Bisquette won't automatically advance
Hello all
A friend has given a bradley smoker that she had bought new about two years ago but never used and well looked after. All works well apart from the automatic advance. On pressing the advance button the bisquette advances but doesn't automatically advance every twenty minutes or so as it should. Can anyone advise on either what I am doing wrong or what I suspect the fault is. If it is a fault can anyone tell me where I can get repairs or spare parts from.
Many thanks
Steve
I can't think of any causes at this time, but there are several on this board who are pretty good trouble shooting electrical and/or mechanical problems.
Can't help in that department, but welcome to the family. ;)
Steve,
First thing I'd check is to see if the motor mount or contact unit screws are loose or missing. You can open the generator like a clamshell by removing the 6? perimeter screws on the bottom.
Kirk
I had an identical problem on a recently purchased smoke generator. It worked fine the first time but apparently quit on my second smoking event. I had to feed the pucks with the manual advance button every twenty minutes.
You will have to remove all the bottom perimeter screws to seperate the covers.....Disconnect the heater element connector so as not to burn yourself or start a fire. You can then plug the unit in and watch the operation.
My unit started working on its own after I removed and reinserted all the connectors. (unplugged of course)
I timed my unit and found that it cycled through on twenty-two minute intervals.
The timer, apparently, is electronic, in a sealed black box....If that's defective; I have no idea where you can find a replacement....Maybe one of the other members can help.
::)
Hi Guys and lasses help please
Have had problems with bisquette advance. Worked perfectly on first smoke in my new generator and gave up half way through 3 hour cycle on second use. Advised Bradley UK (Grakka) who immediately sent me new generator. Today 2 hours through 5 hour smoke same problem. I cannot advance bisquette manually nor automatically - is this a known problem and any idea how I can fix it. Am pretty much down in the mouth presently as my Bradley experience is getting tarnished
Thanks
Boybach :(
You could try to take it apart as I did and noticed some wires were getting pushed in the way when shell was put on as it worked perfect until I put the shell back on. Make sure you unplug it if you decide to take it apart, and be careful if you operate it without the shell on while checking it out.
Hi Boybach,
I had 2 faulty generators before I finally got a good one. The advance motor on the OBS generators seem particularly prone to problems in some instances and quite a few people have sourced spare motors to keep in reserve.
It appears that if you have a faulty generator the problem manifests iself early on, the longer it goes without a problem the less likely you are to get one if you see what I mean.
The advice from nodak is good, on the second occasion I did this so at least I could tell Grakka exactly where I thought the problem lay. Just be sure to take note of his safety advice too!! ;)
However assuming it is still under warranty I would put the problem back onto Grakka, whilst it is frustrating at least they sorted me out very quickly and I ended up with 2 spare generators that can be canabilised for spares if needed at some stage in the future.
Hi Manxman/Nodak
Thank you both for your advice. However as the unit is brand new and been used for less than 2 hours in total will phone Grakka again. It was their real efficient response to the last problem which is keeping me from being too harsh with my comments save to say the air around the house was pretty blue for a couple of hours today more with frustration and disappointment than feeling I've been sold a pup.
I tried Nodak's advice and took the shell off -checked all the connections I could see,switched power supply on - all lights came up but pressing the advance button produced nothing - the system was as dead as a Dodo. So re-assembled case. Now left with another batch of half cooked ham and bacon - will this keep as is until I can get smoking again or should I throw it away. I have 10lbs Ham and 4 lbs bacon both cured and dried and now smoked a little
Thanks again for your help
Boybach
ps Manxman got my 3 alu bisquettes from Kirk a couple of days ago - thanks for the help
You could go ahead and finish cooking your meat it just won't have that smoke flavor you're looking for. I would do this if it's going to be a while before you get a new one.
this is crazy... i carry my obs is a trailer and it has close to 150k miles on it while laying on its back being tossed around from the glass smooth west coast freeways... besides that i have to pull it out and load it up and truck it around and its beat up... never had a single smoke generator problem...
it sounds like these problems are all present from the factory making the quality control at the factory suspect... the consistant reports of doa smoke generators is not good... they fix their manufacturing... their assembly and their inspection process before some hungered canadian goes postal on them...
you gotta eat...
owrstrich
Yes reading that Manxman has had three SG's and me 2 I wonder if the problem is a batch of faulty ones got sent to the UK
Problems with the OBS SG seem to have happened on both sides of the pond and seem to be a recurring theme over quite a period of time, I am surprised that they have not gone for a slightly better spec given the ongoing issues.
For the future Boybach it is perhaps worth knowing that Grakka carry a wide range of spare parts inc. the advance motors! ;)
In the meantime good luck with getting the issue sorted, sadly looks like you will have to finish the ham and bacon off in the oven on this occasion. >:(
Dont need a great razor if you dont mind replacing them for customers who keep the blades burning. But you better not sneeze on customer service (which is still great at Bradley IMO) or we will have a forum remembering when we used to use those smoker with the little round pucks.
It is an interesting strategy if that is what it is about. O, need to add a few thousand miles the smoker travelled from china to canada, canada to indiana to your 150k miles.
I guess the point is that once you get a good one it IS A Good One. It is not however a happy thing when your smoker takes a dump in the middle of a smoke.
Quote from: West Coast Kansan on January 21, 2007, 03:14:20 PM
I guess the point is that once you get a good one it IS A Good One. It is not however a happy thing when your smoker takes a dump in the middle of a smoke.
I seem to have a good one and glad of it.
I agree about not being happy with the smoker going out in the middle of a smoke. I still have my side firebox smoker to take over if need be. If it were not for that, I would think about getting a second BS.
I have not had a problem with mine yet (DBS6R). I did reassemble the puck burner as one side was mounted on top of the bracket and the the other side mounted below. This caused the high side to be slightly above the ramp. I never had a puck hang up but didn't want to see how long it would take for it to happen.
It would be nice if Bradley does the research on this problem and finds the cure that they would post it here for the folks to read. May save on some future service calls.
Hi Guys
Spoke with Grakka this morning who were apologetic and offered to replace smoke generator yet again. However have now decided to get complete OBS so having already paid out the cost of the Generator have now paid further GBP120 to have complete new outfit. I figure that if Smoke generator malfunctions in future at least can whack some heat on in the cabinet and try and salvage food inside.
Thanks for all your help, I will be away for rest of week so have arranged with Grakka delivery of the new boy next week. Will report back
Boybach
Hi Boybach, glad to hear that you're getting sorted, and i'm sure you'll be very pleased with the new OBS ;)
Also it has to be said, i think the customer service is second to none, my first BS was quite badly dented inside, within a few days it was replaced no problem. I guess just like all other mass produced goods, there's always going to be few duff smokers, at least having a great customer service dept eases the dissapointment in these situations. As we all know only too well, dealing with some companies is an absolute nightmare! ::)
QuoteSpoke with Grakka this morning who were apologetic and offered to replace smoke generator yet again. However have now decided to get complete OBS
Good news Boybach, glad Grakka came up trumps for you. At least Bradley customer service continues to be excellent on both sides of the pond when people do have problems. :)
Quote from: West Coast Kansan on January 21, 2007, 03:14:20 PMI guess the point is that once you get a good one it IS A Good One. It is not however a happy thing when your smoker takes a dump in the middle of a smoke.
My first one was a bum & got immediately replaced. 5+ years later, not a hitch. I'm the only thing that has taken a dump in the middle of a smoke. ;) ;D ;D
Kirk
Quote from: Chez Bubba on January 29, 2007, 06:59:21 PM
I'm the only thing that has taken a dump in the middle of a smoke. ;) ;D ;D
Kirk
Well I'll be. I thought I was the president of that club. There are smoke jumpers then there are smoke dumpers!!! :D ;) Of course the title changes the next morning. Can't go ther though. Family forum and all. ;D ::) ;D
Well this morning the new OBS has arrived and WOW am I excited. I must thank Bradley's and in particular Grakka for fantastic customer service and their prompt and understanding support. Can't wait to use it but alas due to work comittments I'll have to wait until the week-end. But I'll soon be on the go.
Incidentally I have just returned to the UK from a few days out in Doha Quatar Middle East and boy can't those guys BBQ. We had a couple of whole lamb cooked in a sand pit out in the desert with all sorts of sausages (all sans pork of course) made out of what I don't rightly know except that they were delicious we also had bbq goat and camel and a variety of rice dishes and salad items. The Chefs inventive skills knew no bounds and as a starter we had a delicious dish of smoked Aubergines. These were placed in a mesh cotton bag and stuck on a pole high above the fire pit but centrally in the smoke stream. After about an hour they were split opened and the insides scraped out mixed with olive oil a little vinegar and a sprinkling of mixed spice powder (Garlic, ginger cummin pepper and chilli -Chef says Chinese Five Spice powder also very good) and served with warmed flat bread similar to pitta bread. It was awseome. Only dissapointment - strictly no alcohol which can only be consumed in hotels, so it was washed down with coke and sweet tea. OK but must admit that for me BBQ's need a cold beer and a nice glug of wine.
Never mind made up for it on flight home
Thanks again for the advice will let you know how the first batch of sustenance from the new BS goes down. Cheers ;D
QuoteI'm the only thing that has taken a dump in the middle of a smoke.
Nothing like a good dump is there!! :-[ :-[
QuoteWe had a couple of whole lamb cooked in a sand pit out in the desert with all sorts of sausages (all sans pork of course) made out of what I don't rightly know except that they were delicious we also had bbq goat and camel and a variety of rice dishes and salad items. The Chefs inventive skills knew no bounds and as a starter we had a delicious dish of smoked Aubergines. These were placed in a mesh cotton bag and stuck on a pole high above the fire pit but centrally in the smoke stream. After about an hour they were split opened and the insides scraped out mixed with olive oil a little vinegar and a sprinkling of mixed spice powder (Garlic, ginger cummin pepper and chilli -Chef says Chinese Five Spice powder also very good) and served with warmed flat bread similar to pitta bread
Sounds like you had a great time out there Boybach, my this description has made me hungry!! :P :P
Where else in the world will you get a chance to taste camel? ;D