Series 6 verticle smoker issues

Skelso

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Oct 27, 2024
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Location
Texas
Not new to electric smokers, own a smoking tex, cookshack, and a Smoke Hollow. I am new to pellet smokers though. I bought 2 series 6 verticals about a month ago. I've assembled and used one, the other is still in the box. It's supposed to be a gift for my dad but if I can't get the issues worked out, it may have to go back to the store.

Cook #1 pulled pork - had a run away issue Was set on 225, temp was over 400 and it was stedy feeding pellets. Powered down, let it burn for about 20 minutes with door open. Sounded like a roaring fire still going. Pulled the burn put. It was overflowing and pellets in auger were starting to smolder. Got everything cleaned out, restarted and it cooked fine the rest of the cook.

Cook #2 baby back ribs - Smoke mode - P4, run away temp. grease dripping from ribs caught fire about an hour in. Get fire out, cleaned everything up, restarted grill on PID mode Cooked fine for remainder of cook.

Cook #3 whole turkey - Got everything ready, smoker preheated to 300, put turkey on rack, rack fell to bottom of smoker. Got everything back in its place, put the turkey on again, thinking I just had the rack in wrong... turkey fell to bottom again. After putting everything together a third time I realized the rack is just barely catching on the shelf supports. GENTLY put the turkey in again, all the way to one sode of the shelf. It's holding. Would tove to baste, turm, etc but afraid to touch it for fear it will fall again.

Smoking at 300 on smoke mode - P4.

First 2 hours, no issues. About 2:15 in, hear a loud sound outside and start smelling smoke inside the house. Find smoker door open. Sound must have been an explosion inside the chamber because the door no longer latches at the bottom and doesn't seal on hinge side (hinges appear bent).

Turned off, let it cycle down. pulled burn pot. It was half full and still burning. Dumped, turned smoker back on with door open. Let it cycle until fan kicked in, closed door. PIF mode. Run away temp (360 on 300 degree setting) within 10 - 15 minutes. Turned everything off, let it burn down, dumped burn pot (just ash). Restarted smoker on PID mode.

Not sure what's going on with this thing. Already drawing up some shelf brackets.
to fabricate. Will be calling support tomorrow to see what answers they can provide.

I searched the forum before posting. Found lots of issues of units not starting. Didn't find any run away issues like I'm encountering. If you are experiencing similar or have experiences and remedied, please speak up.
 

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Welcome to the group !!
Check your connections
Hopefully it’s not a controller issue 🇨🇱🇺🇸
 
Not new to electric smokers, own a smoking tex, cookshack, and a Smoke Hollow. I am new to pellet smokers though. I bought 2 series 6 verticals about a month ago. I've assembled and used one, the other is still in the box. It's supposed to be a gift for my dad but if I can't get the issues worked out, it may have to go back to the store.

Cook #1 pulled pork - had a run away issue Was set on 225, temp was over 400 and it was stedy feeding pellets. Powered down, let it burn for about 20 minutes with door open. Sounded like a roaring fire still going. Pulled the burn put. It was overflowing and pellets in auger were starting to smolder. Got everything cleaned out, restarted and it cooked fine the rest of the cook.

Cook #2 baby back ribs - Smoke mode - P4, run away temp. grease dripping from ribs caught fire about an hour in. Get fire out, cleaned everything up, restarted grill on PID mode Cooked fine for remainder of cook.

Cook #3 whole turkey - Got everything ready, smoker preheated to 300, put turkey on rack, rack fell to bottom of smoker. Got everything back in its place, put the turkey on again, thinking I just had the rack in wrong... turkey fell to bottom again. After putting everything together a third time I realized the rack is just barely catching on the shelf supports. GENTLY put the turkey in again, all the way to one sode of the shelf. It's holding. Would tove to baste, turm, etc but afraid to touch it for fear it will fall again.

Smoking at 300 on smoke mode - P4.

First 2 hours, no issues. About 2:15 in, hear a loud sound outside and start smelling smoke inside the house. Find smoker door open. Sound must have been an explosion inside the chamber because the door no longer latches at the bottom and doesn't seal on hinge side (hinges appear bent).

Turned off, let it cycle down. pulled burn pot. It was half full and still burning. Dumped, turned smoker back on with door open. Let it cycle until fan kicked in, closed door. PIF mode. Run away temp (360 on 300 degree setting) within 10 - 15 minutes. Turned everything off, let it burn down, dumped burn pot (just ash). Restarted smoker on PID mode.

Not sure what's going on with this thing. Already drawing up some shelf brackets.
to fabricate. Will be calling support tomorrow to see what answers they can provide.

I searched the forum before posting. Found lots of issues of units not starting. Didn't find any run away issues like I'm encountering. If you are experiencing similar or have experiences and remedied, please speak up.
Dang! That sounds like a lemon! Would Be swapping that one out! So sorry dude!
 
Ya, my vertical 6 pro will not start up unless i hit the heating element with a propane torch first to heat it up alittle. Been using it like that. I need to contact PB service and get some parts? Seems alot of problems with these v6 pro smokers? They do smoke great when working..
 
Ya, my vertical 6 pro will not start up unless i hit the heating element with a propane torch first to heat it up alittle. Been using it like that. I need to contact PB service and get some parts? Seems alot of problems with these v6 pro smokers? They do smoke great when working..
I bought these on Amazon for my portable Pit Boss....it is the same one as the vertical.....only $16 for 2 probes....so I have a spare. No telling how long you would have to wait to get these from Support.....these are prime.

Pit Boss Probes
 
UPDATE: Finally got time to contact support this afternoon. They were not a lot of help. They did say the door is bent and they "might" send me a new door. I'm not convinced it's not just the hinges but if they decide to send an entire door assembly, I'll take it.

They fell short on the rack issue and the temp issue. Refused to discuss any further unless I was at the smoker to troubleshoot with them. I manage an IT shop for a living so I can understand this on the temp issue. Makes no sense to me on the rack issue since I sent them the same pics I posted here...

I didn't get home early enough to call back so I'll try again tomorrow...

What I did do was give my dad his smoker early. He put it together and sent me pics of his racks. Tight fit! Both sets of rack measure the same. The inside of my box measures 1/2" wider than his...

1000003468.webp


I also took screen shots of the temp issues on the cooks and sent them to support.

1000003470.webp

Baby back ribs - random overshoot

1000003469.webp

Turkey - First drop is when I opened door to put the bird in the smoker. Second drop is post explosion in cabinet. Notice run away after getting it going again.

1000003471.webp

After run away I powered down, let it burn out and started as if it was a new cook. This was the result... Not a single hiccup..
 
UPDATE: Finally got time to contact support this afternoon. They were not a lot of help. They did say the door is bent and they "might" send me a new door. I'm not convinced it's not just the hinges but if they decide to send an entire door assembly, I'll take it.

They fell short on the rack issue and the temp issue. Refused to discuss any further unless I was at the smoker to troubleshoot with them. I manage an IT shop for a living so I can understand this on the temp issue. Makes no sense to me on the rack issue since I sent them the same pics I posted here...

I didn't get home early enough to call back so I'll try again tomorrow...

What I did do was give my dad his smoker early. He put it together and sent me pics of his racks. Tight fit! Both sets of rack measure the same. The inside of my box measures 1/2" wider than his...

View attachment 10356

I also took screen shots of the temp issues on the cooks and sent them to support.

View attachment 10357
Baby back ribs - random overshoot

View attachment 10358
Turkey - First drop is when I opened door to put the bird in the smoker. Second drop is post explosion in cabinet. Notice run away after getting it going again.

View attachment 10359
After run away I powered down, let it burn out and started as if it was a new cook. This was the result... Not a single hiccup..
Def had a flame out and then it likely smoldered and filled the burn pot and it ignited and exploded when it caught air. You would think blowing the door open likely expanded the inside and bent it outward. Might be why the racks won’t stay up….so you can’t just return it? Is it out of the return window? Sure seems like a great reason to do that. So sorry man….
 
Def had a flame out and then it likely smoldered and filled the burn pot and it ignited and exploded when it caught air. You would think blowing the door open likely expanded the inside and bent it outward. Might be why the racks won’t stay up….so you can’t just return it? Is it out of the return window? Sure seems like a great reason to do that. So sorry man….
The pics of the racks in original post are prior to explosion.
 

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