 290. So, I lowered my set temperature to "Low" and it was running 240-260 degrees.
3. Disappointed with how my grill looked after just my first cook. This is going to be higher maintenance than I anticipated. Hopefully, bar keepers friend will clean this up without affecting the finish. Here is a photo after just one cook.

How does one determine the "feed rate" and what should that setting be? Any other suggestions?
 

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I’m in Arkansas and it hot as heck out. Ambient temp can affect smoker temp. But I’ve been pretty rock steady on temps. Are you opening the lid? We call that burping. It’s an easy way to get your grill to that 600 range. All that extra oxygen bumps up the heat significantly.

On the feed rate, you can adjust that in the app. Go to your grill and hit the gear icon. Folks seem to dial it all the way down to 3.

You might be having feed issues. There’s a thing that happens when you have a gap in the pellets where the temp dives then flashes back pretty heavy.

Try adjusting the feed rate, but call them and have them troubleshoot with you if that doesn’t work.

I don’t mind the staining. I cleaned it off at first but now like how mean it looks. I’ve had mine about three weeks now. There are several cleaners but Cameo or barkeepers are regular reccs.

Keep your fire box clean too.

Welcome to the family.
 
My RT590 (Stampede?) is starting to look Mean too. I like that. I clean everything but the heavy lid/cover religiously after use. Can’t speak to problems with temp as mine has been rock solid. Call support.

BTW that’s one magnificent looking GSD.
 
I have had the Bull for three weeks and have cooked a half dozen times. The temp stays within a few degrees. On one cook it was 94F outside and in the sun and it went up about 8 degrees then stabilized. I try to keep an umbrella over it when it is blazing hot out. Your problem does not sound typical. I would call Rec-Tec.

Regarding the WiFi. Make sure you still can connect to your 2.4 network where the grill is located. Move the grill closer to the router temporarily and see if it connects. You may be just out of range. I again would call Rec-Tec.

The upkeep/ staining issue is "in the eye of the beholder", some think 'let it go' it creates character and others want to keep it pristine. Put some gasket material around the door that will help. Bar Keeps works great.

Good luck and welcome.
 
#1 you need to get another digital "tested" thermometer in close to the RT probe on left hand side to verify its validity. Let run for awhile, it is going to overshoot your set temperature probably a couple times. If it is running way hot, watch video and turn feed rate down slightly. Don't just go to 3 because everyone says to. All units will be slightly different. When get temps close, place thermometer in center of grill and watch video and adjust offset slightly to match temp setting.
As far as the mess, I installed Lava lock around lid of my 590. Stopped about 95%. If going to do this, you may need to adjust temps slightly again as it seals lid pretty well. Good luck, call RT if still troubled.
20200216_123242.jpg
 
My grill was delivered a few weeks ago and I'm very disappointed with several issues:

1. Pairing with phone for wifi- It worked the first time but now it won't pair. One of the main reasons I bought the 700 was for the wifi, so I wouldn't have to keep physically monitoring the temps of the grill and internal of the meat.
2. Temperature fluctuations- Another main reason I bought the rectec over other lesser expensive grills was for the supposed lack of temperature fluctuations. I was led to believe that fluctuations would be limited to +/- 2 degrees. Yesterday, I was trying to cook beef short ribs. I had the temperature set at 225 degrees and it would go as high as 290. So, I lowered my set temperature to "Low" and it was running 240-260 degrees.
3. Disappointed with how my grill looked after just my first cook. This is going to be higher maintenance than I anticipated. Hopefully, bar keepers friend will clean this up without affecting the finish. Here is a photo after just one cook.

How does one determine the "feed rate" and what should that setting be? Any other suggestions?
I will try to address each issue. I have had my 700 for 2 years.
WI-FI - If your router is too far away it won't connect initally. My router is only about 20 feet from my 700. If your router is far away talk to your service provider about getting a booster. Even close as I am I have had a few proplems at times. I always found either reloading the app and/or unplugging/pluggin in grill works. if wi-fi light is not blinking it will not connect. If it is steady then it is connected to something. Unplug, reload the app plug in and try again. Once i am connected I can take my phone anywhere inside or outside the house where I have a WI-FI signal and it reads the grill correctly. If you have both a 2G and 5G option on your router use the 2G for the Bull it gives you more distance.
Temperature fluctuations - i have not had that problem the most I see is 5 or so and it quickly stablizes to selected temperature. Could be the pellets you are using. There are many recommendatios for pellets on this site. See feed rate comment later.
Cleaning - Yes that is what my grill looks like after a long cook time. I use Bartenders friend cleanser for the front and Bartenders spray for the horzontal ones. Have to use the cleanser there also some times. Use a greenie with BF. I have had to use SOS pads when it is really bad. Might cause "scratches" but it will clean and be shiny (it is a tool not a piece of art:))
Feed Rate - Do not mess with the factory settings. Call customer service and they will run the diagnostics and correct any problems if necessary. I have always had 5 star experiences with customer service. It may take them a day to get back to you but they will. See my posts on specifics of my contacts with customer service.
Hope this helps.
 
Your fluctuations seem very high. Mine stays within 2 degrees 95% of the time. I would contact customer support. I also put a gasket around the lid and that eliminated the smoke stain issue for me. I ordered this gasket because it was black and it has worked well.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TAJW0QE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

As others have said the stains on the front will clean-up easy. Just make sure you use a not scratch pad like a Scotch-Brite blue and wipe/scrub with the grain. I like Cameo cleaner a little better, but Bar Keepers Friend is easier to find. Both will work well.

When connecting to wifi I found that I could only get mine to connect on 2.4 Ghz

I found these videos to be very helpful when I was first setting up my Bull.

Feed rate:

Temp control calibration:

Meat probe calibration:

I hope this helps.
 
I installed the gasket on my Bull and it helps a ton with keeping the front clean.

I was prepared to adjust my feed rate down after installing the lava lock since I’ve read this can cause the grill to run hotter since its all sealed in there but I didn’t have any issues maintaining temp to +-5 degrees. 99% of the time the temp is bang on.

Mine curiously came with a feed rate of 3 straight from the factory (got it less than a month ago). Not sure if they adjusted it since I’m out in Southern California where it gets hot or if they’ve since moved to a default of 3.
 
Your temp fluctuations sound exactly like what I experienced on my first cook too. Lower your feed rate to 3.5 or 3.0 and it will solve the issue. Hot temp climates just can't maintain at 5 or 6. Since adjusting I have never had it fluctuate more than a degree or two.

I dont have much advice on your other two issues. Mine connected day 1 and has never been an issue and I have cooked numerous times a month for over a year now and the front of my Bull doesn't look like yours and I've never cleaned the steel once.
 
#1 you need to get another digital "tested" thermometer in close to the RT probe on left hand side to verify its validity. Let run for awhile, it is going to overshoot your set temperature probably a couple times. If it is running way hot, watch video and turn feed rate down slightly. Don't just go to 3 because everyone says to. All units will be slightly different. When get temps close, place thermometer in center of grill and watch video and adjust offset slightly to match temp setting.
As far as the mess, I installed Lava lock around lid of my 590. Stopped about 95%. If going to do this, you may need to adjust temps slightly again as it seals lid pretty well. Good luck, call RT if still troubled.
@Wslayer nice post. What size LavaLock did you use? It looks pretty wide. Thanks
 
WOW that's some thick stuff, are the Stampede's lid gaps that wide that it needs 1/4 inch thickness to seal it?
No, wouldn't have needed that thick but weight of the hood compresses it pretty good so shouldn't have to replace as often. What others from other forums were using on the Bulls, Pit Boss and other pellet smokers.
Was not able to find the link to post.
 
No, wouldn't have needed that thick but weight of the hood compresses it pretty good so shouldn't have to replace as often. What others from other forums were using on the Bulls, Pit Boss and other pellet smokers.
Was not able to find the link to post.
I was planning on using 1/2 x 1/8 or 3/4 x 1/8 FireBlack gasket. But maybe 1/4 thickness is better. I am not sure now. I just ordered the Stampede so I need to decide on which one and get it ordered. I want to install the gasket before the initial setup procedure or maybe after it is done. Not sure when to install is the best.
 
When I got my Bull, I assembled it in my garage and the wi-fi connected with no problem. It was a good 50' away from the router with several walls in between. We then had a power outage and the router got wiped out. Had to set up a new network and reconnect EVERYTHING. You don't realize how much stuff you have hooked up to it until have to hook it ALL up at once. Doorbells, smart lights, TVs, printers, a grill. :LOL:

So anyways, went to the garage to reconnect the Bull. Wouldn't connect. I rolled it out of the garage, as close to the dining room window where the router sits as I could get it, wouldn't connect. Went back in the house, opened the window, and hung the router outside. Then it finally connected. What's weird is that once connected, it works perfectly sitting back in the garage.:rolleyes:
 
Same as my 340. It wouldn't work from the far side of the yard when I 1st go the grill, maybe 50' away. Rolled it closer to the house, about 20' from the router, where it connected. Rolled it back to the far side where it continues to work just fine.
 
Wonder if the Wifi antenna was taller if that would help some with the distance! Is there any aftermarket taller antennas that will fit on the Rec Tec control panel?
 

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