Camp chef nightmare

[robwcormack]

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[SonnyE]

Get your money back, it sounds like a lemon.
Then use the funds to get a different (or same) grill.
But act before the warranty expires.

PITA, I know. But the best fix in this world of crap electronics and service.
Off the thing.

 

[SecondHandSmoker]

^^^ What SonnyE said^^^

After going through all that and it still won't perform as intended, they should have at least replaced it instead of leaving you hanging.

 

[robwcormack]

Get your money back, it sounds like a lemon.
Then use the funds to get a different (or same) grill.
But act before the warranty expires.

PITA, I know. But the best fix in this world of crap electronics and service.
Off the thing.

Delete

 

[SonnyE]

Dont know if they'll refund me at this point. I've had it almost a year now and I think I can count on my hands how many times I've used it.

Maybe they'll send me a replacement. I just hope they dont expect me to pay for shipping this big thing back. It just sucks cuz I really wanted to like it and have a change smoker I didnt have to babysit like my UDS. I think I've learned that I'm not patient enough for this to be my main grill. Gas ain't as good, but it sure is convenient. If I had it to do over again I'd have just bought a dedicated smoker and kept my old grill. Hind sight's 2020 though I guess.

Sorry it's such a bummer, Rob.
I hope you can find some resolution to this.

 

[SecondHandSmoker]

Dont know if they'll refund me at this point. I've had it almost a year now and I think I can count on my hands how many times I've used it.

Maybe they'll send me a replacement. I just hope they dont expect me to pay for shipping this big thing back. It just sucks cuz I really wanted to like it and have a change smoker I didnt have to babysit like my UDS. I think I've learned that I'm not patient enough for this to be my main grill. Gas ain't as good, but it sure is convenient. If I had it to do over again I'd have just bought a dedicated smoker and kept my old grill. Hind sight's 2020 though I guess.

You should demand a replacement and that they pay for shipping the old unit back.

 

[shinny]

I'd demand a new one and they pay shipping. If they want good reviews, they need to make it right. Just MHO

 

[RCAlan]

To the OP... I can truly understand your frustration from reading your post.. If You really want your grill to work for you and everything you’ve tried hasn’t work, you might have to try something different... Two things I would try is one, try preheating your grill first. I’ve read your grills owners manual on page 5 and it says nothing about preheating, it just says to let the pellets ignite with the lid open and then set the temp to whatever you want... smh... I would set the temp to 300*-350* for 20-30mins and see if the temp stabilizes. If the temp does stabilize, then I would set the temp after the preheating to whatever I want to cook at... Make sure the fire pot is cleaned out before you fire it up.. If that doesn’t work for You, then perhaps switching to a PID controller will solve the problem.. Wow, one year in and it seems Camp Chef doesn’t have a clue.. I just re-read your post and you have tried preheating to 350* degrees for 35-45 mins. I would take a good long look at upgrading to a PID controller then. Good luck and I hope it works out for you.

PB Austin XL in SoCal and Always... Semper Fi

 

[dward51]

I know the Camp Chef is supposed to fluctuate up to 20* above and below the set point. But it sounds like your unit is thinking it's at 220 when it's at 200. +/- 20 from 200 would be in the band you describe you are getting.

Just curious but is it possible the knob or the variable resistor for the temp setting has shifted in the mounting bracket? That might account for the 20* difference since you have replaced both the probe and the control board already. Or did you replace the entire controller including the front face with the adjustment knob?

Another thought is check your thermometer probe in boiling water and see what it reads on the display. If it's right, it has to be something in the controls or board circuits since it seems to be a consistently wrong offset of 20* from where it should be. You might also ask Camp Chef if there is a temp probe offset calibration procedure (hidden menu?).

 

[BC Buck]

Struggled with Camp Chef sg for 9 months. Replaced every part on it more than once. they will keep sending you replacement parts till you get tired of working on it. There controllers are crap. You have two choices to consider. Try aftermarket PID or get rid of your SG. My best day was when I washed my hands of that Camp Chef.

 

[SmokinAl]

In your conversations with Camp Chef I would mention that you are an active member of SMF, and that you are going to tell our 100,000 + members about your experience with their grill. This may sway them into just sending you a replacement. I have a couple of Camp chef products & have found their CS to be very good!
Al

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

In your conversations with Camp Chef I would mention that you are an active member of SMF, and that you are going to tell our 100,000 + members about your experience with their grill. This may sway them into just sending you a replacement. I have a couple of Camp chef products & have found their CS to be very good!
Al

This!

 

[robwcormack]

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[robwcormack]

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[SecondHandSmoker]

Ok, so I spoke with CC this morning. I have to give it to them, the grill might suck but their customer service is on point. They have certainly tried to fix the issue, but have been unsuccessful thus far. They asked if I would try changing out the whole hopper assembly and guts to the grill. Basically this will be a new grill minus the barrel which *shouldn't* be the problem anyway. I feel like that's a reasonable request, even though it sucks to have to work on this stupid thing anymore. I bought a brand new grill, not a dang project. But I'm trying to be hopeful and optimistic. Maybe I'll get it in time to cook up a bangin Christmas dinner for the family.

Well, that is certainly one route to try and hopefully that fixes it. Keep us posted.

 

[gmc2003]

I'm glad their responding to your complaints, but I wonder what they would do for the customer that isn't mechanically inclined. It may be worth a shot and play dumb and see their response. Maybe that would get you a new smoker or refund whichever you prefer.

Chris

 

[robwcormack]

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[SonnyE]

Excellent Point, Chris.
I don't think the Solution is really a solution by this point.
In my opinion, which is as worthless as any opinion, is replacement of the entire unit.
And this defective unit be returned to the factory for total failure analysis.
It could be a gold mine for their Quality Control, to make sure another one doesn't rear it's ugly head.

 

[robwcormack]

You're right. I've already agreed to try this though, so I'm gonna give it one last swing.

I cant help but wonder if it's a pellet problem in the back of my mind. Although I've burned 80 lbs of pellets through it (half of which were just testing various temps after all these fixes) they were all camp chef brand pellets. You'd think their smoker should have no problem with their own pellets, but it's just got me wondering.

 

[gmc2003]

I highly doubt it's the pellets, but one never knows. Just curious, did all this happen during the big storm you folks in NC just experienced? That could be the reason.

Chris