My Timberline 850 Won't Light...

[Hardrocker]

I have a 850 that current won't light. My control box lights up when I push the power on button. The fan and auger work when I set the temp and push the ignite button. I also hooked a volt meter to the ignition leads when the 850 is trying to ignite the pellets in the fire box and I see a voltage drop. I've replaced the Hot Rod twice (but with a non-Traeger branded Hot Rod). So I'm wondering how to get my Traeger working again? Thanks in advance!

Cheers,
-BillR.

 

[RemE]

I have a 850 that current won't light. My control box lights up when I push the power on button. The fan and auger work when I set the temp and push the ignite button. I also hooked a volt meter to the ignition leads when the 850 is trying to ignite the pellets in the fire box and I see a voltage drop. I've replaced the Hot Rod twice (but with a non-Traeger branded Hot Rod). So I'm wondering how to get my Traeger working again? Thanks in advance!

Cheers,
-BillR.

How old is it? Is it a D2 (Newer Gen 2) model?
Hit ignite with the firepot open, are the pellets smoldering around the hot rod?

 

[Timmy]

This video tell how much of the hot rod should be sticking out into the fire pot.

 

[Hardrocker]

How old is it? Is it a D2 (Newer Gen 2) model?
Hit ignite with the firepot open, are the pellets smoldering around the hot rod?

Thanks for answering my question! Forums work when everyone participates!!

I'm not sure how to tell if it's a Gen 2 or not. I'm thinking I purchased it in 2017.

The pellets do not smolder.
Cheers,
-BillR.

 

[RemE]

Thanks for answering my question! Forums work when everyone participates!!

I'm not sure how to tell if it's a Gen 2 or not. I'm thinking I purchased it in 2017.

The pellets do not smolder.
Cheers,
-BillR.

Look at upper left corner of controller, D2 is the newer Gen2 grill. Older grills are all AC powered while D2 units have a DC power supply and all the elements, hotrod, fan, auger are all DC powered.

With the firepot exposed, does the hotrod get hot during ignition? Maybe touch it with some rolled up paper or paper straw etc.

 

[Hardrocker]

Look at upper left corner of controller, D2 is the newer Gen2 grill. Older grills are all AC powered while D2 units have a DC power supply and all the elements, hotrod, fan, auger are all DC powered.

With the firepot exposed, does the hotrod get hot during ignition? Maybe touch it with some rolled up paper or paper straw etc.

View attachment 5569

I definitely do NOT have a D2. Well at least the front plate of the control panel does not have a "D2" symbol on it.

I put the tip of the temperature probe on different parts of the hot rod while starting up my Traeger, but the temp probe did not change from the ambient temp the probe was reading. (I was a bit scared to physically touch the hot rod while it attempts to ignite the pellets. )

I'm on my 2nd Hot Rod replacement. I thought perhaps the first one was faulty, but I don't think that is the case. Statistically, me getting 2 bad hot rod ignitors in a row??? That just doesn't happen. Both hot rod replacement units came with a fuse, but I can't find a fuse anywhere on the Traeger.

Thanks,
-BillR.

 

[RemE]

I definitely do NOT have a D2. Well at least the front plate of the control panel does not have a "D2" symbol on it.

I put the tip of the temperature probe on different parts of the hot rod while starting up my Traeger, but the temp probe did not change from the ambient temp the probe was reading. (I was a bit scared to physically touch the hot rod while it attempts to ignite the pellets. )

I'm on my 2nd Hot Rod replacement. I thought perhaps the first one was faulty, but I don't think that is the case. Statistically, me getting 2 bad hot rod ignitors in a row??? That just doesn't happen. Both hot rod replacement units came with a fuse, but I can't find a fuse anywhere on the Traeger.

Thanks,
-BillR.

The hotrod is different for the gen1 and gen 2. Do yours look like this?

https://www.traegergrills.com/parts/hotrod

Z

 

[RemE]

The hotrod is a simple heat element. The controller turns it on and off. I know my gen2 hotrod plugs into an extension cable, then to the controller. If all cables are good, it's the controller.
I don't know if Gen1 controllers have a fuse on their board for the hotrod, Gen2 units don't.

 

[Hardrocker]

The hot rod unit that came with my grill had an extension cable. Both the hot rod and the extension cable were pretty much fried and needed to be replaced. The replacement hot rod I purchased looks like the hot rod unit in your picture. I viewed lots of videos on where the fuse is located for the Timberline 850. I don't think my Traeger has a fuse.

Thanks for all your help.

Cheers,
-BillR

 

[RemE]

I'm guessing that the controller's hotrod switch (relay or solid state) has failed, but you measured a voltage? The rod has no polarity, it would be interesting measure it's resistance and compare the two.

 

[RemE]

For now, you can light the firepot with a torch, then put the covers back.

 

[Hardrocker]

Thanks RemE! I've been using my butane torch to light the pellets and then putting things back to do my smoking/grilling.

I'll start the Traeger like I'm getting ready to smoking something and measure the leads coming from the controller. I assumed it would be DC coming off the controller. When I measured last time, I do remember the voltage jumping all around and was not a constant voltage reading (like 10V). That was confusing to me.

So any idea on the cost to replace the controller?

Cheers,
-BillR.

 

[RemE]

On yours it may be AC actually.

Gen2 controllers are about $300, don't know Gen1 cost

 

[Hardrocker]

I'll adjust accordingly. Maybe that's why I saw the voltage jumping all around?

I'll call Traeger support and see what they have for controllers.

Cheers,
-BillR.

 

[Dave the Rave]

Hi there have you access to a multi meter ? If so check resistant across hot rod if it’s open circuit the rod is a faulty .Hope this helps
Regards
Dave