BRADLEY SMOKER | "Taste the Great Outdoors"

Bradley Smokers => The Digital Smokers (BTDS76P & BTDS108P) => Topic started by: Murd0c on November 05, 2011, 11:32:29 AM

Title: Help Please
Post by: Murd0c on November 05, 2011, 11:32:29 AM
I have a 4 rack digital and just put in a 10lb pork butt. Everything was working fine then all of a sudden my oven temp keeps on dropping I want it to be about 230F but right now it has dropped from 190 to 160 in 5mins and I'm not sure what to do at all.

I have a bunch of people coming over tonight so I'm starting to get a little worried  :-\

It's almost freezing here and it's sitting on the cement could that be the issue?
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: devo on November 05, 2011, 11:40:22 AM
Wild guess, element burnt out. Another wild guess check all your plugs to make sure they are all the way in.
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: Keymaster on November 05, 2011, 11:42:01 AM
If you open the smoker and look at your heating element it should be glowing brite red. If not check all your plug connections are tight.
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: Murd0c on November 05, 2011, 11:44:56 AM
yep all the cords are in thats the first thing I checked.  is this a common issue to happen 1 hr after turning it on?

and nope its now glowing red at all  :o
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: lumpy on November 05, 2011, 11:58:14 AM
I second the element problem.

Hey Devo
Did you pay any duty for your fan kit from Scotts place?
I will order on next week.

Lumpy
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: ArnieM on November 05, 2011, 11:59:18 AM
Get it into the oven (250-275) quick and sort out the heating problem on a better day.
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: TedEbear on November 05, 2011, 11:59:54 AM
There were many case of defective heating elements earlier this year.  Bradley will replace it for free if it is still under warranty but I know that doesn't do you much good today.  If you've verified that the plugs are seated all the way in and you're not using a long extension cord to the smoker (the Bradley doesn't like them) then it is probably a bad element.

You might try finishing the butt in the oven, maybe wrap it in foil with a bit of apple juice for tenderness. 

Also, if you just put a 10 lb butt in the smoker this afternoon you're cutting it a bit close anyway with wanting it to be done for a meal this evening.  Those things normally take 1.5-2 hours per lb to slow cook.
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: Murd0c on November 05, 2011, 12:50:11 PM
I tossed it in originally at 9am so I should of had enough time. I grabbed my buddies OBS are the element the same? He's never used his before so I'm just thinking of swapping it out?
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: Keymaster on November 05, 2011, 02:22:48 PM
Yes all the elements are the same :)
Title: Help Please
Post by: mikecorn.1 on November 05, 2011, 02:25:53 PM
As long as you got the smoke to it, don't sweat it. Put it in the house oven. Good luck


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: devo on November 05, 2011, 02:28:49 PM
Glad you got another element from your buddy but i',m thinking with that 10lb pork butt and the problem you had today you better be planning on a late dinner. You might be better off finishing it off in the oven.
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: Murd0c on November 05, 2011, 02:47:10 PM
how long should I smoke it until I put it in the oven and for what temp for how long? I've honestly never done it that way before. It's actually 9lbs bone in. It has been in there for almost 2hrs and its sitting at a temp of 100f


Thanks for all the help guys I was ready to lose it eariler lol
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: ArnieM on November 05, 2011, 03:19:17 PM
Oh well, I gave you a PM offer to call me.
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: muebe on November 05, 2011, 03:33:01 PM
Quote from: Murd0c on November 05, 2011, 02:47:10 PM
how long should I smoke it until I put it in the oven and for what temp for how long? I've honestly never done it that way before. It's actually 9lbs bone in. It has been in there for almost 2hrs and its sitting at a temp of 100f


Thanks for all the help guys I was ready to lose it eariler lol

Are you planning to pull it or slice it?

You will need to cook to a IT of 170F if you plan on slicing or 190F if you are going to pull it.

To speed things up I would set the oven temp to 260F and wrap the butt in foil. Your still going to be looking at a possible next day early morning dinner even with the clocks going back tonight if you plan on pulling it.

You might want to get Outback to go or your guests might not have a meal ::)
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: GusRobin on November 05, 2011, 03:37:43 PM
yeah -even if everything was working good, an 8 butt takes me anywhere from 12 -20 hours depending on the but. If you started at 9;00 am at 225* you would be lucky if it was done by 9 -10
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: Murd0c on November 05, 2011, 03:59:44 PM
I guess I will be looking at it tomorrow then. I guess a moose roast it is then.
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: Habanero Smoker on November 06, 2011, 02:21:32 AM
Here is a link to some trouble shooting tips:

Bradley FAQ's (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?481-Bradley-Smoker-FAQ-s&p=748#post748)
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: Murd0c on November 06, 2011, 12:32:30 PM
I just wanted to say a huge thanks for everyone advise. It's not the way I wanted it to happen eating at midnight but it wasn't bad at all under the circumstances.

Sorry about the horrible pics it was late and I had a couple of pop's waiting.

(http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/1604/thebark.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/20/thebark.jpg/)

(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/9372/pulledapart.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/pulledapart.jpg/)
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: devo on November 06, 2011, 02:06:10 PM
Ya done good, sometimes things dont work out but I think you did good
Title: Re: Help Please
Post by: kelpiedg on November 13, 2011, 07:44:54 AM
That is exactly how my first element went out,.  It was a yup nope scenario, one time it wouldn't get hot, then it worked great,.  this time no kicking or thrashing just wouldn't work.