Broken generator

Oldman · December 05, 2004, 08:18:12 PM

Gents I was cleaning Skyway's carpet when I notice that there was very little smoking coming out. Well I reset the generator. Waited fourty minutes and checked. The first picture is at the end of 40 minutes. I think these pictures will tell ya the story. The generator is moving the pucks, but maybe not all of the way, and/ or moving them at un-equal times. (?)

That round black thing by the "C" is a tracking penny I used.

What is really screwy is when "A" got on the burner it was pretty much un-burned. However, by the time "C" got on the burner it was already toasted. Plus if you look at the last "A" it has been on that burner for 40 minutes~~~go figure that one out! Note: After the first 40 minutes I waited I check then checked every 20 minutes, that is not to say the generator worked every twenty minutes.

Is there any adjustments to the generator? Or is it time I give Mr. Bradley a call?

I have noticed that there are been a few folks who have posted about this type of problem as of late. I sure hope this is not a price-point-issue.

Olds

EDIT a bad sentence.

http://rminor.com

psdubl07 · December 05, 2004, 08:30:52 PM

Olds, this is exactly the problem I was explaining in an earlier thread. From the numbers who have mentioned this over various threads, I'm beginning to think this is typical, most people just never open it during smoking to see what's going on.

I went back and forth with Cassandra (Bradley cust serv) about this and she told me it was normal. Here's an excerpt taken directly from the email:
Me: "So when a puck is done (ash) and should be pushed off, and it's not for another 20 minutes, this is OK?"
Cassandra: "Yes, this is okay because a new bisquette will be burning while the ash is still sitting there."

As I stated in the earlier thread, I feel this is exactly the opposite of the main selling point of the smoker...controlled smoke through pucks being extinguished, no foul ash taste etc...
But in the end, I'm happy w/ the results of the food, so I just gave up and let it go.

Gotta go check on my Salmon! (Kummok's recipe) [:p]

Oldman · December 05, 2004, 08:37:44 PM

Well this Cassandra is going to have one heck of a time with these pictures. Especially with A being on the burner for 40 minutes. And C being burt up when it got to the burner. If A was not on the burn for 40 minutes then the only way that picture then works is the unit cycled twice within a 20 minute time period.

Perhaps C was made wrong and its pre-heat burned it very fast. I don't know what is wrong with the unit, I know how it worked up until today and that is/ was how the Bradley is advertized. It is not working now as advertized. Period

http://rminor.com

Oldman · December 05, 2004, 10:08:28 PM

Next follow up. I'm going from almost no smoke to a lot of smoke in a cycle. Next only the generator is on. Heat is not even plugged in. It is 70 degrees F outside ( have a digial thermometer) and I got 4 cooking thermometer in the vent and the one on the door all saying the box is 150 F! How is that possible given the low wattage of the generator? The only idea I can come up with is there are 2 pucks burning and for a short while 3 pucks are burning.

http://rminor.com

tsquared · December 05, 2004, 11:52:14 PM

Hey Dow, I just finished testing mine to see what temp the box would get to with no heat on and no pucks at all. Outside temp is low 40's and the inside temp was 105 F on the door thermometer.
Tom

Chez Bubba · December 06, 2004, 01:51:01 AM

Olds,

You're within warranty, simply call them up (800-665-4188) and they'll send you a new one. Probably let you keep the old one for spare parts too.

Kirk

http://www.chezbubba.com
Ya think next time I check into a hotel & they ask "Smoking or Non?" they would mind?

bighoof · December 06, 2004, 03:22:27 AM

Interesting, I think I just had that problem about 2 weeks ago. The pucks weren't moving(I was counting them in the tube) pressed the button and one would move, next 20 min and one would move then the next 20 min. none moved. I did a quick search here to try and find something on this issue, nothing really helpful, but to take it apart, which I sort of did, shook all the puck flakes out. Put it back together and seemed to be ok after that.

psdubl07 · December 06, 2004, 02:30:37 PM

Olds, your temperature scenario is completely possible. Yesterday I had only the generator on, the temperature outside was in the high 40's, and smoker temp according to my Maverick wouldn't get below about 112. (The Bradley thermometer always reads too low).
IMO, smoking at the ambient temperature is not really possible. I've tried it when the temp was in the low 70s also and the box was well over 100.

I hope Kirk is right and you are offered a new generator. For the same issue, I was not.

Oldman · December 06, 2004, 03:16:56 PM

Chez Ole Boy,

Rather than call them I sent to Brandly an E-mail with a link to this thread. I'm sure at one point there will be a telephone conversation concerning the same.

However, thank you for your advice!
Olds

http://rminor.com

Chez Bubba · December 07, 2004, 12:31:07 AM

Glad to see everything turned out well. Thanks for the email CC.[8D]

Kirk

http://www.chezbubba.com
Ya think next time I check into a hotel & they ask "Smoking or Non?" they would mind?

Oldman · December 07, 2004, 12:48:29 AM

Chez it was not a CC but a BCC....what goes around comes around.
Olds

http://rminor.com

Chez Bubba · December 07, 2004, 02:09:44 AM

As long as it wasn't a BCS, 'cause they suck!

http://www.chezbubba.com
Ya think next time I check into a hotel & they ask "Smoking or Non?" they would mind?

Oldman · December 07, 2004, 03:05:50 AM

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">As long as it wasn't a BCS, 'cause they suck!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

What is BCS?

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Chez Bubba · December 07, 2004, 03:44:23 AM

Bowl Championship Series, I believe, those higher powers that "select" the national champion in college football. Playoff is the only way to go in my mind.

I know, OT, but that's what popped into my head when I saw your post.[:)]

http://www.chezbubba.com
Ya think next time I check into a hotel & they ask "Smoking or Non?" they would mind?

Oldman · December 09, 2004, 12:42:01 PM

Greetings all,

There has been a resolution to my problem. In fact in less then 24 hours after I wrote to Bradley I received a letter telling me that a new generator was on it way. That they believed I had a timing problem. The new generator was at my door 48 hours later! Seeing how it came from Canada and I live in Florida I would call that real customer service.

Now to those who feel they have a problem let's go over what was the determining point in this issue concerning my generator.

The first two pictures in the set of five I listed above show the Bradley working correctly. It is not until you get to third to fifth picture do you see there is a timing issue. If you track your generator and it is working as shown in the first two pictures of the above set, then it is working correctly.

If you find your smoke is swing back and forth from almost no smoke to much smoke and then back to almost no smoke again I would think you have a timing problem. I would then suggest you track and take photos every 20 minutes as I did. Post this and then present your findings as a link in an E-mail to Bradley.

On another thread the following was posted:

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> I visit the Smokers Forum on a regular basis and read all the problems with the temp control and the generator.
I've had my smoker for a month and as of yet no problems, but it sure looks like I could have some down the road and hope it's not when I'm half done smoking something. Should the designer go back to the drawing board and redesign the above????? Also do the people at Bradley ever read the Smoker's Forum??
Hi There,

Thank you for your email - your input is greatly appreciated.

If you have been on the Bradley Smoker Forum you should also know that there are just as many, if not more units that function perfectly. If for some reason there is a problem, we have great customer service here at Bradley Smokers and will replace the necessary parts with no questions asked, providing it's within the one year warranty.

The staff at Bradley Smokers does have access to the Smoker Forum, whether they on it or not is completely up to each individual.

If you ever have any problems, or questions or concerns regarding your Bradley Smoker please contact our toll free number where one of our customer service representatives will assist you.

Thank you,

Cassandra WalkerBradley Technologies
Toll Free # 1-800-665-4188
Fax # 604-279-0553<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Folks in my business I have had systems that cost 100 time the $500 I paid for my SS Bradley. Let me tell you things break. A number of years ago in a system that cost me 40K plus, it had some real design problems. When that company came into town and I got directly with them their attitude was this was a work in progress! Sorrie' Charlie~~! This past April I purchase a new 3/4 Ton Ford Van for the company. Four months later there is a recall on it for 3 items! Is their design at fault? I don't think so. There are many factors that come into play in issues such as this.

The important factor today is who made it and will they stand behind it. In my gaming systems which can run up into thousands of dollars I use a local company rather than let's say Dell (not that Dell offers a gaming system.) The reason is their warranty includes all labor for two years plus there is no dancing when there is a problem they fix it timely. I rather pay another 3-4 hundred more for the "insurance" that this local company offers. In the past 18 months they have replaced a 21" Sony Trinitron Monitor (originally 895.00 when it first came out) one V-card the 9700 Pro(orginally $500.00 when it first came out) and three removable hard drive caddies ($40.00 each.) These items all came from top flight companies. There is no garbage in my system. I spec out what I want built and whose parts we are going to be using.

My point is that Bradley is just like this local company--their service and no dancing around any issues is just like they were in the same town as I live it. What I find about the Bradley interesting--again this is due to purchasing big tick items for my business--is that they offer a complete one year wrap-around-no-dancing-warranty on their complete system that only cost $350.00 to begin with-std model! Now that is deal!

Olds

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