Temp control issue

Hello All,

I just found this post and wanted to chime in as I'm having the same problem maintaining low temps. I have the stampede (RT580), its only 3 months old and I've cooked about 8 things on 225ish, including long cooks like pork shoulder and recently a beef brisket. The first few times it was flawless at holding temp. The last 3 or 4 it starts out great, stays at the temp until I open the lid to mop or baste a few hours in, then it goes up at least 50-60 degrees after I close the lid and stays there. In one instance (see photo) it shot up to 345 with a 225 setting!! The last time I tested it and it stayed up there for over an hour. Even when I lower the grill temp it doesn't come down, so I find myself having to turn off the grill for 30 mins... for the brisket I had to shut it off at least 5 times!! I've reached out to RT but have heard nothing yet (in fairness I just called and left a VM today, however didn't get a response from my feedback submittal last week).

Important to note I live in Arizona, so obviously outside temps could be a problem, but was told that is what sets the RT's apart, that they are built to counter outside elements. My friend down the street has an newer Traeger and it holds temps just fine. Thanks for any input...

Frustrated in AZ!
Glad to hear it’s not just me. New RT Stampede and I’m also having same issues, and in AZ.
 
When you do your big smoke, let us know your results @Seanjordan20. We have an RT300 mini from a few years back and have been dealing with the same thing. We’ve switched out the controller, the fan, the temperature probes, had about 8 phone calls and tests with the company (since we live in STL), but still every time we try to do a long smoke it runs hot. We’re smoking a brisket right now and have the temp set to 225 but after 4 hours it jumped up to 272 and has stayed around there even after putting it on low to try to get it back down. We are using the same pellets we’ve used for years so it’s not the pellets, but we’re in the same boat @Seanjordan20

Not sure what else to do at this point:/. Tired of my husband being so frustrated when I know this is something he really enjoys.
 
I will definitely post the results. I will be smoking next Thursday so I will post the results Friday. If not just respond to the thread to remind me.
 
Glad to hear it’s not just me. New RT Stampede and I’m also having same issues, and in AZ.

So I did speak with Rec Tec and they had me lower the feed rate down to the lowest at 30. I tried that and it does seem to help however I haven't done a long smoke on it yet but will post when I do.
 
I am finally on the first of one of many big smokes I have to do this summer. Right now I have 8 butts smoking and I am 100 mins in at 225 without an issue. Currently it is 91 degrees outside. I will be adding 15 slabs of ribs to the grill early in the morning to finish the job up. I’m anticipating 17 hrs total for the butts so this should let me know if the new pellets actually works as intended. I will post the final outcome around noon tomorrow.

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I am finally on the first of one of many big smokes I have to do this summer. Right now I have 8 butts smoking and I am 100 mins in at 225 without an issue. Currently it is 91 degrees outside. I will be adding 15 slabs of ribs to the grill early in the morning to finish the job up. I’m anticipating 17 hrs total for the butts so this should let me know if the new pellets actually works as intended. I will post the final outcome around noon tomorrow.
That's one hell of a test! Good Luck, I hope it all goes butter smooth and the food is going to be delicious!!
CHeers!
 
This smoke has taken longer than expected good thing I planned a 6hr buffer. Overall I could not be happier even though the app will not record temps of a smoke going well into the next day (started erroring out after 16hrs so I cant see the history). Below are notes I took up until this point. As of now I am considering my issue resolved. Not once did my temps rise to a point that the smoker could not control. Also took a pic after 18hrs.

110 mins - temp 239

115 mins- Trying to correct itself by fan but gets to 230 then fan goes constant then temp rose to 233

125 mins - temp 225

210 mins - temp 225 and has been steady

240 mins - 85 degrees outside with a slight sprinkle. Did my 3rd spray and temps seem to be holding fine.

330 mins - 81 degrees outside and stopped raining. 4th spray down and temps are holding within a three degree

460 mins - 76 degrees outside temps have been steady +- 1 degree

520 mins - half way done with my smoke. Temps have been perfect minus the adjustments after spray down. Butts at 164

790 mins - 75 degrees outside temps are still steady at 225

940 mins - 80 degrees outside temps are still holding

18hrs - 85 degrees temp still holding

6AD9E979-EB20-4976-8A79-02F3908455F0.jpeg
 
After 23hrs the smoke was done. No issues at all. The max temp outside was 96. I’ve learned with this grill the more meat the longer it’s going to take
 
When you do your big smoke, let us know your results @Seanjordan20. We have an RT300 mini from a few years back and have been dealing with the same thing. We’ve switched out the controller, the fan, the temperature probes, had about 8 phone calls and tests with the company (since we live in STL), but still every time we try to do a long smoke it runs hot. We’re smoking a brisket right now and have the temp set to 225 but after 4 hours it jumped up to 272 and has stayed around there even after putting it on low to try to get it back down. We are using the same pellets we’ve used for years so it’s not the pellets, but we’re in the same boat @Seanjordan20

Not sure what else to do at this point:/. Tired of my husband being so frustrated when I know this is something he really enjoys.
I had the same issue with my new Trailblazer but was able to fix it by lowering the minimum feed rate. I just cooked ribs at 250 for 6 hours and had no issues. Maybe this would resolve your problems too?
 
Hello everyone, I started a chat earlier today about having temp control issues and someone was nice enough to tell me about this feed. I purchased one of the first BFG's at the end of April. just finished the outdoor kitchen and fired up the BFG and smoking some ribs. Set temp at 225 and it would run up to 290. Which pellets did anyone purchase who's having the same issues I am.

Thank you in advance. Did they take your old pellets back? I purchased 200 lbs of pellets!!!!!!!!
 
No they did not take the old pellets back because they are useless. Just make a call and they will replace what was bought. I have had a few cooks (one 23hr smoke) with the other manufacturer pellets and have not had a problem since. I have been working with the company trying to get a solution since May and after many tries I think this was it. I’m lucky to live a couple exits up from the company which helped with troubleshooting my issue quicker.
 
thank you for your advice!!! I will call them tomorrow, they've been very helpful so far to me. I would love to visit their HQ and then take a trip down the street to that golf course nearby!!!
 
Picked up my BFG Thursday evening from the Estes terminal in Portland, heard too many stories about their abysmal "Final Mile" service. Easy assembly, burn-in at 400 had a few temp variations but I expected that with the gap of pellets as the auger loaded up. Stable after that initial hunt for temps.

Last night flipped the GrillGrates to the flat side and did a Papa Murphy's cowboy at 425, rock solid. Already behaving like my 3+ year old 300, looking good.

Today put on a double batch of Dutch's Wicked Beans (recipe at Smokin Meat Forums), and only needed to add smoke. Set to Low/Xtreme Smoke at 10:30AM, and again has been steady at 180 throughout the cook, nice whispy thin blue smoke.

So, and granted this is in the mild Pacific NW, BFG has been good hot, maintained very low, and tomorrow will be my first seasoning run: 3 pork butts. Planning to run at 220-225, and hopefully the temp graph won't crash like it did for Sean; will keep everyone posted.

I can't say enough positive about the customer service staff at RT; in my over 3 years as a owner they have never failed to impress and follow through.
 
My first three cooks the temp was spot on! My last cook was 4 slabs of ribs. I had temp set at 200 and I never could get it below 280. I purchased 200 lbs of pellets with grill and now on my second bag. First bag temp was perfect second bag not so much. Calling RT today.
 
My first three cooks the temp was spot on! My last cook was 4 slabs of ribs. I had temp set at 200 and I never could get it below 280. I purchased 200 lbs of pellets with grill and now on my second bag. First bag temp was perfect second bag not so much. Calling RT today.
Did you get it figured out?..what was the issue?
 
Where is everyone at with these temp issues currently? Has it been resolved? The BFG ticks all my wish list boxes but man these temp issues I see everywhere have me nervous!

Thanks!
 
@breezin ..I wish we had access to real numbers, as in "all these" temp problems. I'm saying people that do have a problem are more likely to post than a person without* temp problems. Imo it's not a giant problem. If you ended up having one RecTec customer service will make it right. Top-notch.
 

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