Blackjacks Traeger Chronicles

[Blackjack]

So as to not clog the other thread this will be about my adventures with mt new to me 2009 vintage Traeger Texas Elite.

So the local Traeger dealer is a regular at the shop at work at since he also runs a farm and commercial fishes(his family is where I acquired my Salmon last year). He knows I like to smoke stuff and when my Bradley gave up the ghost he of course said I should try out a Traeger even offered to loan me one. Fast forward too a couple weeks ago and he said come ou to his house he had something for me.

Lo and behold he had this Texas Elite collecting dust in his warehouse. He was not sure if it worked but it was mine with nothing more than a promise that I purchased any service parts from him.

Edit: I forgot to note that this will not be just about using the Traeger for what it is but any repairs and more importantly mods and hacks to get more out of it than just what it was originally designed for. Ideally I want to see if I can make it a jack of all trades with the exception of smoking salmon. There is no easy way to get temps down to 140f or less where I smoke salmon so I will most likely pic up another Bradley later. What I do want to do is see if I can loose the gas grill and maybe see about throwing a flat top in the mix.

 

[Blackjack]

So it does need some love, the casters are MIA and the inserts in the legs are broken. Nothing some cribbing will not take care of for now. Cleaned the dust and cobwebs off, threw a handful of pellets in the hopper and plugged it in. Put it in smoke mode and what do you know she works.

 

[flyinfish]

Sweet Deal! It's going to be a meat eating paradise around there. Enjoy!

 

[Blackjack]

So the first real cook was some Papa Murphys to test if it would get hot. So I removed the drip plate, added a square of 1/4 plate I had laying around and fired her up. Sure enough we got 460f so we were good to go. Lost my first pics so we had to do it again for this weekend.

 

[Blackjack]

If you do remove the drip tray make sure you get you Murphy in the grill pans to avoid any problems. Cook consisted of going for ten minutes, rotated 90 degrees and popped bubbles, went for six more minutes, rotating again and six more minutes. Actually should have pulled at four minutes as we were starting to get a bit more color than you want but it worked out just fine.

 

[Blackjack]

First meat on the Traeger was this big ole roast. Liberal application of SPG, ran it a 185 for a couple hours to get a touch of smoke, then ran at 350 until we hit 120f. Turned out perfect and leftovers made great sandwiches.

Edit: If I can remeber in addition to preparation and cook times I will post what pellets I used. This time was Hickory.

 

[Blackjack]

In preparation for the next run I pulled the hopper and had a look. Most everything looks pretty good for as old as it is other than the wiring looking like a bit of a nest. Since the lid stop is missing I booty fabbed one until I get parts.

 

[Blackjack]

Time for the first big cook. What else but pork butts. Used my own rub and ran the Traeger in stages. First couple hours at 185f, 225f after that until the biggest butt hit 165. Crutched the big butt and bumped temp to 250. This is where I started noticing the temp swings were not as consistent and some swings were more than 30 degrees. I am not one of those that thinks you have to only have ten degree swings but twenty or just under would be preferred. Probably pick up a controller next time I see the Traeger dealer. Took about ten hours total for the big butt and almost twelve for the two I did not crutch. And I will say that it is nice to not have to crutch as I always had to with the Bradley( it makes great smoke but no heat) as I think the texture is nicer.

Edit: Pellets used were Traeger Pro Blend.

 

[Blackjack]

Picked up a pellet tube from Walmart and figured I would smoke some cheese. Some cheddar, pepper Jack and some hickory pellets for a hair over two hours. Let them breathe for a couple hours and into vac bags for at least two weeks. Not sure the ice was needed as it was only mid to high 50s but figured it would not hurt.

 

[Blackjack]

One thing I also noticed during the cold smoke is how much leakage there is around the lid. Time to order some Lavalock and see if I can’t make that better.

 

[Blackjack]

So while helping a friend pick up a new unit the Treager guy mentioned he had two of these hiding in the back of the warehouse.

That is an XL Elite. Basically two Lil Texas Elites in one barrel. Two burners and 850 square inches of main grate. They put two of those bad boys on a trailer and called it the COM190. They need a lot of help. I joked that I should get the Texas dolled up and trade it in and to my surprise he might be up to it. Not that I really that thing at all but it would be cool sitting on my deck.

 

[flyinfish]

Hi my name is Blackjack and I'm a Treager addict.

 

[Blackjack]

Hi my name is Blackjack and I'm a Treager addict.

I would not go that far but when you have a new toy you have to play with it right? Between my work taking up too much of my time and with as much rain as we have had so far this year I have not been able to leave town so smoking stuff is one thing I can do.

 

[flyinfish]

I would not go that far but when you have a new toy you have to play with it right? Between my work taking up too much of my time and with as much rain as we have had so far this year I have not been able to leave town so smoking stuff is one thing I can do.

Of course I say that in jest. I like what you're doing, keep up the nice work!

Smoke'em If You Got'em!

 

[mwn]

I booty fabbed one

Adding this expression to my lexicon, thank you.

 

[Blackjack]

Adding this expression to my lexicon, thank you.

Glad I could be of assistance.

 

[Blackjack]

Of course I say that in jest. I like what you're doing, keep up the nice work!

Smoke'em If You Got'em!

It is all good.

 

[John Cooper]

We got the insulation blanket for ours and use it year round!!!! Sure helps keep the temp consistent!!!!!

 

[Blackjack]

And this thing followed me home tonight. It needs a serious cleaning and some paint but it does run. And I kept what good parts of my old one to help keep it running. But why you ask? Because I believe the Traeger and the Bradley complement each other. The Traeger cannot operate at temps below 160f and the Bradley in my climate my original never got over 210f.

So the Bradley will handle fish, jerky and other things that require low temps and very consistent smoke which is it strength. And the Traeger will hopefully fill for the rest and with a few mods as well as some downright hackery will also allow me to retire the gas grill.

 

[Blackjack]

Picked up a BAC236 controller https://www.traeger.com/parts/elite-digital-controller to see if we can get those temp swings under control. First fire on smoke mode got us sub 150 so that looks promising.