Received a new motor and installed it yesterday, it now appears the control circuit is shot. The pucks will advance by pushing the advance button but will not do so automatically. Does anyone know if one can order the control circuit or do I have to order the complete smoke generator?
Thanks,
David.
not sure, though you could contact bradley directly and ask
I would recheck your connections and make sure that they are secure. If the wires appear to be plugged in, disconnect and reconnect the connections to make sure they are secure.
HS,
Thanks, I'll check that. Sometimes I get to many irons in the fire and forget basic troubleshooting.
David.
Rechecked connections and still no go.
Sorry to hear that. Often that is the problem, I was hoping it was a simply fix.
I sent an email to the Bradley contact address on their web site and got a canned response back to call this toll free number on Monday. I think I dialed that number at least 20 times today and it was busy every time, it was either out of service or they need to beef up their phone switch.
David.
If you still can't get through you may want to try the Illinois number. I know you can order parts from that number, but I'm not sure if they are equipped to trouble shoot.
Bradley Smoker Galesburg, IL USA Info:
Toll Free: (866) 508-7514
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m CST Monday through Friday
Smoker,
Thanks for the new number, called this morning and go through first try, my new timing control is on the way and pretty reasonable to.
David.
Great! I hope you are up and running soon.
OK, new motor installed, new electronic timer installed and it still does not insert a puck every 20 minutes. It will insert a puck when the advance button is pushed but that is all.
What else is there?
David.
Hi Dave;
A few questions:
1 - Are you only waiting 20 minutes before you use the advance button? Often it is not exactly 20 minutes, let it run for a longer period of time. I would suggest waiting 22 - 25 minutes and see if the bisquette advances.
2 - When the bisquettes do not advance, do you hear any noise to indicate the motor is working?
3 - When you added your new parts did you make sure the wires were not in the way of the arm?
Bisquettes Won't Feed (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?488-Answers-To-Bradley-Smoker-FAQ-s&p=775#post775)
Other FAQ's (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?481-Bradley-Smoker-FAQ-s)
One other thought. Check the black wire that runs from the electronic timer to the power source to make sure that is connected properly.
It none of those tips help, I would give Bradley a call.
I'll address your suggests as they are numbered.
1. I've waited as long as an additional 30 minutes.
2. I do not hear anything, I've got the smoke generator apart and everything is setting on my work bench, there is nothing binding or in the path of the linkage from the motor to the shuttle.
3. No wires in the way and all connected.
I'll check the power source wire to the timer, I marked the connection color code before I removed the old time.
Once when I turned the power switch on it advanced a puck but would not do any more after that.
Thanks,
David.
I would give Bradley Tech. a call and have then trouble shoot the problem. This is a new problem that I have not read about to date. When you find the solution please post it.
Hi David
I might be able to help you trouble shoot this problem
I have a few questions first.
Which model of smoker do you have (original or digital)?
Is it possible for you to send me a picture of the inside of the smoke generator ( need to see the wiring on the switches and control circuit)?
If possible send it to brian@ bradleysmoker.com
If you power the unit up and then physically pull the motor arm away from the micro switch what happens?
You said it works when you push the wood advance button, do you have to hold the button in or just push and realease it?
Brian
I was trying it again last night and noticed that once in a while after pressing the advance button and the cycle completes it will pause 1 or 2 seconds then run a cycle backwards and shove another puck in, won't do it every time so it's hard to recreate the event.
Sometimes after pressing the advance button and the cycle completes 2-3 seconds after completion I will here 1 or 2 clicks from the timer circuit. The motor does not try to turn, just the clicks, can't get it to repeat in any kind of pattern so hard to troubleshoot and define a pattern.
I double checked my wiring and it is wired properly.
The only thing I have not tried is clean/replace the micro switch, it might not have good contact and could have a film on it from all the smoke backing up into the generator. I live in the sticks so when it comes to buying anything special, like contact or tuner cleaner you have to travel for it or wait until the wagon train comes by with supplies :)
Thanks for all the help Smoker, I'll call Bradley on Monday morning. When I find out something, I'll post the outcome.
David.
I have the original, I can take a picture today and post it for you. I still have my original generator and have compared the wiring with that one at they are the same.
See my previous post to Smoker for a list of additional symptoms.
I'll fire it up and see what happens when I wiggle the actuator arm. Do you think the micro switch needs to be adjusted after I replaced the motor and linkage?
Thanks,
David.
QuoteSometimes after pressing the advance button and the cycle completes 2-3 seconds after completion I will here 1 or 2 clicks from the timer circuit. The motor does not try to turn, just the clicks, can't get it to repeat in any kind of pattern so hard to troubleshoot and define a pattern.
This sounds like your micro switch is the problem
I dont think it is a adjustment problem but more of a worn out or gummed up internal problem.
If at all possible try cleaning the micro switch even buy soaking it in some rubbing alcohol it may have a build up of smoke inside it or the contacts are burned/ pitted in it
If you are going to replace the switch I would also replace the advance button at the same time then all the components that have to do with advancing are new
and you should have no more problems.
Brian.
Took the micro and push button switches out this morning and soaked them both in alcohol. Before I soaked the micro switch I tested it with my ohm meter and the resistance reading on one side was pretty high, ~50 ohms. After soaking both sides of the switch were essentially zero.
Reinstalled both switches and still will not automatically advance pucks.
I tried wiggling the motor/shuttle linkage after 20-25 minutes had passed and nothing.
If the time is functioning properly how long will voltage be applied to the micro switch to start the motor cycle again?
Does it stay present once the time applies it? or is it only momentary?
Seem like it should stay present until the motor cycles completely and the linkage opens the circuit again when the micro switch is activated.
I'm tied up the rest of the day with family gatherings so will try to take pictures of the inside wiring and post them for you.
David.
Hi David
You should have some reading on the wires
between Black which is + wire
and Yellow which is NC wire you should have at least 20 ohms this is with the switch out of the generator.
If you are getting no reading I would think the contacts inside the switch are burnt or maybe the spring clip has lost its
tension.
Here are a couple of pictures to help understand the switch.
This is the switch opened up
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/1smokie43/Micro%20Switches/IMG_0754.jpg)
This is close up of the contacts and spring clip
(http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f171/1smokie43/Micro%20Switches/ContactPointsSpringClip.jpg)
Brian
I am having the same problem with an original Bradley smoker. What was the final resolution? My micro switch doesn't look the same as this picture. My smoker is pretty old though (2002'ish).
Thanks.
Are you using a PID? if the PID is plugged into the entire unit than you are resetting the puck advance everytime the PID cuts the power, if your plugging the PID straight into the tower you won't have this problem
Mike
Quote from: jjo on November 13, 2010, 06:17:26 AM
I am having the same problem with an original Bradley smoker. What was the final resolution? My micro switch doesn't look the same as this picture. My smoker is pretty old though (2002'ish).
Thanks.
It may look different because the case in opened up. Here is the same switch fully assembled and installed.
(http://www.susanminor.org/users/Hab/Misc_Files/Other/Micro_Switch1.jpg)
I have a older Bradley(pre 2000) and had issues with that same problem,what I found was the motor was running in reverse the way to re tune it was open up the generator and do 1/2 cycle,unplug it and plug it back it in,never looked back since than and it is still operating fine now..........aka Thunder Fish..........just running on the putor in the garage
Great to hear you have it up and running. The next time you get it open, I would love to see what the earlier micro switch looked like.
When I took a closer look. The switch is actually the same. The difference is there is a peice of spring steel that the arm of the slide contacts and then inturn pushes the button on the micro switch. I will take a picture the next time I have it open but while it is working, I will just leave it alone.
I agree! Don't open it if it is working. :)