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How to Replace the RTD on a Pellet Grill

  • Updated

What's in This Article?

Step-by-step instructions for how to replace the temperature sensor (RTD) on your non-WiFIRE Traeger grill. Includes part numbers, required tools, and estimated completion time. 

Applies to: 

NOTE: If looking to replace an RTD on a Woodridge Series or Westwood Series, please click applicable link.  

Part #: Description:
KIT0779 7" Probe (Buy on Traeger.com)
KIT0225 2" Probe
KIT0373 2" Probe (Buy on Traeger.com)

Important: Before You Start 

Before replacing your grill's RTD, consider the following:

  • Whenever doing maintenance on a Traeger grill, make sure it is unplugged and is cool to the touch.
  • Use caution around metal edges.
  • Wear gloves when working around the fiberglass insulation in the grill and do not touch it more than necessary.
  • When re-assembling the grill, make sure all wires are secured so that they do not contact any moving parts. 
RTD Replacement Steps: Most Non-Connected Grills

Tools Needed

Estimated Time to Complete

  • 10 minutes

Replacement Instructions

This first set of replacement instructions applies to most AC grills. Variants of these steps for specific models are provided after these initial instructions.

  1. Turn off and unplug your grill.
  2. Unscrew the screws securing your controller to your hopper and pull the controller away from the grill to expose the wiring and connection points.
  3. Locate the green box in the upper corner of the control panel that secure the RTD wires in place. Loosen the two screws holding the RTD sensor wires just enough to be able to remove the RTD wires.
  4. Open your grill and locate the RTD temperature probe on the left side of your barrel and unscrew the two Phillips screws holding it in place.
    • Depending on your grill, the RTD may be 2" or 7".
  5. Pull the RTD probe and its wires completely out of the grill.
  6. Insert the new RTD probe wires through the same channel you pulled the old RTD out of so that the end of the wires are near the controller.
  7. Screw the new RTD probe in place with the two Phillips screws.
  8. Insert the new RTD probe wires into the green RTD connection box and gently tighten the screws to secure the wires in place.
  9. Make sure no wires are touching the fan blades. If you have zip ties on hand, zip tie the wires together to keep them bundled.
  10. Reinstall the controller to the front of the hopper.
RTD Replacement Steps: Scout, Ranger & Trailhead Portable Grills

Applies to: PTG (KIT0225) | Ranger (KIT0373, KIT0225) | Scout (KIT0373) | Trailhead (KIT0373)

Tools Needed

Estimated Time to Complete

  • 10 minutes

Replacement Steps

  1. Turn off and unplug the grill.
  2. Remove the grease bucket, grill grate and drip tray.
  3. Empty the hopper and remove any remaining pellets from the firepot.
  4. Clean the grill thoroughly.
  5. Remove the five screws that secure the hopper, RTD, and grill cavity in place.
    Image showing 5 red circles outlining the screws to be removed.
  6. Lift the hopper-burner assembly (HBA) out of the grill using the handle labeled, "Caution Hot".
    Image showing all wiring bundled in zip ties
    • If the HBA doesn't have a handle, pull it from the hopper and auger tube/firepot (older Ranger and Scout models do not have this handle).
  7. Cut the zip ties that bundle the wires together, careful not to cut any wires.
    rtd_scout_ranger-zipties.jpeg
  8. Rangers & Trailheads only: Find the back of the power switch and disconnect the two black wires from the power switch on the back of the grill body.
    Image showing back power switch that wires need to be disconnected from.
  9. Unscrew the two Phillips screws holding the controller in place and pull the controller away from the grill to expose the back of the controller.
    Image showing two red circles showing the screws that need to be removed for the controller.
  10. Locate the green box in the upper corner of the control panel that secure the RTD wires in place. Loosen the two screws holding the RTD sensor wires just enough to be able to remove the RTD wires.
    Image outlining the green box that the RTD wires screw into. 
    Image showing a string tied to the RTD wires.
  11. Tie a string to the RTD wires. You will use this string to help guide the new RTD back through the grill.
    Image showing how to pull RTD wires through
  12. Gently pull the RTD up and away from the grill, stopping when the leads that connect to the controller are out of the grill and the string is just exposed.
  13. Untie the string from the old RTD and tie it to the new RTD. Pull the string and the new RTD wires through the grill so you can attach the new RTD to the controller.
    Image showing new wire attached to string
  14. Remove the wire/string from the RTD connectors and connect the RTD contacts to the controller, tightening the slotted screws just tight enough to keep the RTD wires secure.
    Image highlighting the connector to reattach the RTD wires
  15. Re-install the controller to the grill body using your Phillips screwdriver.
  16. Bundle the wires together and secure them with at least one 8” zip tie, making sure the wires do not contact any moving parts.
    Image showing the wires bundled together so that they aren't an obstruction to the fan. 
  17. Ranger & Trailhead Only: Re-connect the main power switch wires on or inside the rear of the grill body.
  18. Lower the HBA back into the grill body.
  19. Reinstall the five screws, noting the difference between the machine thread and self-tapping screws.
    • Machine thread: 3 total, secure HBA to grill body
    • Self-tapping: 2 total, secure RTD to HBA
  20. Reinstall the drip tray, grill grate, and grease bucket.
RTD Replacement Steps: Junior or Tailgater Portable Grills

Applies to: Junior (KIT0779) | Tailgater 20 (KIT0779)

Tools Needed

  • Phillips Screwdriver (#2 size)

  • Slotted Screwdriver (1/8” or 3mm)

  • Wrench

  • Grill Cleaner (optional)

  • Paper Towels or Rags (optional)

  • Gloves (optional)

Estimated Time to Complete

  • 10 minutes

Replacement Steps

  1. Turn off and unplug the grill.
  2. Remove the grill grates, drip tray and heat baffle. Clean the grill thoroughly.
  3. First-Time Replacing an RTD: Because Juniors and Tailgaters are shipped with the HBA inside the barrel, the RTD comes in two pieces that connect together when assembling the grill. 
    Diagram showing the two pieces being assembled.   Image of the two piece RTD.
    The replacement RTD is one piece instead of two. The single RTD is the correct replacement part even though they look different.
  4. Find the RTD probe on the left side of the grill. Use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the 2 screws securing the RTD to the grill.
    RTD_Replacement__Junior_Tailgater_.jpg 
  5. Use a Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the controller from the front of the hopper.
    Image of the controller 
  6. Find the green RTD connection box. Use a small flathead screwdriver to loosen the two screws on the top of the box. This will allow you to then remove the RTD probe wires.
    Image of the RTD wires attached to the green connection box. 
  7. Use a wrench to unscrew the bolts holding the hopper-burner assembly to the grill.
    Image showing the four bolts that need to be removed. 
  8. Pull the hopper away from the grill so you can see the entry points for the RTD wires.
    Junior/Tailgater: The hopper does not need to be removed during replacement.
    Image of RTD installed on grill  Image of RTD wires installed between two pieces of the grill. 
  9. Pull the RTD out of the grill.
    Image of ETD being removed from the grill. 
  10. Feed the new RTD wires through the grill and through the entry points between the grill barrel and the hopper-burner assembly until you are able to grab the ends of the wires near the controller.
  11. Reattach the hopper-burner assembly to the grill.
  12. Screw the new RTD in place.
  13. Insert the RTD wires into the green RTD connection box and gently tighten the screws to secure the wires in place.
  14. Make sure no wires are touching fan blades. If possible, use a zip tie to secure wires together.
  15. Using a Phillips screwdriver, re-screw the controller to the grill. 
RTD Replacement Steps: Costco Select Grills

Applies to: Select (KIT0779)

Tools Needed

Estimated Time to Complete

  • 10 minutes

Replacement Steps

Image of location of RTD on Select Grills

  1. Turn off and unplug the grill.
  2. Remove the 6 Phillips head screws holding the upper panel assembly together on the back of the grill.
    Image showing location of screws on back panel to be removed
  3. Locate the RTD wire running through the back of the grill and into the hopper assembly.
    Image showing the location of the RTD wire
    Image outlining the location of the RTD wire
  4. Remove the 2 screws holding the RTD in place.                                                             Image showing circled RTD and location of the RTD screws.
  5. With a small screwdriver, loosen the brackets holding the RTD wires.       Image with red circle showing the location of the RTD wires screwed into the connector.
  6. Remove the screws holding the RTD in place and pull it through the grill (cut any zip ties holding the wires together).
    Image of RTD being pulled through the grill
  7. Feed the new RTD through the hole in the middle of the barrel.                         Image showing how to feed the new RTD wires though the hole.
  8. Run the wire through the back of the grill to the small hole leading into the hopper assembly.
    Image showing the direction to thread the RTD wires.
  9. Once through, replace the upper panel.                                                 
  10. From underneath, string the RTD wires through the hopper and out the controller cutout.
    Image showing how to thread the new RTD wires to the control panel.
  11. With a screwdriver, reinsert the RTD wires back into the housing box on the back of the controller.
  12. Screw the controller back in place.
    Image of controller being replaced and location of two screws.
  13. Tighten the RTD probe back into place and install the RTD guard. 
RTD Replacement Steps: Costco Silverton Grill

Applies to: Silverton (KIT0225)

Tools Needed

  • Phillips Screwdriver
  • Small Flathead Screwdriver
  • Zip Ties
  • Tape and String (optional for wire routing)

Estimated Time to Complete

  • 10 minutes

Replacement Steps

  1. Turn off and unplug the grill to ensure safety.
  2. Remove the RTD Probe. 
    • Locate the RTD probe (usually on the left side)
    • Remove the 2 screws and nuts holding the RTD in place
  3. Unscrew the controller from the front of the hopper using a Phillips screwdriver. On the back of the controller, locate the green terminal block.
    Image showing red circle outlining the connecter to screw in the new RTD wires.
  4. Use a small screwdriver to loosen the screws and disconnect the RTD wires.
  5. Free the Wiring. Cut any zip ties securing the RTD wires inside the hopper. If needed, use tape and string to pull the old RTD wire out and guide the new one through the same path.
     Image showing wires attached to a string for easier feed through.
  6. Install the New RTD Probe. Feed the new RTD wire through the placement hole on the side of the barrel.
    Image with red arrow pointing to the location of the hole to feed the wires through.
    • Protect the probe tips with plastic and tape during installation to avoid damage.
    • Screw the new RTD securely into place.
  7. Attach the new RTD wires to the green terminal block on the controller. Tighten the screws to secure the connection.
  8. Use zip ties to secure the wiring away from heat sources or moving parts. Reattach the controller to the hopper using a Phillips screwdriver. Reinstall any panels or covers removed during the process.
  9. Test the Grill - Plug the grill back in and power it on. Set a temperature and verify that the RTD is reading accurately.

Additional Resources

Still need help?
If you need help replacing your part, or if you run into additional concerns after replacement, contact Traeger Support. We're ready to help 365 days a year.
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