I am currently selling my ELX6 as we speak. I have had a couple of times where the pellets did not light. The burn pot with the glow plug that basically sits on the bottom of the burn pot is a poor design. If you notice other pellet grills, the glow plug is raised up off the bottom. In my case, after 2-3 cooks, the pellet dust/ash covers the glow plug and the grill won't light. I had to vacuum the burn pot after every 2 cooks to keep this from happening. Other than constantly stirring the pellet hopper, and cleaning the burn pot after every 2 cooks, it worked well. I have made some really good food on the Weber. Ultimately I got sick of babysitting it and purchased a Recteq Flagship 1100 and also the Recteq Bullseye deluxe and couldn't be happier. No babysitting, everything just works as it should.
Thanks for checking in Chris. I didn’t think about the lack of “float” in the glow plug’s placement. There was a slight crust on the removed plug, but nothing more than I’ve seen when I replaced the igniter on my Pit Boss. The Recteq keeps coming up in the comments. Interesting. Will check it out. Good luck with your cooks.
I'd be aggravated as well if I were getting these issues. Looks like you got a lemon. I hate to see that as I've had mine for about 3 years and never had an issue. Heck, I still have the 3 glow plugs it came with (now if I could remember where I put them when needed, it will be a miracle LOL). I keep it level and clean and it's kept producing good grub. And I keep it outside year round in Chicago (covered in the winter when not in use) and only dump the pellets when I'm not going to be using it for an extended period.
Troy, thanks for checking in!! I was one of the first to purchase the Stealth Sear+ 6 months ago. Perhaps I did get a lemon. I’m fastidious with cleaning it. The grill has never seen rain and is kept in an ambient garage. Pellets dumped regularly. I’m not happy. Weber knows it and has offered to return the grill with full refund. I’m still trying to decide what’s best. Will be posting a video soon. Enjoy your cooks!
The smoke fire is one of the best pellet grills in the market. I have cooked more than 20 times without cleaning it, compared to other brands that you have to clean it after 3-5 cooks. The Plug i only replaced it once in 3 years.
Uncle George, thanks for checking in. I never knee jerk buy anything. And after extensive research, came to that same singular conclusion in June…. Then the failures started in December. There seems to be 2 camps. The perfection love camp, and the dreaded lemon camp. I’m going to give Weber one more shot with the SearWood.
I absolutely love my Smokefire! Not sure I understand the issues your having. Why do you have all those pellets coming from the auger without a fire in the firepot? And my Weber Griddle is absolutely amazing as well!
Thanks for checking in! I know some folks scroll through videos, as do I. I explained why it occurred. The glow plug did not ignite. And when you go into shutdown mode, your grill fills the firebox for the next ignition. Part and parcel to the reason the shut down procedure is so long. I am very pleased you have good results with yours. Just by comments, it seems there’s 2 camps. Love them with no problems and they sear, or problems and they don’t. Enjoy your cooks.
Hate that you are having so many issues. I’ve had one since February of 2021 and have cooked on it no less than 2,000 hours. Glow plugs tend to go out after a little less time than I would have preferred but I now start it just like I do my other pits… handful of pellets in the bottom and torch for about 30 seconds… set the temp and let the fan do the work. Best smoke you can get on a pellet cooker because of the flavorizor bar design. Weber has been great from a customer service standpoint as well. Hope your experience improves.
Bret, I will agree with you 100% on the smoke volume and taste signature. It’s outstanding. Sorry to hear your issues. For the cost of these pits, we shouldn’t have to light fires, or deal with flame outs. Thanks for checking in, I’ll be posting a follow up with new info soon.
Ya got one no complaints I've had multiple pellet grills from treager giirrila pit boss i get the most smoke from this one and best flavor sorry for your luck brother
Thanks for checking in. Great to hear you have a solid experience with it. And I fully agree, the smoke quality, when it runs, is superb. Enjoy your cooks!
@@sambosplace I really feel for you. I have the Smokefire EX4. I've had so many problems with it. I just reached out to Weber tonight. My temp probes are all over the place. The damn thing flamed out 3 times today. Then it will batshit crazy and just kept feeding pellets until it tried to burn down. I'm a huge weber guy. I have 5 ot 6 other BBQs, griddles, etc. from them. This Smokefire is a real miss. What's your support experience been like with them?
Matt, I wish you had better experiences. I cannot relate to those inconsistencies. If you’re using the Weber probes, I can tell you from my 4, 2 are only consistent. But from what you’re otherwise describing, I’m wondering if you’re having an auger issue like mine. Before mine completely failed to fire up, I had a flame out. Have you noticed any irregular sound coming from the auger? I would dump the pellets, remove the back panel and the screws that hold the electric motor/ auger assembly and slide it out to inspect. Check my previous videos on my deconstruct. As for Weber CS, it’s been polar opposite the grill. If you’re still under warranty, they’ll move quickly to help you. I’m posting a follow-up video to my experience with them shortly, explaining my options I have with this grill. Good luck, check back in, if I can help.
you could have used the grill without the glow plug if that was your issue, just use something to start the fire. Most of the issues you sited are pretty common on other grills. Since these units have been out it seems like people have no issues or limited and love them or have a few or lot of issues and hate them. As for the bolt in the auger causing jams, it is lower than the rest of the auger so I really can't understand how that could cause a jam.
Thanks for checking in! Yes, I could have… in principal, I shouldn’t have to. That’s my expressed point in these videos. For $1600+ tax, there should be no issues at this price point…. Especially within 6 months of dry storage ownership. If this pit is a love hate, I love it, when it works for smoking. Not a fan of it for searing, nor for product QC. Good luck with your cooks!
I would have been more gentle lifting the contact on the glow plug personally. I hope you re-bent it before you re-inserted your glow plug. I also would have checked the continuity across the glow plug leads before I removed the glow plug to find out if it was a contact issue.
24 volt continuity was checked through wires and the holder as mentioned in the video. Sprung contact is bent back into place. Thanks for your thoughts.
I love Weber products. I have the Weber kettle and I will be getting the Weber Griddle this spring. I currently am using a Broil King pellet Crown 500 for the past 3 years and it's been fantastic. Cheers from BRANTFORD Ontario
I also love mine never had a problem, also when you have it in shutdown mode you say if your in a hurry it takes 10-15 min, why do you sit there and watch it on shutdowns mode,
Thanks for Checkin in. Glad to hear you have one with no issue. If you check my 6 month review video, I discussed in detail the pros and cons of it Vs the Pit Boss Pro I owned for 4 years. Shut down mode is like a nice sunset…. Sit andwatch it sometime. 😉
I researched other pellet pits until I had paralysis thru analysis. The lone star is just a bit outta reach. I almost pulled the trigger on a Yoder YS640S, I mean, had it in the cart. But then I watched a rib cook-off comparison with it and 3 other grills, including the SmokeFire. The Weber blew them all away on smoke signature taste. That’s one thing I am not disappointed with and would truly miss, is the volumes of smoke this pit produces, and the deep ring and smoke signature taste you get from it.
Sorry to see all the issues your having with your SmokeFire. I'm about a month in with mine. So far so good even with a 10 hour -6 degree cook the other night. Hope your exaggerating with putting it to the curb. Sell it local and put that money towards your next venture. Heck I wonder if weber will swap it with their new model? If you got the coin, lone star grillz has a nice pellet smoker. Good luck buddy
Thanks for checking in! Appreciate the words of support. We’ll see how this goes. It is garage kept and has the hopper dumped when not using over multiple days, there was no moisture clots around the auger. I’m quite disappointed. My Pit Boss stayed outside, sometimes uncovered. I had a couple auger jams due to moisture and she eventually quit after 4 years of continuous, 12 month cooking. Even in winter storms. I’m quite disappointed with this American made product.
Brian, Been using it a couple weeks. Firing up, smoking normal and maintaining heat like new for short cooks. Going for a long smoke this weekend. The one impressive fact about this pit is the amount of smoke this pumps out. Weber is still in contact and offered to pick up and refund the grill. They will not swap for a new SearWood. I haven’t decided yet. Video coming up soon. Thanks for checking back.
The new searwood is made in China….I try to support American made/assembled, but unfortunately it seems that if a person is involved there tends to be quality issues….
I’m sure you’re correct. I’m fully aware who makes. OK Joes, yes. My wife owns a machining business who does work for the government, Ingersoll Rand, GE, Moog and others. Many of these large companies have switched to having parts machined abroad…. China…. So I’m fully aware 100% American made is a stretch. The OK Joes is attractive because it’s gravity fed. No auger and less moving parts to feed fuel. Enjoy your cooks!
Indeed those were my sentiments sir. This was a mom and pop purchase, having graduated high school with the pop. Not their issue. It all falls in your Weber warrantee through Weber.
