Guys, I need some diagnosis help on the puck feeder for my six rack digital.
The problem: Will feed a couple of pucks, then not feed for a puck or two or three, then will start to feed again. Tried to manually feed pucks when I started a smoke on Sunday. One fed, then the pucks wouldn't feed when I pressed the manual feed button. I removed the bubba pucks, pressed down on the stack of pucks and rotated pucks. Then tried the manual feed one more time. A puck fed, then a second puck would not feed. You could hear the motor run and see the pucks shift as the shuttle moved, but it was like the shuttle wasn't retracting far enough.
Repairs I tried before Sunday: Cleaned puck burner, in-feed chute, and inside of smoke generator. Replaced micro switch. Re-clocked motor so that it turns in the proper direction (observed rotation to confirm).
Is it possible that there is a problem with the motor? I've got a new spare, so to give it a try would only involve the work to remove the old motor and replace it with the new one. But, I'm hoping that someone can tell me that they had a similar problem and swapping out the motor is the answer. Otherwise, the only answer I know to to strip the good parts off the the smoker generator for spares and spend $150 on a new smoker generator.
Note: the smoker is about three years old and has seen moderately heavy use,
I don't know if swapping the motor will cure your problem but it did mine. Had the same problem with an older 4 rack original. New motor from Bradley cured it and it was easy to change. I now have a 6 rack and no problems for years,.
I am betting microswitch. Mine has started doing this again the past two smokes. I am hoping it had something to do with the minus 15 degree weather I was smoking in but somehow I doubt it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLvDqe2wLRw&feature=youtu.be
Quote from: TedEbear on February 11, 2015, 06:33:56 AM
Quote from: tskeeter on February 10, 2015, 04:01:11 PMReplaced micro switch.
Quote from: renoman on February 11, 2015, 05:58:13 AM
I am betting microswitch.
He already replaced the micro switch.
I see that now. I'm still betting the micro switch. Can't see how the motor would could be the issue with how he is describing what is happening. My "brand new" micro switch was faulty.
Check to see if there are wear marks on the side of the push plate and rail. If there are marks, something is out of alignment or bent. I recently discovered that one of my generators was not consistently feeding bisquettes, if the motor ran counter clockwise. I discovered one side of the push plate was rubbing against the rail. At that time, I also discovered that the direction the motor turns will put more pressure on the push plate on one side then it does on the other. This problem may have been going on for some while, before I caught it. If the motor traveled counter clockwise, the push plate would bind, and the motor would self correct by turning in the opposite direction, but at the time I caught the problem the motor was not always correcting itself. As long as it ran clockwise, it would feed bisquettes regularly.
I realigned the rail that was the problem. That helped somewhat, but I found if I fully retighten the rails the same problem would occur. So I had to back the screws off one or two turns on the railing that was giving me the problem. Now it feeds bisquettes regularly whether it runs clockwise or counter clockwise. Since I can not tighten the screws all the way, I feel that rail is bent.
Why won't my bisquettes advance automatically or when I push the Advance button? (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?488-Answers-To-Bradley-Smoker-FAQ-s&p=777#post777)
I agree with you, sounds like the rail is bent.
;D
How does pushing wood chip pucks bend the rail?
That's a heat problem, heat metal and you will have problems like that.
Quote from: renoman on February 11, 2015, 04:05:58 PM
How does pushing wood chip pucks bend the rail?
As mentioned; if it is bent, it could be caused by heat, or occurred during the manufacturing process. I should mention, the information in the link about adjusting the push plate and the rails, because it may be out of alignment or
bent was provided by Bradley.
Thanks for the suggestion about the rails. I had checked the rails for wear marks when I cleaned the smoke generator, and didn't see anything that looked like it should be a problem. I also didn't notice any distortion or irregularities in the the rails, such as heat distortion, or anything else that might cause the shuttle to bind. Everything looked straight, true, and sparkling clean.
I also went through the process to make sure that the motor was turning in the correct direction and verified that it is, so that shouldn't be the problem.
At this point, I'm going to swap out the motor and see how it goes. If that doesn't work, I guess I'll try replacing the micro switch again. Just in case the new switch is bad. After that, I'll order a new smoke generator. Ain't no way I'm giving up my Bradley.
Well, replaced the drive motor in the smoke generator yesterday. Reinstalled the SG on the smoker and fired it up for a little testing. Dang, this thing is now throwing an E error. Something that it has not done before.
Reseat the control cable from the temp sensor. No dice. Still an E.
Disconnect the control cable and install an OEM bypass plug. Still no dice.
I surrender.
A new smoker generator and a couple of other odds and ends are now on order from our friends at Y&P. And I've got this fine collection of spare parts, to boot.
An "E" error is letting you know that there is something wrong with the advance system.
What is an "E" message? (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?488-Answers-To-Bradley-Smoker-FAQ-s&p=839#post839)
Double check to make sure the motor arm is not binding, or striking the housing of the micro switch. Also double check to make sure nothing is interfering with the movement of the push plate. It could also be a bad micro switch.
Unlikely that it's the microswitch. It's a new switch and it seemed to operate fine (no E code) during the only smoke that it's been used for.
Will check clearance on the microswitch/motor arm interface, though. Could be that's the issue since I just replaced the motor.
:)
Quote from: murmur on February 16, 2015, 06:06:34 PM
Here is what I discovered in a rare moment of clarity-quick fix and I anticipate no more issues-Shame on you Bradley
What did you discover? I don't see a pic or anything.
Quote from: murmur on February 16, 2015, 06:06:34 PM
I solved a 3 year mystery on my 4 rack digital.
Intermittent E-codes drove me crazy and had me shimming the control arm-micro switch interface.
Here is what I discovered in a rare moment of clarity-quick fix and I anticipate no more issues-Shame on you Bradley
I'm holding my breath for this.......
....please hurry!!
Battery died on my camera- Will post soon as it is charged.
I have never had a puck feed problem, the one I have had was the puck burner connector, this also could be the same problem. Next time it happens I will check the alignment of the connector. :D
So you are saying that it is in the white connector just seen in the bottom of these pics or the wires that they are plugged into. Sorry don't have a better pic of that.
(http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss74/renoman69/IMG_2494_zps3hjphmbv.jpg) (http://s563.photobucket.com/user/renoman69/media/IMG_2494_zps3hjphmbv.jpg.html)
(http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss74/renoman69/IMG_2555Medium_zps4541e4d4.jpg) (http://s563.photobucket.com/user/renoman69/media/IMG_2555Medium_zps4541e4d4.jpg.html)
The issue is inside the white wire connector.
Quote from: Gafala on February 16, 2015, 08:24:34 PM
I have never had a puck feed problem, the one I have had was the puck burner connector, this also could be the same problem. Next time it happens I will check the alignment of the connector. :D
Notice the travel on the pipe.
(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x471/omega505/P2161636_zpso2wt4xhp.jpg) (http://s1183.photobucket.com/user/omega505/media/P2161636_zpso2wt4xhp.jpg.html)
(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x471/omega505/P2161637_zps6ybwyhqr.jpg) (http://s1183.photobucket.com/user/omega505/media/P2161637_zps6ybwyhqr.jpg.html)
Interesting theory but I don't think I am buying it. At least not in my situation. When they sent me a new micro switch it was the wrong one and it came with a third wire in the harness and plug so I soldered on the old harness and it has worked fine up until a couple of smokes ago where again it began to intermittently stop feeding pucks. However when I took my old microswitch apart there was just nothing to see that could have been faulty so I am not sure why the new one worked better.
Here is a though, we are dealing with a sticky smoke that will stick to any thing, could it be that this is causing the problems with the micro switches and the connectors it is acidic could cause corrosion on parts. Just a though.
Quote from: Gafala on February 17, 2015, 05:16:25 PM
Here is a though, we are dealing with a sticky smoke that will stick to any thing, could it be that this is causing the problems with the micro switches and the connectors it is acidic could cause corrosion on parts. Just a though.
My smoker was almost new when my switch crapped out. My problems now may be related to the cold as both times it was well below zero and it seamed to stop working properly when the dummy pucks hit the feeder so I won't blame the smoker until I try it on a warmer day.