Pellet Fan

Pit Talk -- Comments and Questions Regarding These Pellet Pits => Memphis => Topic started by: ZCZ on July 14, 2018, 04:20:44 PM

Title: Been a While
Post by: ZCZ on July 14, 2018, 04:20:44 PM
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Symmetry
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: ZCZ on July 14, 2018, 04:25:52 PM
Been a while since I cleaned out all the ash under my burn pot. Truth be told in my 2013 Pro I have NEVER cleaned out the ash in the air chamber beneath my burn pot.

I’d say it’s about time.

Remove the two screws that hold the back panel in place.

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Push some of the igniter wires into the burn chamber from behind in order to create slack when you remove the burn pot on the far side.

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Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: ZCZ on July 14, 2018, 04:31:41 PM
Remove the 4 screws that hold the burn pot in place & remove the burn pot.

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Ya, I’d say it’s time.

Vacuum out the ash.

Remove the cover the burn pot sits on and scrape off any grease or gunk on the back lower rails seen here on the left & right side.

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Reminder: do not remove the igniter from the tube in the rear. It can be a bear getting it back in properly with the ceramic insulators.

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Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: ZCZ on July 14, 2018, 04:34:40 PM
Time to remove the ash and gunk from my ash drawer

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Ya, I’d say it’s time.

As you can see I do not use the replaceable aluminum pans.

Hopefully the rest of you do this more frequently than I.
Thanks for watching.

Z
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Bentley on July 14, 2018, 04:35:17 PM
What an interesting looking plant!

I guess I know what I should do tomorrow!
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: ZCZ on July 14, 2018, 04:41:58 PM
What an interesting looking plant!

I guess I know what I should do tomorrow!

The flower is a Dahlia. Took that shot this AM at the MN Landscape Arboretum which is not far from me. Too bad you do not have time to come see it when you come in Sept. I can take you there if you want to go.
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Bentley on July 14, 2018, 04:55:09 PM
Great offer, no time!  We are kind of like SEAL team 71 when it comes to trips, in and out!
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on July 14, 2018, 07:20:17 PM
Interesting...I have never taken the back off the pit.  I think it is about 7 year old or so.
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Kristin Meredith on July 14, 2018, 08:38:53 PM
What an interesting looking plant!

I guess I know what I should do tomorrow!

The flower is a Dahlia. Took that shot this AM at the MN Landscape Arboretum which is not far from me. Too bad you do not have time to come see it when you come in Sept. I can take you there if you want to go.

What a lovely offer.  If I had the puppy with us, I would be tempted.  But he will need to stay with a sitter for over a week and I think I am pushing the envelop for what most sitters sign up for -- and I don't want him to have to move to a second sitter.
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: ZCZ on July 14, 2018, 09:35:02 PM
Here is the link to the official video showing what I did. It is toward the end of the video

https://youtu.be/lMHjYEjrkVY

Z
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Canadian John on July 15, 2018, 09:32:47 AM
 
 Excellent pics and write-up..A real time operation..Missing is a pic of the "pile" of accumulated muck - just kidding!

 I would have to say, the pit looks to be in great shape. It should be good for many more years.
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Gringo on July 15, 2018, 11:08:30 AM
I did this for the first time this spring on my 2011 Pro.  I bought it in 2013 as a demo unit from a dealer that used it in their cooking school. They did an extreme cleaning on it before selling it.

I knew that I had probably waited too long to do this level of cleaning, and was expecting there to be a lot of ash.  But,  I found that it was not too bad at all.  There was some ash under the fire pot,  but not a lot.  I was very impressed with how clean it was underneath, and in the back of the unit.

I need to do this level of cleaning more often going forward, but found that it really wasn't too bad.

Still impressed with this machine!

- Gringo
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: dozer996 on July 15, 2018, 09:06:34 PM
How can you do this cleaning on a built in elite?
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Ssteppe on July 16, 2018, 02:58:57 PM
Hmm, my Pro is 8 years old - didn't even think of taking the back off or removing the burn pot. One more thing for my to-do list!
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Bentley on July 16, 2018, 03:06:55 PM
I would venture to say you can't, but I am not the engineer that designed it! 

All I can say is I have had my Pro since 2010 and I have been in it once (about 3 years ago), and that was just to swap out some parts, it looked horrible in there, lots of denigrated pellets, but all I know is, it did not effect the way the unit ran!

How can you do this cleaning on a built in elite?
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: sac3848 on July 16, 2018, 04:19:42 PM
My 4 screws on the burn pot are frozen. Used liquid wrench overnight, still nothing. Guess i'll try an impact driver, but afraid i'll ruin the phillips head screws. Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: ZCZ on July 16, 2018, 05:27:16 PM
My 4 screws on the burn pot are frozen. Used liquid wrench overnight, still nothing. Guess i'll try an impact driver, but afraid i'll ruin the phillips head screws. Any suggestions?

One of mine was tight and would not budge.  Used an "impact wrench" of sorts: put the Phillips head screw driver into the screw head then tapped it a couple times with a hammer.  Pushed down real hard on the handle of the screwdriver as I turned it and that did the trick.

Z
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Bentley on July 17, 2018, 09:58:09 PM
I think I may have finally had a fire that has cost me my Pro.  It shows Er-1, now usually when I get this all I have to do is get the fire out cool the pit and hit the start button.  I have done that and it did not work..unplugged it several times and when I plug it back in, after the initial flashing Vr on the ITC, it reverts to ER-1...so, if I go out in the morning and plug it in and it does not work, I am going to need to get in touch with Greg and see if it can be repaired.  I guess I maybe buying some new parts!
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on July 17, 2018, 10:01:49 PM
You may just need to reboot the controller.  Unfortunately, I don't know how to do that.  Good luck to ya.
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: TravlinMan on July 17, 2018, 10:46:50 PM
Likely a temp probe/thermocouple. A call to Memphis or your direct line support person and you’ll be back up in a few days.. 

The Memphis are tough units, but they can still be hurt and fail..

Keep us posted..  inquiring minds and all..

.... :bbq:
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Canadian John on July 18, 2018, 09:26:31 AM
My 4 screws on the burn pot are frozen. Used liquid wrench overnight, still nothing. Guess i'll try an impact driver, but afraid i'll ruin the phillips head screws. Any suggestions?

One of mine was tight and would not budge.  Used an "impact wrench" of sorts: put the Phillips head screw driver into the screw head then tapped it a couple times with a hammer.  Pushed down real hard on the handle of the screwdriver as I turned it and that did the trick.

Z
If there is enough screw head left, you may be able to get a pair of good, not worn" Vicegrips "on it. It would be with the V G in a horizontal position... Just make sure to replace the screws and barely tighten.
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Bentley on July 18, 2018, 06:37:56 PM
Yes, after countless pit fires, I finally, after 8 years, burnt up the RTD!  Called Hearthland Tech Support, left a message, in about 2 hours I received a return call from Greg.  He confirmed that he believed it was the RTD and a new one is on the way!  I got lucky!  I have to quit being lazy, I was trying to cook all 6 butts at once, when that was really not necessary as the meat is not needed till a week from Saturday.  Hopefully lesson learned! The fire began shortly after the rotation was done and this picture was taken, about 4 hours into a 300° cook!

(https://i.imgur.com/ALDKUKvh.jpg)
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: ZCZ on July 19, 2018, 11:57:41 AM
Now that is one WELL - SEASONED - PIT.

Those butts look delicious!

Z
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Phrett on July 22, 2018, 05:55:51 PM
I take the back off every spring and vac, but never have done the burn pot.  With me stuck in rehab for my leg I doubt the Pro will be used much this summer or get any cleaning attention.
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: sac3848 on July 26, 2018, 07:01:06 AM
My Pro is a year old and used a lot. Can't get the screws out of the firepot .I tried liquid wrench over night and still no luck I have an impact drill but i'm afraid i will strip them out. Any suggestions ?
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Canadian John on July 26, 2018, 09:08:57 AM

 When I remove my fire pot for cleaning, I will replace the the screws with hex head (stainless) and LIGHTLY tighten.
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: Canadian John on July 26, 2018, 09:24:03 AM
My Pro is a year old and used a lot. Can't get the screws out of the firepot .I tried liquid wrench over night and still no luck I have an impact drill but i'm afraid i will strip them out. Any suggestions ?
A good pair of Vicegrips with the small crosshatched jaws at the end work well. Wire brush around the screw heads for max contact. Hold the Vicegrips horizontally, wiggle back and forth to loosen..Don't reuse original screws. See above post.
Title: Re: Been a While
Post by: sac3848 on July 26, 2018, 08:49:23 PM
Thanks for your help. Will try these suggestion and let you know