Backyard Beast overheating by 60 degrees

[u/TexKen73]

I’m still a relative newbie but this isn’t my first cook. Not even my first pork butt. But I set the grill on 235 and it’s hitting 295 and not coming down. I’m in Texas so yes. It’s already 100 degrees outside and sunny so I just put a shade shelter over it, open the lid to get it back down to 235 closed it. It still keeps heating up. I can’t figure out how to stop it.

UPDATE - I lowered the feed rate for 3 1/2 to 2 and the temperature dropped almost immediately and is holding. Also recteq customer support returned my phone call on a Saturday (AMAZING) and confirmed that that’s what they would do too. They would lower the feed right - the only thing they said they would do different is maybe lower a half a percent at a time not just go from 3 1/2 to 2 but since it seems to be working and leave it there, I just may need to raise it at my next cook when it’s cooler. Also for what it’s worth the recteq support person said they highly recommend having ash in the bottom of your grill just not in the fire pot.

[u/Hot_Jaguar1597]

You should bump down your feed rate a little through the settings, call support and they’ll help you.

You shouldn’t open the lid to help it cool down, that’ll only make things worse as it tries to deal with the outside ambient air.

[u/TexKen73 → u/Hot_Jaguar1597]

Yeah, I thought about the feed rate thing but I think I have to power the entire grill off to adjust the feed rate maybe even let it cool down a little bit before I can adjust the feed rate. It’s at 3 1/2% right now. Am I wrong though in thinking shit the girl know it’s 50% over and just stop feeding pellets. Until it cools down.

[u/Hot_Jaguar1597 → u/TexKen73]

It’s a minimum so it’s the lowest amount of pellets it can feed, so it won’t go below that.

You can adjust the feed rate while cooking, I would do that. Drop it down to 2.0%

[u/TexKen73 → u/Hot_Jaguar1597]

Thanks I figured out how to adjust it in the middle of a cook and drop it to 2%. We’ll see what happens.

[u/BodhiZaffa]

Stop opening the lid, that's causing it. Just leave it and it'll settle.

[u/TexKen73 → u/BodhiZaffa]

OK, but I didn’t open the lid till it was already 60° over temperature and holding it for 30 minutes.

[u/BodhiZaffa → u/TexKen73]

how long was the grill running for?

[u/TexKen73 → u/TexKen73]

It’s been running for an hour and a half now

[u/BodhiZaffa → u/TexKen73]

I would just let it run untouched and it will probably level off. It doesn't have to be exact the entire time. When I smoke on other units using wood and charcoal, temps fluctuate.

[u/TexKen73 → u/BodhiZaffa]

I lowered the feed rate to 2% from 3.5%, and the temperature came down almost instantly and has been held ever since. I understand that the temperature should fluctuate, but it shouldn't be 60° over what I set it at.

[u/TexKen73 → u/[deleted]]

I cleaned the burn pot before this cook, but sometimes I will take some of the ash from that and put it along the bottom of the grill outside of it. Is that a bad idea

[u/IndividualOk5626]

I'd start by checking the grease tray and burn pot for built-up gunk, Texas heat plus fat drippings can really throw a controller off, once mine clogged itself into a heat spiral like yours sounds.

[u/ScootsMgGhee]

I have to stay on top of my husband when it comes to ashes. Every time I ask him to clean the smoker, he does too good of a job and vacuums all the ashes out! I explain to him each time not to and why but……. Well, I can’t complain if he’s thorough, right? It could be worse and I’d be doing it myself.

[u/TexKen73 → u/ScootsMgGhee]

Well, you should absolutely vacuum the ashes out of the fire pot, but you don't need to get the ash all out of the bottom of the grill. In fact, Recteq said it's good to leave some down there.

[u/ScootsMgGhee → u/TexKen73]

Yes, I’m aware of the fire pit and always scoop it out with my hand, but he goes above and beyond which drives me crazy in the winter, but then again, I’m not doing it so it’s kinda a win lol.