Temperature Issue with Traeger Pellet Smoker

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Smoke Blower
Original poster
Jul 10, 2012
81
13
Dedham, MA
I have an issue with my new Traeger Pellet Smoker (070C).  The temperature fluctuations are rather extreme.  Wrong move #1 was buying it at Costco.  Wrong move #2 was buying the floor model (half-price).  Was wrong move #3 buying this product?

I set the Temperature Control to 225. The Factory P – Value of 2 results in a low temp of 200 and a high of 320.   

Raising the P-Value should result in more smoke and lower temperature variances.

During a several hour testing session, the P-Value was adjusted several times and ended at P-8.  Despite that, the temperature fluctuates from a low of 184 to a high of 353.  It seems that the high-end temp increases when the low end decreases.  Averaging perhaps?? 

Not sure what to try next.  Changing the P-Value does result in a lower temp and more smoke, but the high end temp has me concerned.

Before I toss it on the scrap heap, your thoughts are solicited.
 
Well I can't help too much. I just acquired a Lil Tex Elite. My mom won it she didn't want it so now it's in the box hogging up some square footage in my garage.

I have read some having this same issue and what has been recommended is to let leave the lid open for a good 15 minutes during start up. Then close the lid and set your temp. Not sure if that will work or not. My cousin has a Traeger and he loves his. It's an older one, American made, not the new Chinese made ones. I said I'd never own one but now I do. I'll get it put together soon and play with it a bit. For the price I'd go buy three WSM's (Weber Smokey Mountain) if I was going to pay for one!
 
I have the Traeger Jr, which I also bought from Costco Roadshow. As we "speak" I am smoking bacon. I have the controller set at 180. The readout shows 180 degrees P2 and the top temp. shows 182 (about). I did have some problems when I first got the unit in Dec., but now everything has worked great. I do keep the firebox and the whole unit clean of ash, using a "bucket head" Vac.
 
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