Traeger Timberline Problems, updates and fixes

[unixadm]

I also am having issues with heating up properly. Mine won't get over 250. Hoping when update comes it will fix the issue. Traeger thought it could be something else and would send a thermocoupler. Now that's on back order and I'm a little frustrated.

Which model do you have?

 

[ssv3]

I really don't want to kick you guys while your down, but I sure am glad I dodged this bullet. Had the pellet grill I had for sale moved, I likely would have given this a shot. Traeger nostalgia was kicking in, and I was very enamoured by their new offering.

I'm sure they will figure it out, and these things will be fine. I'm just glad I am not part of the R&D/early adopter team.

Sincerely, Good luck to all that have purchased in getting them up and running.

Even if/when they get it all figured out, I am still not sure it will be worth it in the end. Right now I am feeling like I should have gone back to Yoder like my gut was telling me. :tsk:

Same here guys. Sucks that you guys are going through this.

A pellet grill is definitely the next addition for me and I was seriously considering Traeger after Bosco posted his thread. His seems to work fine but most all of you guys are having some kind of issue. It's officially off my list and Yoder is really looking good now.

 

[unixadm]

I had just as many issues with my Yoder to be honest, but they have had their models in circulation a lot longer to work out the issues. Just saying, give them a little time, the sky is not falling. I honestly really like the design of the Timberline. It seems most manufacturers had some teething issues in this market. Rec Tec, Mak and Memphis seem to have skirted development issues for the most part.

 

[bosco0633]

I just found this link on a Facebook group. It is a page dedicated to the updates as they come.

http://www.traegergrills.com/timberline-controller-change-log.html

From everything that I have been reading, 90% of the issues are by way of software. I think the version 3 software will improve things considerably for those that have had issues.

I think back to the apple watch. It had terrible battery life, bad screen brightness, and wasn't waterproof. The apple watch 2 improved considerably and I am reading amazing things about to touch down on the new one.

Don't rule Traeger out just yet. There are some small kinks that they are working on and this grill will be awesome. I have been very fortunate not to have the issues that others have had.

I have read just as many issues with other pellet brand cookers on social media.

Hang in there, version 3 is on the way!!

 

[Shluctr]

I have a 1300. A warranty fan kit showed up...but am supposed to be getting a thermal coupler. I work with machines all the time in my job and it seems like there is always a glitch, so I don't get too bent out of shape about this kind of thing. However, I wish they were a little more commutative. My dealer had to call to find out why my parts hadn't shown up after a week. It was on backorder.

 

[DammnDaniel]

I just received my new replacement fan for my 850 last night. Swapped it out and ran some tests. Set grill at 250 which it reached in about 15min and stayed pretty constant +\- 10 degrees which isn't what's advertised but I could live with. After about two hours I bumped up to 460 which took 45min from 258-430 where it peaked and dropped all the way down to 363 which it stayed for more than hour and half before I gave up and shut it down. This whole testing process I never once opened the lid.. also notice soot on grates after testing which have decreased from firmware 01.01.01 but still present in 01.01.02 firmware. Is this what everyone else is experiencing with their units? When bringing up to my dealer and traeger they insist that others aren't having issues.

 

[Wtcinwy]

I have just finished up reading these posts, and being a 1300 patio decoration owner, I am baffled.. my experience with the the traeger customer service was on an issue that no one else has brought up.. the gentleman informed me that the soot issue and temp issues are a result of a bad auger and auger motor.. he would not discuss wether or not the .03 firmware would correct the issues and informed me that my new auger and auger motor were on the way.. so should I still remove the fan shroud? this is getting ridiculous, I sold my perfectly good GMG jim B. for a two thousand dollar decoration that I can't even use.

 

[unixadm]

As I mentioned on another forum, there may be issues with the auger, but that is not the root cause of the issue. An auger won't stoke the fire so that it burns clean. Until they release a firmware which does not shut off the fan while we're cooking, soot is going to be produced. ON/OFF/ON/OFF/ON/OFF, black soot comes out of the fire pot briefly during each OFF event. I've watched it and filmed it. The fan is still spinning down, but it does not have enough velocity to force enough air into the fire pot to keep the fire burning cleanly.

 

[Wtcinwy]

so should I just leave the shroud on at this point?

 

[unixadm]

I took mine off and noticed no really difference in terms of soot. I'd leave it for now and wait for the next firmware to see whats up.

 

[Wtcinwy]

thanks for the advise, they want me to replace the auger and auger motor so whenever that shows up I guess I will replace them, (they want me to send the current parts in so that they can test them)

 

[Demosthenes9]

I don't have a dog in this fight, but I'm sorry. If you are going to build and sell a freaking $2K grill, it ought to work correctly when people get it home. Buyers shouldn't have to jump through hoops, add/remove parts, or wait around for promised firmware updates that may, or may not fix the issue.

I'd be seriously pissed off if I spent $500 for a grill and had this kind of trouble with it. At $2K, I'd be absolutely apoplectic.

 

[Shluctr]

My dealer was in the area and stopped and looked at the 1300. We replaced the fan and the thermocoupler. Another surprise was after working earlier the hot rod quit working. They have a plug on hot rod half way between computer and the cup that wasn't pushed in all the way. Put a little electric grease on it to help hold it together. We are now officially down to computer update. It still won't get above 250.

 

[unixadm]

I got an email today from Traeger and they said the .03 update should be out by the 28th.

A snip from the email:

"I have an estimated time of delivery for the V.01.01.03 update. It should come out between 7/21-7/28. This update should allow users to reach and hold temperature and achieve temperature faster."

It does not state that it will address the soot issue, though they suspect it will. I asked about an auger and fan, but all I got back was the firmware update. I'm giving them another week or so and then it's time to get this thing returned.

 

[bproffer]

I have talked with the dealer, Regional Sales Manager for Traeger and now I have a direct line to a tech who "supposedly" was going to download the diagnostics from my controller to see if I was getting any errors. He says I shouldn't be getting that much ash/soot. Well Duh...

After my last test, I still had bad soot, but temps weren't an issue (albeit I never had the controller above 250°. It also appears removing the collar from around the fan has helped or alleviated the burn back issue, at least at lower temps. I am still having issue with the auger crushing some pellets to dust and still getting a cake of ash in the bottom of the firepot that has to be cleaned out every start-up otherwise I get a fail to start. The ash covers the glow rod.

These are the pics I sent him. this was after running at 250° for an hour on a 100% clean grill. I cleaned the grill components and grills with bbq cleaner/degreaser.

 

[unixadm]

This was mine with no collar after running for two hours at 225 degrees (super smoke off). It was clean when I started. This is the worst soot I've found in mine. Again, they are shutting off the fan which is just a stupid way of managing an active flame.

I'm not getting the caking in the bottom of the fire pot like you are though. What kind of pellets are you using? I'm running Cookinpellets 100% hickory.

 

[bproffer]

I'm not getting the caking in the bottom of the fire pot like you are though. What kind of pellets are you using? I'm running Cookinpellets 100% hickory.

This batch of pellets are the Traeger Maple Hickory Cherry (?) blend from Costco. I used Lumberjack Pecan mix before that one. Same result. I was a dealer for Cookinpellets.com and sold them out of my garage but we changed to Lumberjack after we got screwed around by our distributor a couple times with the Cookinpellets. But we are out and waiting for our order to show up so I had to buy these.

 

[popo1984]

Is anyone having issue with grease getting in the bottom of your pit and not in the rail?

 

[tom b]

Is anyone having issue with grease getting in the bottom of your pit and not in the rail?

Not me

 

[tom b]

Here is my mini update. I have been out of town for a while so I have not used mine much yet but when I got back Friday my new fan/blower was here I put it in and well it didn't do crap to help anything. I still have not had a soot issue but more issues with heating back up after opening the lid. I called customer service and the said the new firmware is due out this week and it will be addressing the recovery issue. Recovery is a huge issue to me as when the Mrs. is cooking on there she is in and out quite a bit and she cooks everything with this grill.