Traeger Newbie-Used Timberline 1300 AC Model

[janetmojo]

Hey all, I'm Janet and I purchased a used Timberline 1300 AC model this past weekend from some neighbors who were moving and couldn't take it with them. (I got a heck of a deal I think for $500 including a brand new cover and 6 bags of pellets.) Yesterday I took out the grates and cleaned them along with the drip pan. I also cleaned out the grease "channel" (ick) They included the shop vac they used for sucking out the ashes. I'm aware of possible issues with the flat drip pan not draining properly and possibly being warped (it's actually in pretty rough shape) but as long as I have the smoker tilted down to the front the grease should go to the channel correct? What other things should I check before using. It was used as recently as Thanksgiving and there are pellets in the hopper from that use. So do I need to worry about any of the start up things like priming the grease trap or anything with the pellet dispenser (sorry I'm new to the terminology.) Thanks in advance, I'd like to toss a pork butt on tomorrow for my first ever smoke!

 

[primeone]

Welcome to the forum @janetmojo Can't beat that price for a Timberline! After a good cleaning, I think you should be ready to go. Pork butt is a good choice for the first smoke, it seems they always come out pretty good.

Let us know how it goes here:

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[RustyJake]

Agree with @primeone with the cleaning you have already done, you are eliminating possible issues and you got more familiar with the grill.
I would probably clean the hopper and auger of any pellets and start with new pellets. That would eliminate any issues from pellets being in there since November.

 

[traeger860]

Welcome from NSB. You got a great deal. Due to our humid environment, I'd also recommend dumping the pellets that are in the hopper and starting fresh. You can use the shop vac to get any pellets from the auger tube. When you load the hopper back up, use the Prime Auger function. You can also vacuum out the firebox. It can collect ash and pellets.

If you cover the drip tray in foil, it'll make future cleanups a lot easier. Or put an aluminum tray under whatever you're cooking to catch the drippings.

is a great video for cleaning a Traeger. It's a little overkill for routine maintenance, but it has some good tips to help get yours back to looking like new again.

 

[janetmojo]

Thank you all, I did buy some new full size pans at Sams today when I got my pork butt so I figure I can wrap the drip tray in foil, put the big pan on the bottom level and cook on the middle level. Good advice on cleaning out the existing pellets since I have so many bags anyway. Finally and I am only scratching the surface on watching the videos and reading advice on this board but if I don't need to "hold" my butt except for juice redistribution can I just sit it out on the counter wrapped until it is cool enough to shred and handle or do I need to do the whole wrap in towel, put in cooler thing? I'm planning on cooking it during the day and we don't eat until 7pm or so. (I plan on doing the unwrapped and then wrap method.)

 

[RustyJake]

You can just wrap in foil. But the caveat being the temperature of the butt. As it sits, it's cooling. You do not want to have it drop into the danger zone for bacteria growth (40°F - 140°F).
Error on the side of caution when it comes to bacteria growth. Last thing you want is to make someone eating your food sick

 

[janetmojo]

Oh absolutely. I'll keep my eye on the time and temps! Thanks again!

 

[wrmac]

Welcome from NSB. You got a great deal. Due to our humid environment, I'd also recommend dumping the pellets that are in the hopper and starting fresh. You can use the shop vac to get any pellets from the auger tube. When you load the hopper back up, use the Prime Auger function. You can also vacuum out the firebox. It can collect ash and pellets.

If you cover the drip tray in foil, it'll make future cleanups a lot easier. Or put an aluminum tray under whatever you're cooking to catch the drippings.

is a great video for cleaning a Traeger. It's a little overkill for routine maintenance, but it has some good tips to help get yours back to looking like new again.

Since you just bought it, if you want it to look like new follow the cleaning plan in the video and then buy a bottle of Goo Gone Grill and Grate cleaner $14 for 24oz https://a.co/d/0fGYgGNf

*** READ THE WARNINGS IN THE POSTS that follow! *** Thanks to @RustyJake

Virtually NO scrubbing. Spray, wait a min or two and then wipe and it's almost like new! Even the racks. Just got to knock any hard chunks.
Enjoy!

 

[RustyJake]

If you use the Goo Gone Oven and grill cleaner, try to NOT get that on exterior painted surfaces. It can discolor the paint or powder coat on some grills.
They do make a Grate and Grill for BBQ's as well
Goo Gone Grill and Grate Cleaner - 24 Ounce - Cleans Cooking Grates and Racks
https://a.co/d/0fGYgGNf

 

[wrmac]

If you use the Goo Gone Oven and grill cleaner, try to NOT get that on exterior painted surfaces. It can discolor the paint or powder coat on some grills.
They do make a Grate and Grill for BBQ's as well
Goo Gone Grill and Grate Cleaner - 24 Ounce - Cleans Cooking Grates and Racks
https://a.co/d/0fGYgGNf

Good Tip!
The first comment in the directions is pretest an inconspicuous spot.
For me, It tested fine and I used it on my whole T850 including the stainless steel shelves and all the exterior. It made my 4yr old smoker look like brand new, inside and out with very little effort and virtually no scrubbing or wire brushes etc.
I also found it was not to be as corrosive on the skin like other oven cleaners. It recommended gloves but I did not find that I needed them.

 

[RustyJake]

Good Tip!
The first comment in the directions is pretest an inconspicuous spot.
For me, It tested fine and I used it on my whole T850 including the stainless steel shelves and all the exterior. It made my 4yr old smoker look like brand new, inside and out with very little effort and virtually no scrubbing or wire brushes etc.
I also found it was not to be as corrosive on the skin like other oven cleaners. It recommended gloves but I did not find that I needed them.

I have discoloration on my side shelves and front control panel on my Napoleon Grill from this stuff. It works GREAT, it is definitely as you say spray on and wipe off.
There are a few videos online about the discoloration, so yes a test would be smart before spraying down any painted surfaces. Do not use it on aluminum, like grill grates, or it will destroy the surface on those as well as faux stainless.
There's a few videos online showing some issues with painted surfaces

But yes, I will wholeheartedly agree, this stuff works amazing for cleaning Grate surfaces
I was just posting a warning to be careful around painted surfaces. Mine was just over spray, I never sprayed it directly on the painted surfaces on my Napoleon grill.

 

[wrmac]

I have discoloration on my side shelves and front control panel on my Napoleon Grill from this stuff. It works GREAT, it is definitely as you say spray on and wipe off.
There are a few videos online about the discoloration, so yes a test would be smart before spraying down any painted surfaces. Do not use it on aluminum, like grill grates, or it will destroy the surface on those as well as faux stainless.
There's a few videos online showing some issues with painted surfaces

But yes, I will wholeheartedly agree, this stuff works amazing for cleaning Grate surfaces
I was just posting a warning to be careful around painted surfaces. Mine was just over spray, I never sprayed it directly on the painted surfaces on my Napoleon grill.

Awesome! Thanks again for the tip.
With my experience I would have been spraying on everything with no concern! For me I thought it was a miracle BBQ cleaner. I think I got lucky with the exterior because I wiped it off right away. BUT if you sprayed the inside of the top cover etc, it could start running out on the other covers and you might miss it and end up not happy. It looks like I got very lucky!
I cannot seem to find the Grill and Grate cleaner in Canada, Yet!

 

[RustyJake]

Awesome! Thanks again for the tip.
With my experience I would have been spraying on everything with no concern! For me I thought it was a miracle BBQ cleaner. It looks like I got very lucky!

The paint is still smooth and doesn't feel compromised, but you can see it is discolored.


I didn't spray directly onto the surfaces, just a little careless with my over-spray when spraying the grill surfaces.
Like you said, test an are before going all out with it on the exterior paint. Maybe the paint on the Traeger is more durable

 

[wrmac]

Wow, you must have been miffed!
I have cleaned mine a few times and never had an issue but the this week I did it late at night and remember in the morning seeing some streaks on the front cover but smoked my stuff and just though it was dirty. Nope. It must have run down the cover while I was cleaning on the inside
It looks like if you let it sit on the paint for an extended period of time it burns the coating and you end up with a gloss differential.
I went over it with an Armor All type spray and it makes it look better for a couple days