Star Max Griddle Troubleshooting
Since 1921 Star Manufacturing has been a leader in heavy duty commercial cooking equipment. Their Star Max line of gas and electric griddles have wide surfaces and consistent temperatures, allowing you to cook large volumes of food quickly and evenly.
Although issues with these machines are rare, those that do pop up can be resolved in no time. By following this Star Max griddle troubleshooting guide, you can deal with any problems quickly and easily.
This guide is for Star Max models such as the 8G-615MZ, 515TGF and others.
Griddle Won’t Turn On (Electric) / Pilot Won’t Light (Gas)
- No power (Electric) - Make sure that the unit is plugged in and turned “ON.” If the unit still won’t turn on, check the circuit breaker fuse. If the issue persists, call a technician.
- Gas supply is turned “OFF” (Gas) - Check that the main gas valves are turned “ON.”
- Problem with pilot safety valve (Gas) - Contact a technician to service the unit.
- Pilot orifice is blocked (Gas) - Call a technician to clean the jet.
Pilot Light Won’t Stay Lit (Gas)
- Thermocouple connection is loose - Tighten the connection.
- Thermocouple is faulty - Replace the thermocouple.
- Flame safety device is faulty - Replace the flame safety device.
- Pilot orifice is blocked or is the wrong size - Call a technician to remedy the issue.
Entire Griddle Won’t Heat (Electric) / Burners Won’t Light (Gas)
- No power (Electric) - First, make sure that the unit is plugged in and turned “ON.” If the unit is still without power, check the circuit breaker. If the problem continues, call a technician.
- Pilot light not lit (Gas) - Turn off the gas, let the unit vent for 5 minutes, then turn gas back on and light the pilot light.
- Control is not on (Gas) - Set the temperature control to the desired temperature.
Uneven Heating (Electric) / Individual Burner(s) Won’t Light (Gas)
- Griddle is not level (Electric) - Make sure that the griddle is level from front to back and side to side.
- Temperature is not set correctly (Electric or Gas) - Set the thermostat for the corresponding section of the griddle to the correct temperature; if gas, adjust the burner to the desired temperature.
- Damaged internal component (Electric or Gas) - Contact a technician to service the unit.
- Water is in burner (Gas) - Remove the burner and dry it thoroughly.
- Shutter or nozzle isn’t adjusted properly (Gas) - Contact a licensed technician to remedy the issue.
Griddle Drips Grease
- Grease drawer is full or not installed correctly - Check to make sure that the grease drawer is not overflowing and is installed properly. If overflowing, drain; if not installed properly, refer to the manual for installation instructions.
- An internal component is damaged - Schedule a service appointment with a technician.
Fat Smokes Excessively
- Temperature is set too high - Lower the temperature to reduce smoke.
- Moisture in food may be turning into steam - Continue cooking: smoke will reduce as the moisture evaporates.
Food Sticks To Griddle Or Is Burned Around Edges
- Temperature is set too high - Lower the temperature so that food does not burn.
- Griddle surface is dirty - Clean the griddle of food residue to reduce sticking and burning.
- Not enough oil to grease griddle - Use more oil to limit sticking and burning.
Food Undercooked On The Inside
- Temperature is too low - Increase temperature to cook food thoroughly.
- Cooking time is too short - Cook food longer to increase its internal temperature.
Food Tastes Greasy or Otherwise “Off”
- Too much oil is used - Use less oil to reduce oily flavor.
- Food may not be fresh - Be sure to use fresh food to limit off or unpleasant flavors.
Food Residue Buildup On Griddle
- Temperature is too high - Lower the temperature to limit the amount of burned-on food particles.
- Griddle surface is dirty - Clean griddle surface to remove residue.
- Too much oil is used - Use less oil to reduce residue.
For more troubleshooting information and maintenance tips, take a look at our extensive library of Star Manufacturing manuals for assistance.