Harry is such a great guy. Super honest and real. Not overly dramatic. Just a real guy cooking real food, and sharing all of his knowledge. He has every right to have a huge ego, but he just comes across super genuine and authentic. Very inspirational person!
Thanks for your support and kind words. I just like to cook and share some great food. Too much emphasis over equipment and thinking that equipment creates great BBQ. NO SUCH THING! It's always about the Pitmaster and never the Pit or Meat - Harry Soo
I'm glad you gave Weber a chance to correct the issues with the Smokefire. Some on UA-cam were so quick to return the grill. I really liked the Smokefire after seeing your video from the launch in Chicago. After seeing other videos my opinion began to change. You seemed happy the entire time and felt it was worth learning how this product functions. I'm sure the next generation Smokefire will ROCK! Thanks and keep up the good work!
I'm getting too old and lazy to keep fussing with manual grills when the EX produces championship grub! :-) The romantic charm of throwing a log into the stickburner every 40 mins all day and night long no longer appeals to me. I need an assistant who will work for free!
About an hour. Hopefully Gen 2 builds will have the auger chute amd hopper insert. Yes I was one of the first to buy the EX6. Cooks fantastic food as food as my WSM
Harry Soo my WSM has NEVER let me down. I won’t be waiting for version 2 as I just went ahead and got an RT 700. Love all that you do Harry. You really help me take my mind off the worries of the world. You ROCK.
Hi Harry, thanks for the video. I'm glad that I didn't see the comments before I made my purchase on Tuesday. After taking my time to do a careful assembly and updating the firmware, I fired it up that night in order to season the grill. I'm happy to report that everything worked as designed. It reached 600 degrees F within 25 minutes and maintained that temperature for 40 minutes. The shutdown sequence took a little longer. Last night, it was time to cook, so I had selected and seasoned the choice grade preferred try-tip the night before (Harry Soo style) and fired up the SF. After it reached temperature, I put the trip-tip on the grill and completed the cook ~1 hour later. After charing, saucing and letting it rest, the results were very close to my Weber Smokey Mountain (3) grills that I've used for over nine years. Based on my experience so far with the SF, I am giving it a thumbs up because it worked for me as advertised (even without the latest upgrades). I'll keep cooking with it and I'll provide an update if I change my mind. -Rick SmokeFire EX4
Thanks, Harry. I have been watching your videos since I picked up a Gen2 Smokefire EX6. So far have done Kabobs, 2 sets of ribs (1 w/ 3, 1 w/ 4) and smoked hamburgers. So far, the Smokefire has had no problems, and works great for me. The only modification I made was to move the head shield over to the right about 2cm to make the fire even out a bit more. It's been great for me. Keeper.
I am so grateful to that little voice in me that prompted me to cancel my pre-order before the fertilizer hit the fan. I don't know what you are getting for going through all of this but I hope they make it worth your while! It seems like the best case is that you end up with a grill that maybe cooks ok, but still blows ash all over and now holds LESS than 20 pounds of pellets; and you pay a semi-premium price for it. Weber's credibility is forever damaged by this. Not being the first ones to the market they had every opportunity to take their time and do a quality job but they didn't. My theory is that Weber was so giddy about getting 600 degrees out of a pellet grill that they didn't do full lifecycle testing and now they are paying the price for it. I would have loved to have been a 'fly on the wall' in Weber's conference room as they started dealing with this and fired the project manager!
I don't get paid and I bought the EX6 with my own cash. Not sure why you say it blows ash as I've not seen nor tasted ash on my food. Please see my Group 1 to 4 description in my Part 2 video ua-cam.com/video/jsUri_VoKag/v-deo.html to see if you are a Group 2 or Group 4 person. Don't fuss or obsess over gear and go out and cook.
I must say that I agree with the general opinion that it's way to much to deal with. BBQing, (is that a word)? Shouldn't be that complicated. I pass, but thanks Harry for all your efforts. Great video... as usual.
Who in their right minds would buy any type of large appliance like this, dishwasher, stand mixer, freezer, etc, and think it's okay for the company to ship you replacement parts of this detail and have you repair the problem yourself? I think some people think it's okay because it's a grill, and probably mostly handy guys fixing this stuff, but honestly this is just way too much repair work for a new product. They should have sent out technicians to do the repairs, or recalled them all together.
Only folks who are excited and took the risk with a Gen-1 product because they own other gear from that manufacturer that has been around for 60 years and will likely be around as it is not a the flavor-of-the-month company. My EX6 is working and I installed the chute and hopper insert for my subscribers in Group 1 and Group 3. To find your classification, please refer to my grouping in this video - ua-cam.com/video/jsUri_VoKag/v-deo.html
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ You know what Harry. I'm a grown man. I don't think I need to watch more of your videos to find out what "classification" you might think I am. The shit don't work, and they should have someone fix it or recall it.
Hey Harry, thanks for sharing. You obviously have an engineering streak in you! I appreciate Weber seeking an immediate solution to a problem, yet it seems as though there could have been a bit more thoughtfulness (screw depth). I hope though, these adaptations make the WSF usable and enjoyable for you and other owners. I think BBQ is meant to relieve stress not cause it; and those of us who have a pellet grill are typically looking for ultra convenience and stress free grilling. FYI: I use both the WSM and Traeger 850. When I want heavy smoke flavor I break out the WSM - super job! If I want convenience with a hint of smoke flavor - it goes on the ever reliable Traeger. Keep posting Harry. We enjoy learning from you experience. Blessings! Matt
Hey Matt, as I always say it's always the pitmaster and never the pit. I think we spend too much time analyzing and obsessing of the pros and cons of different smokers and not enough time cooking. A good pitmaster should be able to use a shovel, chicken wire, and some meat to product good BBQ. I'll do some caveman BBQ videos coming soon.
Thank you Harry for your objective review of the SmokeFire pellet grill. Your innocent comment that “Weber has a problem” is very true on so many levels. Again, thank you for the coverage of this pellet grill.
As long as I get championship results from a piece of equipment and the manufacturer will stand behind it for 60 years past and for 20 more years (I'll be dead) I'm OK! :-) Buy Gen-1 SmokeFires if you don't want the hassle of the 60 min job. My EX was working but I did the video for you because I love my subscribers
Good for Weber for making the jump into the pellet grill market, it’s amazing how critical pellet grillers are of their equipment. I just bought an EX4 and am looking forward to many great cooks on it, it’s “flaws” (quirks) are no different than running a charcoal pit. Learn to make it sing and enjoy the ride.
Some folks like the charm of an old MG where the lights go out when the wipers are turned on. Others want to cook a brisket using their phone and complain when their pellet cooker cannot do that. I just want to cook championship food the cheap and lazy way! I'm getting too old and lazy to run a pit all night long as sleep is more important. A pellet cooker (I have two Jim Bowies and two EX6) matches my cooking style!
Harry Soo I’m glad to see you making videos about how to make good BBQ with the new Weber Smokefire, rather than whine and complain about specific quirks. I don’t think any one pit has all of the answers, for me I’ve said for years I won’t get into pellet grills until Weber makes one, I think they did it right and it’s only going to get better.
I was shopping and researching extensively for my first pellet grill and narrowed it down to the Weber or the Rec Tec 700. Decided on the Rec Tec. Thank you Harry for confirming I made the right decision.
It is great that Webber attempted to take care of their customers problems with upgraded parts at no charge to the user. This process may be too complicated for most users through and hopefully they offered free technician services for those that are unable to do this on their own.
Thanks for the update! And that why I don't like buying something when it first comes out... I like to wait to see they got all the bugs out! Can't wait to see how it does now that you have made the upgrades!........ Thanks for sharing!
I don’t understand? Lead dog Kevin Kolman at Weber clearly stated those having issues just didn’t assemble it correctly. Now, they’re sending parts (there will be more), expecting their customers of the new $1000+ appliance to perform the fixes themselves. As a Weber customer and fan of 30 years and six other backyard appliances, I’m beyond disappointed. Thankfully, they took back my EX6, and I’ve moved on, but this is sitting very poorly with me. Weber blew it, and passing the blame to their loyal customer base, old and new, is appalling.
You are right to exercise your choice with your money. I have a whole hog video coming on my EX6. Some folks like the EX. I bought a second because of how well my final product looks and and tastes like my WSM which I have used to win 100+ first places. I'm getting old and lazy so one button on/off cooking is more my style nowadays! 😇
Harry Soo That’s great, and you exercise your choice to tolerate issues that don’t exist on other pellet grills. Fans of Weber, who are new to the pellet grill game, need to know these issues are not normal. Also, kind of hard to set and forget with a unit that stops feeding pellets.
@@clawdawg7248 you are kidding yourself if you think other pellet grills don't have their share of issues. I've owned a few and the ALL have their issues and flaws. The good companies work those flaws out and get the updates out to the customers. I don't own a Weber, but seeing how they are dealing with it in such short order, they are high on my list for my next pellet grill purchase.
ExploreCasper Weber was my 4th pellet grill. Most pellet grill issues are around maintenance, temp control and long term reliability, nothing to do with day-to-day functionality. If you think otherwise, you are the one kidding yourself. I don’t take issue with Weber attempting to resolve the issues; I do take issue with their marketing running counter to the actual product. To your point, I’m done being nickel and dimed and bought a MAK.
I'm glad to see Weber is fixing issues with this. I will be in the market for something next year so hoping they work out all bugs. Started smoking with a electric smoker and also own a knock off kettle and a gas grill. Looking to take the next step down the rabbit hole of equipment to up my game a bit. Debating between a pellet grill or a gravity fed smoker like the Masterbuilt 1050. Both have issues and hoping they are worked out by next year to help this newish wannabe BBQ pit master (me) make my decision. Really appreciate the video, thanks!
Don't suffer from GAS. Just cook on what you have and love what you cook. Too many folks are paralyzed and can't cook suffering from Gear Acquisition Syndrome aka GAS.
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ Thanks for the reply. Been cooking on the same equipment for the past 14 years which is when I got sober. Since then, cooking has been a source of relaxation. Outdoor cooking is the most relaxing. The knockoff kettle was good but after 8 years, it has seen its last bbq (RIP). I think I got my $45 dollars out of it (garage sale special). For the next few months, I will be doing a bunch of research to find something that will be the right fit for me. I don't take this lightly as I will probably be using the next item for years to come. Not really looking to have a garage full of items, just one to help me expand a bit while keeping it fresh.
Thank you for the videos, Harry. I just got my EX6 from Lowes this weekend and burn-in and first cook of beer can chicken went without a hitch. Working from home will allow me to BBQ during the week - trying to focus on the positive. Stay safe and BBQ daily!
Thanks for the video on this, very useful for the people who bought one of these. Me, after seeing how Weber has responded to all this I'm going to choose a different pellet grill.
I had high hopes for this smoker but it seems that Weber just keeps crapping the bed with this. They didn’t seem to do any testing before launch and now when they send out replacement parts they haven’t even had an internal person do the update to see that the screws were wrong. What a shit show! They should just recall of these units and provide refunds and put out a V2 when they finally get it right. I appreciate your loyalty to the product and showing what Weber is doing but I would have sent mine back by now.
Wow that looks very complex. Thank you for the great step by step tutorial. Hopefully the new parts work better than the old ones! Be safe and stay healthy!
Sitting here, watching my Rec Tec holding 225 F solid as a rock and decided to watch UA-cam for some fun. Smoking a couple of chickens. This video is real interesting... really glad I am not rebuilding my new Weber today! You have the patience of a saint Mr. Soo!!
It does!! Grill grates do a great job with grill marks or flip them and do a full sear. All else fails, pull out the torch and torch 'em! Did I mention I used your chicken rub on one of the chickens? It was a HUGE hit!
Thank you for continuing to update the SF. And you bought a second one. That's saying something. But let's face it some folks are going to preach hatred no matter what Webber does. Personally I feel bad for those folks and hope someday they find joy in their lives. In the mean time I'm glad you have some distractions to keep you occupied Harry. Looking forward to seeing your review of the modification AND seeing that whole hog cook.😃👍🔥🔥🔥
Thankyou for the video Harry, but Weber should've never released this grill this soon. As many problems they're having with this pellet grill, im shocked they expect the customer to fix there screw up vs making it right and sending out a technician to fix the problem. Hopefully the problem is solved.
I could not hit 600 and had a few flame outs so I contacted Weber about it. They sent me a new auger assembly but it was not the one you just showed in your video. It is still the same looking two part piece with that gray seal. The motor part did show to be a higher revision though. I much rather prefer the auger shoot they sent you since its completely welded with no seal. I doubt they will just reach out on their own I will just have to wait for this one to fail again before I can get another replacement.
Sorry to hear of your issues Ryan. Hope the two-part chute works. My EX was working but I did the chute (55 min) and insert (5 min) to show my subscribers how it's done.
Great vid! As an DIY/tinkerer myself, this is interesting/fun stuff. I do understand, however, many of the customers frustration. I think it all stems from Webers premium price point. At maybe the $300-$500 range, exchanging parts/upgrading yourself is all good. At the $1000+ range, it's hard to risk taking the unit apart (and possibly damaging it in the process). For premium products/price, the company needs to remove as much risk from the customer as possible (i.e. like maybe an exchange program, contact team, etc.). Just my $.02
I do IT for a living and it does not matter where I screwed up on a $1,000 laptop of a $10M datacenter. I get the rolled up newspaper so I'm used to getting 10,000 lashes with a wet noodle. Being a UA-camr requires thick skin also except you need tougue-fu instead of kung-fu! :-)
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ Cool! I'm IT too! We're used to fiddling with expensive equipment...but many customers are not. I think this more of a marketing issue for Weber. They priced/placed this grill as a premium product, but are not treating it as such (as one would expect). Imagine providing a SaaS or PaaS for a large business, but making the user install the patches. Yes, there is a patch (good!), but putting it on the user is not expected (for any premium service or product).
Soo Sifu: A great Sunday to you and the ohana, which includes Mr. Beans! Thank you for showing us that Weber is taking care of the issues and sending parts to update the grill! Hopefully, you will share the updated cookout with us and have Mr. Beans judge the results! Thank you for producing these videos! Best wishes to you and family, Sifu! Much 🧧to all! 🤙🥩🐶
I was so looking forward to getting a smoke fire... feels like it took for ever for them to land in the UK, unfortunately before they landed i watches numerous video from you guys about all the problem and people returning the etc. I ended up buying a Traeger instead that i have been delighted with. It has performed flawlessly. Such a shame as i am a true lover of all things weber and have the genesis, kettle, go anywhere and smokey mountain. Keep up the good work. Love to you from the UK
Harry, When I installed the new welded auger assembly, I just followed the instructions. When the screws bottomed out early like yours did, the instructions didn't make reference to that, so I decided to just screw harder, and they then fully seated just fine!
Yes, I found the same when I did my second EX6. I will post this tip on the video Description as it seems to be happening at least to your EX mod and my two EX mods.
Oh I wasn’t aware you were having problems with yours, the cooks looked awesome. Mine has been working flawless except for the pellets not sliding but, I polished the hopper and it works a lot better now. Hope everything works now for you and you can be like me and only be waiting for the app to get a lot better!
Thanks Harry for the 5 parts of videos. I think the issues with the SmokeFire are similar to other pellet grills and will be purchasing my own shortly. Continue to share the Barbecue Love😎
Hey Harry...I just replaced my auger motor because it failed. Been monitoring the new one and I've noticed something that may be creating an issue. When the shut down sequence is running the auger backs up for a period to remove pellets from the auger channel. Unfortunately, if pellets are still in the hopper the pellets backing up basically crush because they don't feed back into the hopper. After a while, crushed pellets basically gum up the auger and pellets don't feed normally afterward. Eventually they'll block the whole mechanism and cause the motor to fail. It's what happened to me. Wondering if others have experienced the same. I'll clean the auger more frequently now. I love the unit when it works. I've smoked and grilled some of the best meats I've ever cooked on the unit.
Sorry to hear. My unit is working fine. I did the chute and hopper insert for my subs. I would call Weber to tell them about your issues and ask for a fix.
Just a quick observation, I noticed on the new auger it appears to have more profound weld beads around the helix compared with the original old auger. Seems like it would be more stronger. Great vid Harry! I dig these types of assembly vids.
Thank you Harry for the video. About Weber, Bad point: They released the SF to early without proper testing. Good point: They are reacting quickly to support their customers with replacing parts.
Didn't look too bad, but it's already hitting 90 degrees in Florida right now. Better to do this in air conditioning, but the grill might be too messy for that.
Great video Harry. Looking forward to next cooking video. Glad Weber is sending out new parts but still surprised that after all their testing these issues weren’t discovered. How easy/difficult was it to get the parts? Do new SmokeFires include the upgraded parts? Stay safe.
I suspect Weber new this was a problem and shipped anyway. They probably found out about it as the product was being MFG. More than likely inventory was getting high on the old balance sheet and the financial people wanted needed to see some income. Additionally, Weber's response and timing of these fixes has been extremely quick , so they were already had the fixes in the works.
I bought a pellet cooker. A RecTec to be exact. I did research on cookers before I spent the $$. I would never buy one of Webber’s pellet grill just from all of the negative reviews. Buyers beware
Yes buy what you choose with your hard earned dollars. Don't buy things you don't want. I just buy and cook on what delivers Championship results. You should do same.
My 2 cents ,if you don't like don't buy ,if you bought it and don't like it because of the manufacturers mistakes call for new parts or take it back.i personally won't buy one because I love my GMG but I will buy another weber kettle grill or WSM. Don't rag on Harry for his choice and because he is a youtuber. Just my opinion
You didn't really show the installation of hopper insert but it looks like the new shelf on top and the steep new angle would cause a large void under the insert leading to a significant reduction in hopper capacity. Can you tell me what the new capacity and new burn time are?
22 lb OEM capacity reduced to 20 lb, I heard. Burn times depends on temp, brand, etc. A full load will do easy over 10 hours. Please see my Torture Tests Part 2 Weber SmokeFire Pt 1 - ua-cam.com/video/ALNnTwN2Kak/v-deo.html Weber SmokeFire Pt 2 - ua-cam.com/video/jsUri_VoKag/v-deo.html Cleaning SmokeFire Pt 3 - ua-cam.com/video/JckrX3YaNHg/v-deo.html Assembly SmokeFire Pt4 -ua-cam.com/video/gKgvZyB9lT0/v-deo.html New Parts SmokeFire Pt 5 - ua-cam.com/video/0hALlx43clY/v-deo.html Grease Fire v Grease Flareup - ua-cam.com/video/VALvHFhWpk4/v-deo.html SmokeFire Corned Beef Walmart - ua-cam.com/video/NSSIKicufJE/v-deo.html
Weber is a good brand. When they blame the customer for installing it wrong they're kind of right. When they send you new parts and they look different than the original thats not on the customer thats on weber. They could have given those customers a $25 gift card for having to take their old stuff out and put in the new replacement.
It's actually partly my fault for not screwing harder (that does not sound right!). I'm glad Weber saw the video and sent me the lock washers else my auger motor could have vibrated itself loose over time as I used the supplied lock washers as a spacer which I should not have done. When I installed the chute in my second EX6, I twisted harder and the 4 screws seated properly. I suspect their auger motor supplier did not "tap" the screw holes deep enough.
I haven’t been having any issues with my EX4 but the pellets not feeding quite right. As a result of this video, I called them and they are sending me a hopper slide but said they are not sending auger assemblies unless I can state that I’m having an issue. I’m curious if there are others like you who haven’t had issues but are being sent replacement parts unbidden.
My Gen-1 chute was fine. Since they sent the chute and hopper insert, I installed both because I know my viewers want to see such a video as it took about 55 mins for the chute swap and 5 min for the hopper insert.
Thank you for the information on the Weber update. I register my X6 on Feb 21, 2020 and never heard back from Weber on update issues or new parts to be sent. X6 is still in the box. Thank you. Tom C. Plano, TX
Mine was working so I won't know if these mods are effective. Best to consult with others in Group 3 who put in the mods to find out more. My 50 lb hog is thawing nicely and will be in my Gen-1 Rev-1 SmokeFire soon.
Not sure what Webber’s thoughts are on this but I would think the steeper chute should be sealed with caulk Or a gasket so the cavity it created underneath doesn’t fill with pellet dust and become damp/wet over time. Maybe they expect it to be taken out regularly for cleaning...
Mixed feelings here.... glad weber are trying to fix issues. but cant help feeling for people who brought a bbq and now have a complicated mechano/leggo set that i think the majority would struggle with... great to see your showing it as it is,,, for better or worse. cheers Harry.
Mine was working fine and when the parts show up. . .you know me, I can't resist playing with a new toy 😇 I figured I would help my subscribers who wanted to see how this 30 min disassembly and 30 min assembly job looked like.
I was up in the air over buying this Smokefire EX6 or the Rec Tec 700. This Weber looks to have more cooking area and a better sear, but may have more problems that I want to deal with. I am looking to smoke three packer briskets at once. Which should I choose?
Thanks for the video Harry. I have a EX4 not with out some minor issues. I was experiencing material bridging and flame outs. I removing the auger finger guard fixed the issue. I did call for the hopper ramp, problem solved. I had issues with the update on Friday. My SF is on my wifi so when I turned on my SF it automatically hits the wifi. The phone said updating, but got the swirly from hell. I deleted the wifi connection still wouldn't go. I ended up having to delete the app and pair again. Then it went through. IMO if you're SF is on your wifi delete the wifi connection before updating. At the moment I have a 15 pound organic turkey smoking away.
Good you solved the WiFi issues. I do IT for living with cloud apps, networks, servers, microwave, radios, laptops, software, etc. so the last thing I want to do is do IT when I smoke meats. I like the on/off knob. Simple!
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ I was a IBM hardware service technician (mini mainframe) for close to 30 years. Lol hardware tech excuse it's not hardware you have a software problem. 😁
It's always about the Pitmaster and never the Pit or Meat - Harry Soo Be sure to watch these videos when you have time Weber 14 - ua-cam.com/video/ur2Shg_5bE4/v-deo.html Tamale Pot Smokey Joe - ua-cam.com/video/HsxnNX6LXI4/v-deo.html virtualweberbullet.com/miniwsm.html
Thanks for including Mr Beans even though there isn't a cook in this video. I saw a comment on the last video about Lowe's possibly assembling the units incorrectly. I'm starting to think they are right. I'm going to stick with my Kettle 26 and SNS XL for now. Thanks for all the detail you put into this
Mine was working fine and I wanted to show my subs how to install one if there were having issues and wanted to put in the modified auger chute and hopper insert
Ok, so no dog-piling on...I've had my SmokeFire for 8 days now and have used it 5x. I've prepared Chicken Leg Quarters, Burgers, Pork Steaks, Baby Back Ribs and finally some Kreuz Original Smoked Sausage from Lockhart and I'm thrilled with my purchase so far! Its been a mostly brain-damage-free experience and has produced some amazing food. The only thing that's occasionally been a pain in the ass is an issue pairing the controller with the Webber Connect App on my phone. I don't actually use the App for grilling or smoking, but need it for firmware updates. I'll request the new Hopper Insert and Auger Chute, but don't see a need to install them just yet. Does it seem that Weber rolled this unit out without ample testing, absolutely!! Is the unit a fail? I don't think so, I love it and would buy it again. BUT check back with me in 90 days for an update!
Hey Ken, mine was working also. I did the chute and insert for my subscribers so they could see how the 55 min chute and 5 min hopper job would look like.
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ I LOVE smoking and grilling, BUT I don't really have time to screw around with setting up a smoker and then spend more time monitoring it over the course of smoking a Butt or Brisket to keep the temp constant and a new Weber Genesis Grill was going to cost me about $800 anyway. I got a great deal on my SmokeFire at $767 that both Smokes and Gills and have been firing it up nearly every other day. It will get used 2 - 3x a week so I consider it a great investment. Going to smoke some turkey legs tomorrow! My family is definitely appreciating the BBQ love! Keep posting!
I may have missed it but how long did these retrofits actually take and is Weber compensating owners monetarily for their time to fix their (Weber’s) design flaws? If your mechanical abilities are limited I guess your out of luck? Sounds likes mandatory recall time to me especially if any of these shortcomings are potential safety concerns.
About a 60 min job. Just the auger chute and hopper insert. Of course that's for someone comfortable with a screwdriver and wrench. Your mileage will vary. Hopefully Gen 2 builds will have these installed
Mine went from a rev d to a rev f but your replacement assemble looks different than mine. Mine still looks like the original. Wish I could have a do over.
Harry Soo I ordered the ex 6, but I am sure I’ll have to do the same upgrades. I ordered the pellet slide and will ask Weber about the other part. Thanks for sharing.
Harry, are the new units coming with all of the upgrades? I just watched your assembly video on your second unit you purchased and it didn't appear to have the adapter piece in the hopper to help the pellets slide down.
Nope I have two Gen-1 units. No issues as I am pretty handy with a screwdriver and I like mechanical stuff to do as I'm so bored with this quarantine. Be safe and stay healthy!
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ I love my Weber kettle and WSM more then my Traeger, I feel much more in control of the temperature! Also on the kettle I can have direct and indirect heat! Thanks for all your great videos!❤
Hey Harry, I just had my Smokefire delivered today and I'm reviewing your videos. Why did you request a new auger/auger shoot? I called Weber to request a Hopper insert and auger assembly prior to putting the grill together. The customer service rep couldn't send me the auger assembly unless I was actually having an issue but Weber did send me the pellet hopper insert. And, I'm happy to report that Weber also will be sending me a complimentary 20 lb page of Hickory pellets at no cost!
Just as an FYI, of all things to have issues with, I can't get my phone to pair properly with the grill to do a system update. I'll be on the phone again tomorrow trying to resolve the issue with Weber. Due to issues with Covid 19 the Weber techs apparently are working from home and don't have access to some of their "tools" that they would normally be able to access if they were in the office.
Good video on the replacement part"s, You should do a video on different types of pellets, I did it just to see what type of wood pellets i would use, I like lumberjack pellets. tried 4 different type's and to me this was the best. Keep up the great videos.
Why not remove that wire finger guard that goes over the auger hole? I have seen many videos of the pellets bridging over that wire that is screwed on over that hole....just curious.....Also my hats off to you....putting that much effort into making a $1,200 pellet grill work the way it was supposed to.......I wouldn't be willing to be a free beta tester like that at such a premium price point....
Had no issues with mine and installed the parts sent to registered owners like I just took my Honda minivan to get new parts. Did not know you had to remove the guard. I just put everything back per the instructions manual said to do. About a 60 min job.
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ Curious......have they been fast to release app updates and firmware updates? I am assuming you are avoiding the grease fires by using pans underneath long slow cooks? I wanted one of these pre-release but have waiting to see how it evolves given the negative feedback so many have given. I am glad to see that at least one person is getting good results!
Just wondering, the issue with the bolts being to long. Can the small square plate that was originally on it be used as a spacer or does it interfere with the other bolt holes? Thanks
I applaud Weber for standing behind the product...assuming the new parts were sent at no cost to the registered owners. Not sure if you were critical of the lack of proper fasteners in the kit or if the written guidance mentioned using washers. I get the impression neither was the case here.
Can't go wrong with the WSM-18. I've won 100+ first places with it. www.slapyodaddybbq.com/contests/awards/ Here are more videos on how to set up your WSM Setup WSM - ua-cam.com/video/dOctn85Y-nk/v-deo.html Clean up WSM - ua-cam.com/video/E7FWJFvare0/v-deo.html
Love, love Mr. Beans! So I was very interested in the Smoke fire, but was worried about all the bad hype so bought a RECTEC 700 Bull. Love it. Hope this factory upgrade fixes the Weber, you bought 2, right? Keep up the fantastic videos Harry. Always looking forward to the next one.
What Revision is your new auger? The one that came with my EX6 was a Rev F, and they sent me another Rev F as a replacement part. It was not like the one you got, and was identical to the one you replaced.
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ not so to your soon to be 100k subscribers. You have given many of us the confidence to cook new things. BBQ is a sharing event, unfortunately because of covid19 we cant cook large quantities like a brisket or beef rib rack. Someday when you get up to san jose i'll take you out clamming for horseneck and geoducks.
Hello Harry! I own a SF EX6 and I absolutely LOVE this thing. I've just completed my 4th overnight cook, this time a brisket for 20hrs and it turned out fantastic. From someone who isn't really having problems like some others, do you recommend contacting weber to get the auger replacement? I don't forsee wanting the hopper ramp, mine easily runs 9-10hrs without any sort of intervention on my part, but if the auger replacement is to address potential jamming, or reliability concerns, maybe I should replace mine? Did you contact weber to order the parts?
I’m a big fan of your vids and recipes. I had high hopes for the Weber pellet grill. I have a WSM and a Weber grill. Love those two. Do you know when they are incorporating these changes into the production units? I’m like you, I want the convenience and ease of pellet grills but don’t want to spend an hour replacing parts. Keep up the good work!
Wait for Gen-2 or get Gen-1 and spend 55 mins to swap auger chute and 5 min pellet hopper insert. My Gen-1 worked fine and I did the video for my subscribers. I won't know whether they work or not. My 50 lb how is thawing nicely and going into the EX6
Another good reason to avoid the purchase of a pellet smoker. Charcoal or wood is the name of game. No need for sophisticated artificial smokers. All da best
I'm doing a road trip to LoneStar Grillz probably this week. For 1200 bucks, that Weber should be perfect. Researched a bunch of pellet smokers over the past few weeks. The onlt one I got my hands on that felt solid was the Yoder. Give me a stick burner. No moving parts.
Very interesting Harry, it’s good to see that Weber is making modifications to the SmokeFire. That’s a fair amount of work to install. Are you just testing or are they sending to anyone having issues? As always awesome video and thanks for sharing!
Hi Harry. Fellow IT guy here. Do you have any idea when these changes will be incorporated into the production models that are in the retail channels? I'm looking forward to owning one of these once these kinks are worked out.
Do you know if the new stock is being shipped has the modified parts? I would assume so. Harry you could use a small 1/4 in socket drive set or some nut drivers. Using the Fonzie wrench in tight spaces is a PITA. Did you have to send the old parts back to Weber? This video is just one of many reasons I return to your channel.
A $299 against a $1,200? Worth it? Prefer which? Neither is my honest answer. Too much obsession over gear of what to buy instead of going out and cooking with what you already have. Remember, it's always about the Pitmaster and never the Pit or Meat - Harry Soo
I like to challenge my self is all. I have a 26in kettle and 18 and a 22 that is for pizzas. I can be pressed for time some times especially when I'm off of work late. Most of my cooking is done outside just cuz I live in San Diego and the weather is nice 95% of the time. I have a smaller pellet smoker but sometimes run out of room.
Not sure if you saw my cooks on the EX and how great the food was in various Torture Tests. Weber sent parts to registered owners so I installed them and shared my experience
Pure Bush league! What a fail. No one should have to go to those lengths to replace parts on such an expensive grill! They should offer a refund or replacement.
If you bought one, go get a refund. If you didn't, then you don't know. I don't work for Weber and mine works. ua-cam.com/video/jsUri_VoKagS/v-deo.htmlee
I haven’t bought yet. When I saw original reviews before the launch I was getting major FOMO but I’m glad I’ve held off so far. Especially after hearing that Webber took what wasn’t working from all the cookers that have been around for many years and made there’s better. I feel it should’ve been revolutionary in ways but apparently not yet. Harry, is Webber making permanent changes with future units or are they just sending updated replacement parts?
I suspect all the Gen-2 units will have the new auger chute and hopper insert. I just did a 48 lb mini whole hog yesterday on my EX6 (with the new chute) and it was super gorgeous (see my FB post)
I'll be honest now that I have figured out how to work around the short comings I have throughly enjoyed mine with that said it was a big let down at first and if I could have returned mine I would have and just done without my first smoker but since I couldnt and really wanted to start fulfilling a long time dream I pushed through and found ways to work around the short comings and have used it twice a week and have really enjoyed being able to create bbq loves as harry would put it. but I did ruin a brisket and a prime rib. If I had a choice though I would trade it for a myron mixon h20 cooker 🙂😜
now all I need to do is find a ggod bbq team to learn more under any suggestions for someone in Jacksonville fl region I do have alot of experiance cooking whole hogs nc way
Hi Harry! I'm a new subscriber to your channel and really enjoy your content. I just finished watching your 4 part series on the Weber Smokefire and found it very helpful. I love, love, love Weber and I'm on my second Genesis in 22 yrs.! I was very exited when Weber entered the pellet grill market, but was quickly disillusioned after seeing so many bad reviews. A few weeks ago , Ace Hardware had them on sale for $200 off! I wish I would have found you sooner and read your in depth review and taken advantage of the sale. All that being said, I have two questions for you. First, did exchanging the parts on your Weber make a significant difference in the way it performs? Second, I know your a fan of GMG which is also high on my list. If you were me, and wanting to get in to pellet grilling, would you get the Jim Bowie, Smokfeire or something else? Back to watching your videos! Thanks!
Mine were working (I have two EX6) and I swapped the parts to show my viewers how it is done. You're asking me which child I like best and I love them equally my JB and EX. Remember, it's the Pitmaster that makes the difference, and not the Pit. You can cook championship BBQ with a shovel, hole in the ground, chicken wire, and wood
My ex6 would get to temp above 350 last night and reported flame out and then shutdown. This happens twice. During it shutdown cycle I heard grinding and squealing from the auger. Just spoke with Weber this morning. They are sending me the auger and chute assembly . I was asked what brand pellets I was using. (Mine happens to be pitboss hickory) they strongly suggest I stick with Weber pellets. What type of pellets are you running? And thanks for this vid. I don’t mind doing the field modifications as I want this to be a great product and I like technical stuff.
Hey Gus, been using GMG Gold Blend for 12+ years. My EX was OK and I did the mod to show my subs that it takes about 60 minutes. You may have a faulty unit. Try the new Auger Chute (Part 69374), Hopper Insert (69230), Plate (69377), and Firmware Update 1.2_1394. Let me know if this fixes your issue as I am curious. Email me harsoo@yahoo.com
I have used Weber, B&B and lumberjack. I only had problems with B&B, the lumberjack is less than half the price of weber and I've had 0 issues with that brand. Based on Harry's suggestion I'm going to try the GMG gold, but I wanted to let you know about lumberjack pellets, they're working great in my SF
@ HarrySoo, I own the same smoke fire I live in Utah which means end of March is still pretty cold, so I was doing stakes for dinner last night and my grill took over 45min to reach temp, but I was trying to get to 600 and could not achieve that goal the highest it reached was 450/425 would not surpass that and it was about 42/43 degrees outside so those parts that they are shipping out to us owners, are they to fix those types of issues on this grill... I’m still optimistic on if I want to keep it or go with another brand? Please get back to me and inform as to what u think would help. Thanks
Did you get the software update that came out the past couple of weeks? I heard it was to address some issues users have reported. Perhaps the software update will help you. Give it a go. Takes about 15 minutes. My EX6 updated on Fri. I have a whole hog cook coming after after these new parts.
Harry Soo, Ill be sure to watch for that video on the hole hog cook see how it works out with the new parts but, yes my software is updated as far as I know, I’ll look back into that and see. I sure if I receive the new parts I’ll try them out if that’s the issue I’m hoping it will address, I’m a huge Weber fan and own a Genesis gas grill so I’m hoping to see improvement, but first I’ll look into seeing my software is good to go.. thank you for for your helpfulness and time..
I haven't changed anything on my SmokeFire and it's running great. 🤞 If the motor is the same why change out the auger? Was it mainly for the different auger chute? Keep up the great work Harry.
Mine is working also but parts came so you know me always itching to tinker with new toys. The augers chute was the main part that was s was swapped out. Augers is visually identical. Took about 1 hour to install
I wonder how long it will be for those new components to be in the grills at retail stores. Very interested in seeing if those replacement parts fix the issues in your upcoming videos.
Ask Weber when Gen-2 will hit the market. I have Gen-1 and need 60 mins to retrofit even though my unit is working. I won't be able to tell if they are working as my EX was working before. Best to watch some other UA-camr's channel who had issues and put in the fix. I installed it to show how it's done for my subscribers.
Mine was working fine. I did the chute swap (55 min) and hopper insert (5 min) for you subscribers to show them how. The new chute is glassy smooth powder coated enamel.
Harry is such a great guy. Super honest and real. Not overly dramatic. Just a real guy cooking real food, and sharing all of his knowledge. He has every right to have a huge ego, but he just comes across super genuine and authentic. Very inspirational person!
Thanks for your support and kind words. I just like to cook and share some great food. Too much emphasis over equipment and thinking that equipment creates great BBQ. NO SUCH THING!
It's always about the Pitmaster and never the Pit or Meat - Harry Soo
I'm glad you gave Weber a chance to correct the issues with the Smokefire. Some on UA-cam were so quick to return the grill. I really liked the Smokefire after seeing your video from the launch in Chicago. After seeing other videos my opinion began to change. You seemed happy the entire time and felt it was worth learning how this product functions. I'm sure the next generation Smokefire will ROCK! Thanks and keep up the good work!
I'm getting too old and lazy to keep fussing with manual grills when the EX produces championship grub! :-) The romantic charm of throwing a log into the stickburner every 40 mins all day and night long no longer appeals to me. I need an assistant who will work for free!
Further proof to never be an early adopter. This extra work is crazy.
this has been my experience in most things.
About an hour. Hopefully Gen 2 builds will have the auger chute amd hopper insert. Yes I was one of the first to buy the EX6. Cooks fantastic food as food as my WSM
Harry Soo my WSM has NEVER let me down. I won’t be waiting for version 2 as I just went ahead and got an RT 700. Love all that you do Harry. You really help me take my mind off the worries of the world. You ROCK.
I agree! I always wait for at least a year for everyone else to find and work out the bugs. lol. I rarely take a chance on 1st gen stuff.
Hi Harry, thanks for the video. I'm glad that I didn't see the comments before I made my purchase on Tuesday.
After taking my time to do a careful assembly and updating the firmware, I fired it up that night in order to season the grill. I'm happy to report that everything worked as designed. It reached 600 degrees F within 25 minutes and maintained that temperature for 40 minutes. The shutdown sequence took a little longer. Last night, it was time to cook, so I had selected and seasoned the choice grade preferred try-tip the night before (Harry Soo style) and fired up the SF. After it reached temperature, I put the trip-tip on the grill and completed the cook ~1 hour later. After charing, saucing and letting it rest, the results were very close to my Weber Smokey Mountain (3) grills that I've used for over nine years.
Based on my experience so far with the SF, I am giving it a thumbs up because it worked for me as advertised (even without the latest upgrades). I'll keep cooking with it and I'll provide an update if I change my mind.
-Rick
SmokeFire EX4
Hey Rick, welcome to Group 1 owners group!
ua-cam.com/video/jsUri_VoKag/v-deo.html
Thanks, Harry. I have been watching your videos since I picked up a Gen2 Smokefire EX6. So far have done Kabobs, 2 sets of ribs (1 w/ 3, 1 w/ 4) and smoked hamburgers. So far, the Smokefire has had no problems, and works great for me. The only modification I made was to move the head shield over to the right about 2cm to make the fire even out a bit more. It's been great for me. Keeper.
Great to hear!
I am so grateful to that little voice in me that prompted me to cancel my pre-order before the fertilizer hit the fan. I don't know what you are getting for going through all of this but I hope they make it worth your while! It seems like the best case is that you end up with a grill that maybe cooks ok, but still blows ash all over and now holds LESS than 20 pounds of pellets; and you pay a semi-premium price for it. Weber's credibility is forever damaged by this. Not being the first ones to the market they had every opportunity to take their time and do a quality job but they didn't. My theory is that Weber was so giddy about getting 600 degrees out of a pellet grill that they didn't do full lifecycle testing and now they are paying the price for it. I would have loved to have been a 'fly on the wall' in Weber's conference room as they started dealing with this and fired the project manager!
I don't get paid and I bought the EX6 with my own cash. Not sure why you say it blows ash as I've not seen nor tasted ash on my food. Please see my Group 1 to 4 description in my Part 2 video ua-cam.com/video/jsUri_VoKag/v-deo.html to see if you are a Group 2 or Group 4 person. Don't fuss or obsess over gear and go out and cook.
I must say that I agree with the general opinion that it's way to much to deal with. BBQing, (is that a word)? Shouldn't be that complicated. I pass, but thanks Harry for all your efforts. Great video... as usual.
It's always about the Pitmaster and never the Pit or Meat - Harry Soo
Who in their right minds would buy any type of large appliance like this, dishwasher, stand mixer, freezer, etc, and think it's okay for the company to ship you replacement parts of this detail and have you repair the problem yourself? I think some people think it's okay because it's a grill, and probably mostly handy guys fixing this stuff, but honestly this is just way too much repair work for a new product. They should have sent out technicians to do the repairs, or recalled them all together.
Darin Meadows Well said my friend!
Only folks who are excited and took the risk with a Gen-1 product because they own other gear from that manufacturer that has been around for 60 years and will likely be around as it is not a the flavor-of-the-month company. My EX6 is working and I installed the chute and hopper insert for my subscribers in Group 1 and Group 3. To find your classification, please refer to my grouping in this video - ua-cam.com/video/jsUri_VoKag/v-deo.html
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ You know what Harry. I'm a grown man. I don't think I need to watch more of your videos to find out what "classification" you might think I am. The shit don't work, and they should have someone fix it or recall it.
Hey Harry, thanks for sharing. You obviously have an engineering streak in you! I appreciate Weber seeking an immediate solution to a problem, yet it seems as though there could have been a bit more thoughtfulness (screw depth). I hope though, these adaptations make the WSF usable and enjoyable for you and other owners. I think BBQ is meant to relieve stress not cause it; and those of us who have a pellet grill are typically looking for ultra convenience and stress free grilling. FYI: I use both the WSM and Traeger 850. When I want heavy smoke flavor I break out the WSM - super job! If I want convenience with a hint of smoke flavor - it goes on the ever reliable Traeger. Keep posting Harry. We enjoy learning from you experience. Blessings! Matt
Hey Matt, as I always say it's always the pitmaster and never the pit. I think we spend too much time analyzing and obsessing of the pros and cons of different smokers and not enough time cooking. A good pitmaster should be able to use a shovel, chicken wire, and some meat to product good BBQ. I'll do some caveman BBQ videos coming soon.
Nooooooo wayyyyy!!!! I shouldn't have to be an engineer to own your product Weber
I would guess that the new builds have these parts I bought them when they were first released.
Why? You have to put it together when you order it
Thank you Harry for your objective review of the SmokeFire pellet grill. Your innocent comment that “Weber has a problem” is very true on so many levels. Again, thank you for the coverage of this pellet grill.
As long as I get championship results from a piece of equipment and the manufacturer will stand behind it for 60 years past and for 20 more years (I'll be dead) I'm OK! :-)
Buy Gen-1 SmokeFires if you don't want the hassle of the 60 min job. My EX was working but I did the video for you because I love my subscribers
Good for Weber for making the jump into the pellet grill market, it’s amazing how critical pellet grillers are of their equipment. I just bought an EX4 and am looking forward to many great cooks on it, it’s “flaws” (quirks) are no different than running a charcoal pit. Learn to make it sing and enjoy the ride.
Some folks like the charm of an old MG where the lights go out when the wipers are turned on. Others want to cook a brisket using their phone and complain when their pellet cooker cannot do that. I just want to cook championship food the cheap and lazy way! I'm getting too old and lazy to run a pit all night long as sleep is more important. A pellet cooker (I have two Jim Bowies and two EX6) matches my cooking style!
Harry Soo I’m glad to see you making videos about how to make good BBQ with the new Weber Smokefire, rather than whine and complain about specific quirks. I don’t think any one pit has all of the answers, for me I’ve said for years I won’t get into pellet grills until Weber makes one, I think they did it right and it’s only going to get better.
I was shopping and researching extensively for my first pellet grill and narrowed it down to the Weber or the Rec Tec 700. Decided on the Rec Tec. Thank you Harry for confirming I made the right decision.
Good luck!
It's always about the Pitmaster and never the Pit or Meat - Harry Soo
It is great that Webber attempted to take care of their customers problems with upgraded parts at no charge to the user. This process may be too complicated for most users through and hopefully they offered free technician services for those that are unable to do this on their own.
Good points. I think they do
Thanks for the update! And that why I don't like buying something when it first comes out... I like to wait to see they got all the bugs out! Can't wait to see how it does now that you have made the upgrades!........ Thanks for sharing!
Like the Microsoft products that I deploy at work? No .. . . that can't be true? :-)
I have to wonder if everyone has discovered this problem so quickly , how long did Weber really test for?
In my Part 2 video, I described the groups that had no issues and the group that had issues. These modes are for the second group
I don’t understand? Lead dog Kevin Kolman at Weber clearly stated those having issues just didn’t assemble it correctly. Now, they’re sending parts (there will be more), expecting their customers of the new $1000+ appliance to perform the fixes themselves. As a Weber customer and fan of 30 years and six other backyard appliances, I’m beyond disappointed. Thankfully, they took back my EX6, and I’ve moved on, but this is sitting very poorly with me. Weber blew it, and passing the blame to their loyal customer base, old and new, is appalling.
You are right to exercise your choice with your money. I have a whole hog video coming on my EX6. Some folks like the EX. I bought a second because of how well my final product looks and and tastes like my WSM which I have used to win 100+ first places. I'm getting old and lazy so one button on/off cooking is more my style nowadays! 😇
Harry Soo That’s great, and you exercise your choice to tolerate issues that don’t exist on other pellet grills. Fans of Weber, who are new to the pellet grill game, need to know these issues are not normal. Also, kind of hard to set and forget with a unit that stops feeding pellets.
@@clawdawg7248 you are kidding yourself if you think other pellet grills don't have their share of issues. I've owned a few and the ALL have their issues and flaws. The good companies work those flaws out and get the updates out to the customers. I don't own a Weber, but seeing how they are dealing with it in such short order, they are high on my list for my next pellet grill purchase.
ExploreCasper Weber was my 4th pellet grill. Most pellet grill issues are around maintenance, temp control and long term reliability, nothing to do with day-to-day functionality. If you think otherwise, you are the one kidding yourself. I don’t take issue with Weber attempting to resolve the issues; I do take issue with their marketing running counter to the actual product. To your point, I’m done being nickel and dimed and bought a MAK.
@@keithdavis9476 Thanks! It's so well built, with a precision controller, I can't imagine anything cropping up for some time.
I'm glad to see Weber is fixing issues with this. I will be in the market for something next year so hoping they work out all bugs. Started smoking with a electric smoker and also own a knock off kettle and a gas grill. Looking to take the next step down the rabbit hole of equipment to up my game a bit. Debating between a pellet grill or a gravity fed smoker like the Masterbuilt 1050. Both have issues and hoping they are worked out by next year to help this newish wannabe BBQ pit master (me) make my decision. Really appreciate the video, thanks!
Don't suffer from GAS. Just cook on what you have and love what you cook. Too many folks are paralyzed and can't cook suffering from Gear Acquisition Syndrome aka GAS.
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ Thanks for the reply. Been cooking on the same equipment for the past 14 years which is when I got sober. Since then, cooking has been a source of relaxation. Outdoor cooking is the most relaxing. The knockoff kettle was good but after 8 years, it has seen its last bbq (RIP). I think I got my $45 dollars out of it (garage sale special). For the next few months, I will be doing a bunch of research to find something that will be the right fit for me. I don't take this lightly as I will probably be using the next item for years to come. Not really looking to have a garage full of items, just one to help me expand a bit while keeping it fresh.
Thank you for the videos, Harry. I just got my EX6 from Lowes this weekend and burn-in and first cook of beer can chicken went without a hitch. Working from home will allow me to BBQ during the week - trying to focus on the positive. Stay safe and BBQ daily!
Stay Home. Stay Alive. Cook BBQ! :-)
Thanks for the video on this, very useful for the people who bought one of these. Me, after seeing how Weber has responded to all this I'm going to choose a different pellet grill.
Pick what works for you Steve as its your hard earned money.
I had high hopes for this smoker but it seems that Weber just keeps crapping the bed with this. They didn’t seem to do any testing before launch and now when they send out replacement parts they haven’t even had an internal person do the update to see that the screws were wrong. What a shit show!
They should just recall of these units and provide refunds and put out a V2 when they finally get it right. I appreciate your loyalty to the product and showing what Weber is doing but I would have sent mine back by now.
Yes you are in Group 4 (see my Part 2 video). I made the video for Group 1 and 3 audiences.
Wow that looks very complex. Thank you for the great step by step tutorial. Hopefully the new parts work better than the old ones!
Be safe and stay healthy!
Auger chute swap about 55 mins. Hopper insert about 5 mins. If you are not a DIY person, figure 10 hours! :-)
Sitting here, watching my Rec Tec holding 225 F solid as a rock and decided to watch UA-cam for some fun. Smoking a couple of chickens. This video is real interesting... really glad I am not rebuilding my new Weber today! You have the patience of a saint Mr. Soo!!
I am preping to cook a 50 lb whole hog on my EX. Can't wait. After that I'm doing seared tenderloin at 600F! Does your unit also grill?
It does!! Grill grates do a great job with grill marks or flip them and do a full sear. All else fails, pull out the torch and torch 'em! Did I mention I used your chicken rub on one of the chickens? It was a HUGE hit!
Thank you for continuing to update the SF. And you bought a second one. That's saying something. But let's face it some folks are going to preach hatred no matter what Webber does. Personally I feel bad for those folks and hope someday they find joy in their lives. In the mean time I'm glad you have some distractions to keep you occupied Harry. Looking forward to seeing your review of the modification AND seeing that whole hog cook.😃👍🔥🔥🔥
Waiting for the hog to thaw.. Been 48 hours already still hard.
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ I didn't know that they freeze hogs. I know how to thaw a Turkey. How do you thaw a pig.Yup,this is going to be fun.🐷🐖🐷🐖🐷
Thankyou for the video Harry, but Weber should've never released this grill this soon. As many problems they're having with this pellet grill, im shocked they expect the customer to fix there screw up vs making it right and sending out a technician to fix the problem. Hopefully the problem is solved.
My EX6 Gen 1 was working. Hopefully Gen 2 has the hopper insert and new auger chute. Took about 1 hour
I could not hit 600 and had a few flame outs so I contacted Weber about it. They sent me a new auger assembly but it was not the one you just showed in your video. It is still the same looking two part piece with that gray seal. The motor part did show to be a higher revision though. I much rather prefer the auger shoot they sent you since its completely welded with no seal. I doubt they will just reach out on their own I will just have to wait for this one to fail again before I can get another replacement.
Sorry to hear of your issues Ryan. Hope the two-part chute works. My EX was working but I did the chute (55 min) and insert (5 min) to show my subscribers how it's done.
Great vid! As an DIY/tinkerer myself, this is interesting/fun stuff. I do understand, however, many of the customers frustration. I think it all stems from Webers premium price point. At maybe the $300-$500 range, exchanging parts/upgrading yourself is all good. At the $1000+ range, it's hard to risk taking the unit apart (and possibly damaging it in the process). For premium products/price, the company needs to remove as much risk from the customer as possible (i.e. like maybe an exchange program, contact team, etc.). Just my $.02
I do IT for a living and it does not matter where I screwed up on a $1,000 laptop of a $10M datacenter. I get the rolled up newspaper so I'm used to getting 10,000 lashes with a wet noodle. Being a UA-camr requires thick skin also except you need tougue-fu instead of kung-fu! :-)
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ Cool! I'm IT too! We're used to fiddling with expensive equipment...but many customers are not. I think this more of a marketing issue for Weber. They priced/placed this grill as a premium product, but are not treating it as such (as one would expect). Imagine providing a SaaS or PaaS for a large business, but making the user install the patches. Yes, there is a patch (good!), but putting it on the user is not expected (for any premium service or product).
Soo Sifu: A great Sunday to you and the ohana, which includes Mr. Beans! Thank you for showing us that Weber is taking care of the issues and sending parts to update the grill! Hopefully, you will share the updated cookout with us and have Mr. Beans judge the results! Thank you for producing these videos! Best wishes to you and family, Sifu! Much 🧧to all! 🤙🥩🐶
Mahalo Bill. Am waiting for the 50lb hog to thaw so I can get it on the EX6!
Harry Soo Sifu: This will be a great video! Looking forward to seeing the results and Mr Bean’s tasting opinions! Best wishes for a great cookout! 🤙🐶🥓
I was so looking forward to getting a smoke fire... feels like it took for ever for them to land in the UK, unfortunately before they landed i watches numerous video from you guys about all the problem and people returning the etc. I ended up buying a Traeger instead that i have been delighted with. It has performed flawlessly. Such a shame as i am a true lover of all things weber and have the genesis, kettle, go anywhere and smokey mountain.
Keep up the good work. Love to you from the UK
Love back at you. Stay safe and stay at home
Harry,
When I installed the new welded auger assembly, I just followed the instructions. When the screws bottomed out early like yours did, the instructions didn't make reference to that, so I decided to just screw harder, and they then fully seated just fine!
Yes, I found the same when I did my second EX6. I will post this tip on the video Description as it seems to be happening at least to your EX mod and my two EX mods.
Oh I wasn’t aware you were having problems with yours, the cooks looked awesome. Mine has been working flawless except for the pellets not sliding but, I polished the hopper and it works a lot better now. Hope everything works now for you and you can be like me and only be waiting for the app to get a lot better!
My Gen 1 was working fine. The mods showed up so I installed them to show how it's done. About 60 min job. My EX cooks fantastic
Thanks Harry for the 5 parts of videos. I think the issues with the SmokeFire are similar to other pellet grills and will be purchasing my own shortly. Continue to share the Barbecue Love😎
Thanks for watching Ricky
Hey Harry...I just replaced my auger motor because it failed. Been monitoring the new one and I've noticed something that may be creating an issue. When the shut down sequence is running the auger backs up for a period to remove pellets from the auger channel. Unfortunately, if pellets are still in the hopper the pellets backing up basically crush because they don't feed back into the hopper. After a while, crushed pellets basically gum up the auger and pellets don't feed normally afterward. Eventually they'll block the whole mechanism and cause the motor to fail. It's what happened to me. Wondering if others have experienced the same. I'll clean the auger more frequently now. I love the unit when it works. I've smoked and grilled some of the best meats I've ever cooked on the unit.
Sorry to hear. My unit is working fine. I did the chute and hopper insert for my subs. I would call Weber to tell them about your issues and ask for a fix.
Just a quick observation, I noticed on the new auger it appears to have more profound weld beads around the helix compared with the original old auger. Seems like it would be more stronger. Great vid Harry! I dig these types of assembly vids.
Looked 100% identical visually to me
Awesome video! I don't own a smokefire yet, so this is all good. And agree, mechanical fiddling and exploration is fun.
Welcome Jim from Group 2! ua-cam.com/video/jsUri_VoKag/v-deo.html
Thank you Harry for the video.
About Weber,
Bad point: They released the SF to early without proper testing.
Good point: They are reacting quickly to support their customers with replacing parts.
I think they plan to be around for a long time and are listening and taking care of customers whether the customer has issues or not
That's at least 2-3hrs of free work to potentially fix their issues, ain't nobody got time for that...
About 60 min to install auger chute
Didn't look too bad, but it's already hitting 90 degrees in Florida right now. Better to do this in air conditioning, but the grill might be too messy for that.
Great video Harry. Looking forward to next cooking video. Glad Weber is sending out new parts but still surprised that after all their testing these issues weren’t discovered. How easy/difficult was it to get the parts? Do new SmokeFires include the upgraded parts? Stay safe.
I suspect Weber new this was a problem and shipped anyway. They probably found out about it as the product was being MFG. More than likely inventory was getting high on the old balance sheet and the financial people wanted needed to see some income. Additionally, Weber's response and timing of these fixes has been extremely quick , so they were already had the fixes in the works.
I estimate about 5 min to read manuals, disassembly 30 mins, assembly 30 mins.
I bought a pellet cooker. A RecTec to be exact. I did research on cookers before I spent the $$. I would never buy one of Webber’s pellet grill just from all of the negative reviews. Buyers beware
Yes buy what you choose with your hard earned dollars. Don't buy things you don't want. I just buy and cook on what delivers Championship results. You should do same.
My 2 cents ,if you don't like don't buy ,if you bought it and don't like it because of the manufacturers mistakes call for new parts or take it back.i personally won't buy one because I love my GMG but I will buy another weber kettle grill or WSM. Don't rag on Harry for his choice and because he is a youtuber. Just my opinion
Thanks Rich for saying it as it is. I have two Jim Bowies and two SmokeFires. Love all my four pellet cookers. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ GMG VS WEBER SF hell yeah
Seems easy enough and the new hopper looks more sturdy.
Took 55 mins auger chute swap and 5 min for hopper.
You didn't really show the installation of hopper insert but it looks like the new shelf on top and the steep new angle would cause a large void under the insert leading to a significant reduction in hopper capacity. Can you tell me what the new capacity and new burn time are?
22 lb OEM capacity reduced to 20 lb, I heard. Burn times depends on temp, brand, etc. A full load will do easy over 10 hours. Please see my Torture Tests Part 2
Weber SmokeFire Pt 1 - ua-cam.com/video/ALNnTwN2Kak/v-deo.html
Weber SmokeFire Pt 2 - ua-cam.com/video/jsUri_VoKag/v-deo.html
Cleaning SmokeFire Pt 3 - ua-cam.com/video/JckrX3YaNHg/v-deo.html
Assembly SmokeFire Pt4 -ua-cam.com/video/gKgvZyB9lT0/v-deo.html
New Parts SmokeFire Pt 5 - ua-cam.com/video/0hALlx43clY/v-deo.html
Grease Fire v Grease Flareup - ua-cam.com/video/VALvHFhWpk4/v-deo.html
SmokeFire Corned Beef Walmart - ua-cam.com/video/NSSIKicufJE/v-deo.html
Thanks for the videos Harry - GREAT info. I am looking for a smoker and it is great to see what is going on with the Smokefire. Thanks again!
Welcome Miguel. Be sure to watch all the parts
Weber SmokeFire Pt 1 - ua-cam.com/video/ALNnTwN2Kak/v-deo.html
Weber SmokeFire Pt 2 - ua-cam.com/video/jsUri_VoKag/v-deo.html
Cleaning SmokeFire Pt 3 - ua-cam.com/video/JckrX3YaNHg/v-deo.html
Assembly SmokeFire Pt4 -ua-cam.com/video/gKgvZyB9lT0/v-deo.html
New Parts SmokeFire Pt 5 - ua-cam.com/video/0hALlx43clY/v-deo.html
Grease Fire v Grease Flareup - ua-cam.com/video/VALvHFhWpk4/v-deo.html
SmokeFire Corned Beef Walmart - ua-cam.com/video/NSSIKicufJE/v-deo.html
Weber is a good brand. When they blame the customer for installing it wrong they're kind of right. When they send you new parts and they look different than the original thats not on the customer thats on weber. They could have given those customers a $25 gift card for having to take their old stuff out and put in the new replacement.
It's actually partly my fault for not screwing harder (that does not sound right!).
I'm glad Weber saw the video and sent me the lock washers else my auger motor could have vibrated itself loose over time as I used the supplied lock washers as a spacer which I should not have done. When I installed the chute in my second EX6, I twisted harder and the 4 screws seated properly. I suspect their auger motor supplier did not "tap" the screw holes deep enough.
I haven’t been having any issues with my EX4 but the pellets not feeding quite right. As a result of this video, I called them and they are sending me a hopper slide but said they are not sending auger assemblies unless I can state that I’m having an issue. I’m curious if there are others like you who haven’t had issues but are being sent replacement parts unbidden.
My Gen-1 chute was fine. Since they sent the chute and hopper insert, I installed both because I know my viewers want to see such a video as it took about 55 mins for the chute swap and 5 min for the hopper insert.
Thank you for the information on the Weber update. I register my X6 on Feb 21, 2020 and never heard back from Weber on update issues or new parts to be sent. X6 is still in the box. Thank you. Tom C. Plano, TX
I would ask Weber if your build already has these new parts. I suspect they are going to folks like me who bought it as soon as it was released
Are they sending these parts to everyone who bought one or just to UA-camrs to avoid bad videos?
Eric Padgett everyone
Or I was wondering if maybe the UA-camrs received preproduction units or something
do you have to contact them
I requested and Weber sent me the hopper ramp insert, not sure what the auger shoot is addressing, as I did not receive one of those.
Registered owners
Seems like Weber is addressing some of those issues that others have been having with the SmokeFire... Good for them..
Mine was working so I won't know if these mods are effective. Best to consult with others in Group 3 who put in the mods to find out more. My 50 lb hog is thawing nicely and will be in my Gen-1 Rev-1 SmokeFire soon.
Not sure what Webber’s thoughts are on this but I would think the steeper chute should be sealed with caulk Or a gasket so the cavity it created underneath doesn’t fill with pellet dust and become damp/wet over time. Maybe they expect it to be taken out regularly for cleaning...
If you mean the pellet hopper insert you are right. I suspect Gen 2 builds will have these two mods. I bought Gen 1 as soon as it was released
Yes hopper insert, sorry I definitely should have been clearer with my wording.
Mixed feelings here.... glad weber are trying to fix issues. but cant help feeling for people who brought a bbq and now have a complicated mechano/leggo set that i think the majority would struggle with... great to see your showing it as it is,,, for better or worse. cheers Harry.
Mine was working fine and when the parts show up. . .you know me, I can't resist playing with a new toy 😇
I figured I would help my subscribers who wanted to see how this 30 min disassembly and 30 min assembly job looked like.
I was up in the air over buying this Smokefire EX6 or the Rec Tec 700. This Weber looks to have more cooking area and a better sear, but may have more problems that I want to deal with. I am looking to smoke three packer briskets at once. Which should I choose?
I like them so much I bought two EX6. I also have to GMG Jim Bowies
Harry you probably could have used the square plate as the spacer like on the old auger. Its nice to see Weber is doing the right thing.
Tried and doesn't work as the cotter pin hole will not line up.
Harry I love taking stuff apart but what if you are not handy? Will they send someone to the house to make the repair?
Dunno. My unit is working and I did the video for my subscribers. Took 55 mins auger chute swap and 5 min for hopper. I'm a DIY person so no issues.
Yes they will have a local installer do the work at no charge. With the virus issue, may be a while!
Thanks for the video Harry. I have a EX4 not with out some minor issues. I was experiencing material bridging and flame outs. I removing the auger finger guard fixed the issue. I did call for the hopper ramp, problem solved. I had issues with the update on Friday. My SF is on my wifi so when I turned on my SF it automatically hits the wifi. The phone said updating, but got the swirly from hell. I deleted the wifi connection still wouldn't go. I ended up having to delete the app and pair again. Then it went through. IMO if you're SF is on your wifi delete the wifi connection before updating. At the moment I have a 15 pound organic turkey smoking away.
Good you solved the WiFi issues. I do IT for living with cloud apps, networks, servers, microwave, radios, laptops, software, etc. so the last thing I want to do is do IT when I smoke meats. I like the on/off knob. Simple!
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ I was a IBM hardware service technician (mini mainframe) for close to 30 years. Lol hardware tech excuse it's not hardware you have a software problem. 😁
So does anyone know for sure if the new products have the fixes in them? I am really itching to grab one.
Wait for Gen-2. My Gen-1 was working fine. I put in the auger chute and hopper insert to show my subs how to do it.
WSM 14" FTW!!! THANKS. It was $100 on clearance at walmart. Thats all I need.
It's always about the Pitmaster and never the Pit or Meat - Harry Soo
Be sure to watch these videos when you have time
Weber 14 - ua-cam.com/video/ur2Shg_5bE4/v-deo.html
Tamale Pot Smokey Joe - ua-cam.com/video/HsxnNX6LXI4/v-deo.html
virtualweberbullet.com/miniwsm.html
Thanks for including Mr Beans even though there isn't a cook in this video. I saw a comment on the last video about Lowe's possibly assembling the units incorrectly. I'm starting to think they are right. I'm going to stick with my Kettle 26 and SNS XL for now. Thanks for all the detail you put into this
Happy to oblige. Thanks for watching
What is the purpose of the new auger system you installed? What was the fault with the old one?
Mine was working fine and I wanted to show my subs how to install one if there were having issues and wanted to put in the modified auger chute and hopper insert
Ok, so no dog-piling on...I've had my SmokeFire for 8 days now and have used it 5x. I've prepared Chicken Leg Quarters, Burgers, Pork Steaks, Baby Back Ribs and finally some Kreuz Original Smoked Sausage from Lockhart and I'm thrilled with my purchase so far! Its been a mostly brain-damage-free experience and has produced some amazing food. The only thing that's occasionally been a pain in the ass is an issue pairing the controller with the Webber Connect App on my phone. I don't actually use the App for grilling or smoking, but need it for firmware updates. I'll request the new Hopper Insert and Auger Chute, but don't see a need to install them just yet. Does it seem that Weber rolled this unit out without ample testing, absolutely!! Is the unit a fail? I don't think so, I love it and would buy it again. BUT check back with me in 90 days for an update!
Hey Ken, mine was working also. I did the chute and insert for my subscribers so they could see how the 55 min chute and 5 min hopper job would look like.
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ I LOVE smoking and grilling, BUT I don't really have time to screw around with setting up a smoker and then spend more time monitoring it over the course of smoking a Butt or Brisket to keep the temp constant and a new Weber Genesis Grill was going to cost me about $800 anyway. I got a great deal on my SmokeFire at $767 that both Smokes and Gills and have been firing it up nearly every other day. It will get used 2 - 3x a week so I consider it a great investment. Going to smoke some turkey legs tomorrow! My family is definitely appreciating the BBQ love! Keep posting!
I may have missed it but how long did these retrofits actually take and is Weber compensating owners monetarily for their time to fix their (Weber’s) design flaws? If your mechanical abilities are limited I guess your out of luck? Sounds likes mandatory recall time to me especially if any of these shortcomings are potential safety concerns.
If you registered one of the early models.. they should give a severe discount on a new one
About a 60 min job. Just the auger chute and hopper insert. Of course that's for someone comfortable with a screwdriver and wrench. Your mileage will vary. Hopefully Gen 2 builds will have these installed
Mine went from a rev d to a rev f but your replacement assemble looks different than mine. Mine still looks like the original. Wish I could have a do over.
I'm curious of a Rev D ensemble since you are now on Rev F. Can you send me a pic? harsoo@yahoo.com
Thanks for doing this Harry. I’ve got mine on order and it should arrive this week.
You mean an EX6 or the parts?
Harry Soo I ordered the ex 6, but I am sure I’ll have to do the same upgrades. I ordered the pellet slide and will ask Weber about the other part.
Thanks for sharing.
Harry Soo I got the ex 6 on order. They sent me the slide which showed up before the grill.
if i buy a new one, ho can i recognize the first generation from the second with adjustment?
Please ask Weber. Buy the next gen as the mod takes an hour
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ thats definetly something i want to avoid ;-) i guess i can recognize it on the black colored augur part
Harry, are the new units coming with all of the upgrades? I just watched your assembly video on your second unit you purchased and it didn't appear to have the adapter piece in the hopper to help the pellets slide down.
Nope I have two Gen-1 units. No issues as I am pretty handy with a screwdriver and I like mechanical stuff to do as I'm so bored with this quarantine. Be safe and stay healthy!
I think I'll wait a year or two and see what Weber does!
Save your money and get a kettle. It's always about the Pitmaster and never the Pit or Meat - Harry Soo
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ I love my Weber kettle and WSM more then my Traeger, I feel much more in control of the temperature! Also on the kettle I can have direct and indirect heat! Thanks for all your great videos!❤
Hey Harry, I just had my Smokefire delivered today and I'm reviewing your videos. Why did you request a new auger/auger shoot? I called Weber to request a Hopper insert and auger assembly prior to putting the grill together. The customer service rep couldn't send me the auger assembly unless I was actually having an issue but Weber did send me the pellet hopper insert. And, I'm happy to report that Weber also will be sending me a complimentary 20 lb page of Hickory pellets at no cost!
My was working fine and my mod was to show my subs what to do if they were having issues.
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ Gotcha.
Just as an FYI, of all things to have issues with, I can't get my phone to pair properly with the grill to do a system update. I'll be on the phone again tomorrow trying to resolve the issue with Weber. Due to issues with Covid 19 the Weber techs apparently are working from home and don't have access to some of their "tools" that they would normally be able to access if they were in the office.
Harry,
I love your videos! When will Weber start including the various fixes in the production grills?
Don't know. Hopefully soon. Thanks for supporting my channel and taking time to leave a comment.
Good video on the replacement part"s, You should do a video on different types of pellets, I did it just to see what type of wood pellets i would use, I like lumberjack pellets. tried 4 different type's and to me this was the best. Keep up the great videos.
Ok I heard Lumberjacks is good
Why not remove that wire finger guard that goes over the auger hole? I have seen many videos of the pellets bridging over that wire that is screwed on over that hole....just curious.....Also my hats off to you....putting that much effort into making a $1,200 pellet grill work the way it was supposed to.......I wouldn't be willing to be a free beta tester like that at such a premium price point....
Had no issues with mine and installed the parts sent to registered owners like I just took my Honda minivan to get new parts. Did not know you had to remove the guard. I just put everything back per the instructions manual said to do. About a 60 min job.
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ Curious......have they been fast to release app updates and firmware updates? I am assuming you are avoiding the grease fires by using pans underneath long slow cooks? I wanted one of these pre-release but have waiting to see how it evolves given the negative feedback so many have given. I am glad to see that at least one person is getting good results!
Just wondering, the issue with the bolts being to long. Can the small square plate that was originally on it be used as a spacer or does it interfere with the other bolt holes?
Thanks
If you put the plate on, the cotter pin hole is no longer aligned. Simple fix with the doodad parts that came with the auger chute.
I applaud Weber for standing behind the product...assuming the new parts were sent at no cost to the registered owners. Not sure if you were critical of the lack of proper fasteners in the kit or if the written guidance mentioned using washers. I get the impression neither was the case here.
Free mods for registered owners. I read the manual and there was no reference to using spaces. Easy fix with the washer from left over parts.
Weber should take note then. Thanks
I was going to buy one but now I’m buying a Weber Smokey Mountain and can buy all the nifty accessories for less than half the price of the SmokeFire.
Can't go wrong with the WSM-18. I've won 100+ first places with it.
www.slapyodaddybbq.com/contests/awards/
Here are more videos on how to set up your WSM
Setup WSM - ua-cam.com/video/dOctn85Y-nk/v-deo.html
Clean up WSM - ua-cam.com/video/E7FWJFvare0/v-deo.html
So is the Weber smoke fire coming with these new parts
Don't know. I have a Gen-1 SmokeFire. I actually have two EX6 as I like them as they cook better than my other Webers and I have a lot of them.
Love, love Mr. Beans! So I was very interested in the Smoke fire, but was worried about all the bad hype so bought a RECTEC 700 Bull. Love it. Hope this factory upgrade fixes the Weber, you bought 2, right? Keep up the fantastic videos Harry. Always looking forward to the next one.
My EX6 was working and I I swapped the auger chute and hopper insert for my subscribers to show how to do the job
What Revision is your new auger? The one that came with my EX6 was a Rev F, and they sent me another Rev F as a replacement part. It was not like the one you got, and was identical to the one you replaced.
Don't know what I got. Seemed same as OEM one that came w the unit
I love the Weber brand, but this is one reason that I never buy the first model of anything. The 2nd and 3rd generations are usually much better.
I think they worked out the kinks already in Gen 2
Great vid looking forward to seeing what issues this is going to fix
Yes cooking a whole hog on my EX coming up
I am surprise they didn't send out a field tech to fix it for you.
I'm just a nobody UA-camr. :-)
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ not so to your soon to be 100k subscribers. You have given many of us the confidence to cook new things. BBQ is a sharing event, unfortunately because of covid19 we cant cook large quantities like a brisket or beef rib rack. Someday when you get up to san jose i'll take you out clamming for horseneck and geoducks.
Hello Harry! I own a SF EX6 and I absolutely LOVE this thing. I've just completed my 4th overnight cook, this time a brisket for 20hrs and it turned out fantastic. From someone who isn't really having problems like some others, do you recommend contacting weber to get the auger replacement? I don't forsee wanting the hopper ramp, mine easily runs 9-10hrs without any sort of intervention on my part, but if the auger replacement is to address potential jamming, or reliability concerns, maybe I should replace mine? Did you contact weber to order the parts?
Mine EX6 is working and I did the video for my subscribers in Group 3. See my Pt 2 video for more info
Well done tutorial. Thank you!
Thanks. Hope your EX is working.
I’m a big fan of your vids and recipes. I had high hopes for the Weber pellet grill. I have a WSM and a Weber grill. Love those two.
Do you know when they are incorporating these changes into the production units? I’m like you, I want the convenience and ease of pellet grills but don’t want to spend an hour replacing parts.
Keep up the good work!
Wait for Gen-2 or get Gen-1 and spend 55 mins to swap auger chute and 5 min pellet hopper insert. My Gen-1 worked fine and I did the video for my subscribers. I won't know whether they work or not. My 50 lb how is thawing nicely and going into the EX6
Another good reason to avoid the purchase of a pellet smoker. Charcoal or wood is the name of game. No need for sophisticated artificial smokers. All da best
I'm doing a road trip to LoneStar Grillz probably this week. For 1200 bucks, that Weber should be perfect. Researched a bunch of pellet smokers over the past few weeks. The onlt one I got my hands on that felt solid was the Yoder. Give me a stick burner. No moving parts.
What brand of pellets do you like to use?
Hey Tim, been using GMG Gold Blend for 12+ years
Very interesting Harry, it’s good to see that Weber is making modifications to the SmokeFire. That’s a fair amount of work to install. Are you just testing or are they sending to anyone having issues? As always awesome video and thanks for sharing!
Registered owners only I believe. I'm doing a whole hog to test out the mods
Hi Harry. Fellow IT guy here. Do you have any idea when these changes will be incorporated into the production models that are in the retail channels? I'm looking forward to owning one of these once these kinks are worked out.
My Gen 1 was working. I suspect Gen 2 will have new auger chute and hopper insert. Just wait. Took about 1 hour to install.
Do you know if the new stock is being shipped has the modified parts? I would assume so. Harry you could use a small 1/4 in socket drive set or some nut drivers. Using the Fonzie wrench in tight spaces is a PITA. Did you have to send the old parts back to Weber? This video is just one of many reasons I return to your channel.
Yes all I want for Christmas is . . . 🙄😏😏🤔
Honest opinion is it worth it or do you still prefer Weber smokey mountain?
A $299 against a $1,200? Worth it? Prefer which? Neither is my honest answer. Too much obsession over gear of what to buy instead of going out and cooking with what you already have. Remember, it's always about the Pitmaster and never the Pit or Meat - Harry Soo
I like to challenge my self is all. I have a 26in kettle and 18 and a 22 that is for pizzas. I can be pressed for time some times especially when I'm off of work late. Most of my cooking is done outside just cuz I live in San Diego and the weather is nice 95% of the time. I have a smaller pellet smoker but sometimes run out of room.
So why did you need to change your auger out? Did you have an issue with reaching 600°
Not sure if you saw my cooks on the EX and how great the food was in various Torture Tests. Weber sent parts to registered owners so I installed them and shared my experience
Pure Bush league! What a fail. No one should have to go to those lengths to replace parts on such an expensive grill! They should offer a refund or replacement.
If you bought one, go get a refund. If you didn't, then you don't know. I don't work for Weber and mine works. ua-cam.com/video/jsUri_VoKagS/v-deo.htmlee
I haven’t bought yet. When I saw original reviews before the launch I was getting major FOMO but I’m glad I’ve held off so far. Especially after hearing that Webber took what wasn’t working from all the cookers
that have been around for many years and made there’s better. I feel it should’ve been revolutionary in ways but apparently not yet. Harry, is Webber making permanent changes with future units or are they just sending updated replacement parts?
I suspect all the Gen-2 units will have the new auger chute and hopper insert. I just did a 48 lb mini whole hog yesterday on my EX6 (with the new chute) and it was super gorgeous (see my FB post)
I'll be honest now that I have figured out how to work around the short comings I have throughly enjoyed mine with that said it was a big let down at first and if I could have returned mine I would have and just done without my first smoker but since I couldnt and really wanted to start fulfilling a long time dream I pushed through and found ways to work around the short comings and have used it twice a week and have really enjoyed being able to create bbq loves as harry would put it. but I did ruin a brisket and a prime rib. If I had a choice though I would trade it for a myron mixon h20 cooker 🙂😜
all I need to do now is find a good bbq team to train under anybody have any suggestions for the Jacksonville fl area
now all I need to do is find a ggod bbq team to learn more under any suggestions for someone in Jacksonville fl region I do have alot of experiance cooking whole hogs nc way
Hi Harry! I'm a new subscriber to your channel and really enjoy your content. I just finished watching your 4 part series on the Weber Smokefire and found it very helpful. I love, love, love Weber and I'm on my second Genesis in 22 yrs.! I was very exited when Weber entered the pellet grill market, but was quickly disillusioned after seeing so many bad reviews. A few weeks ago , Ace Hardware had them on sale for $200 off! I wish I would have found you sooner and read your in depth review and taken advantage of the sale. All that being said, I have two questions for you. First, did exchanging the parts on your Weber make a significant difference in the way it performs? Second, I know your a fan of GMG which is also high on my list. If you were me, and wanting to get in to pellet grilling, would you get the Jim Bowie, Smokfeire or something else? Back to watching your videos! Thanks!
Mine were working (I have two EX6) and I swapped the parts to show my viewers how it is done.
You're asking me which child I like best and I love them equally my JB and EX. Remember, it's the Pitmaster that makes the difference, and not the Pit. You can cook championship BBQ with a shovel, hole in the ground, chicken wire, and wood
My ex6 would get to temp above 350 last night and reported flame out and then shutdown. This happens twice. During it shutdown cycle I heard grinding and squealing from the auger.
Just spoke with Weber this morning. They are sending me the auger and chute assembly . I was asked what brand pellets I was using. (Mine happens to be pitboss hickory) they strongly suggest I stick with Weber pellets.
What type of pellets are you running?
And thanks for this vid. I don’t mind doing the field modifications as I want this to be a great product and I like technical stuff.
Hey Gus, been using GMG Gold Blend for 12+ years. My EX was OK and I did the mod to show my subs that it takes about 60 minutes. You may have a faulty unit. Try the new Auger Chute (Part 69374), Hopper Insert (69230), Plate (69377), and Firmware Update 1.2_1394. Let me know if this fixes your issue as I am curious. Email me harsoo@yahoo.com
Insert is already installed. I should have the auger assembly with new chute Tuesday. Love the vids btw.
I have used Weber, B&B and lumberjack. I only had problems with B&B, the lumberjack is less than half the price of weber and I've had 0 issues with that brand. Based on Harry's suggestion I'm going to try the GMG gold, but I wanted to let you know about lumberjack pellets, they're working great in my SF
@ HarrySoo, I own the same smoke fire I live in Utah which means end of March is still pretty cold, so I was doing stakes for dinner last night and my grill took over 45min to reach temp, but I was trying to get to 600 and could not achieve that goal the highest it reached was 450/425 would not surpass that and it was about 42/43 degrees outside so those parts that they are shipping out to us owners, are they to fix those types of issues on this grill... I’m still optimistic on if I want to keep it or go with another brand? Please get back to me and inform as to what u think would help. Thanks
Did you get the software update that came out the past couple of weeks? I heard it was to address some issues users have reported. Perhaps the software update will help you. Give it a go. Takes about 15 minutes. My EX6 updated on Fri. I have a whole hog cook coming after after these new parts.
Harry Soo, Ill be sure to watch for that video on the hole hog cook see how it works out with the new parts but, yes my software is updated as far as I know, I’ll look back into that and see. I sure if I receive the new parts I’ll try them out if that’s the issue I’m hoping it will address, I’m a huge Weber fan and own a Genesis gas grill so I’m hoping to see improvement, but first I’ll look into seeing my software is good to go.. thank you for for your helpfulness and time..
Great video on showing how to replace parts. It should help people do the replacement.
My role is to show how I barbecue and not to tell you how to cook. Not as a preacher, but as a reflection of what I know - Harry Soo
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ you make great videos. Always a pleasure to see your videos pop up. I have learned many things from your videos. Thank you
You've got to invest in a ratchet set Harry
LOL! Got nice knifes so need matching ratchet set!
@@SlapYoDaddyBBQ lol yes sir
I haven't changed anything on my SmokeFire and it's running great. 🤞
If the motor is the same why change out the auger? Was it mainly for the different auger chute?
Keep up the great work Harry.
Mine is working also but parts came so you know me always itching to tinker with new toys. The augers chute was the main part that was s was swapped out. Augers is visually identical. Took about 1 hour to install
I wonder how long it will be for those new components to be in the grills at retail stores. Very interested in seeing if those replacement parts fix the issues in your upcoming videos.
Ask Weber when Gen-2 will hit the market. I have Gen-1 and need 60 mins to retrofit even though my unit is working. I won't be able to tell if they are working as my EX was working before. Best to watch some other UA-camr's channel who had issues and put in the fix. I installed it to show how it's done for my subscribers.
😍 Beans! 😍
If weber put in the pellet chute a "teflon" coating the sticking would not occur...🤔
Mine was working fine. I did the chute swap (55 min) and hopper insert (5 min) for you subscribers to show them how. The new chute is glassy smooth powder coated enamel.