PSA- Don't Leave Pellets in your Pellet Pooper To Long!

[Hotch]

This past Sunday I spent the day trying to fire up a Pellet Vertical Smoker for a fellow Brethren.
Upon inspection I noticed the auger was not turning. So I went all in and completely dismantled everything! As you can see in the YT vid of just seconds of what ended up 30-40 minutes of chiseling and prying many times on the auger to get it out out the auger tube. I had success after a bit and then went forward on a full clean of the cooker. It works great now but will need to replace the controller as the display is flaky.

I really like my BGE's and my Shirley! :mrgreen:

https://youtu.be/YhGU1XpaWlc

 

[LYU370]

If them pellets get wet... Pellet-crete.

 

[16Adams]

What happens if you re wet them?

 

[kevinstaggs]

What happens if you re wet them?

I'm not much of a concrete guy, but I'd say "pellet slurry." :-D

 

[rwalters]

Bummer… and a pain in the butt!! I guess I’ve been lucky. In 6 years of cooking with pellets, never a jam. Have lived in humid TN for 2 years now and never remove pellets between cooks. Not a single moisture related issue… knock on wood.

 

[mowin]

I've left pellets in my GMG for months. I always keep it covered. Never a issue.

 

[jermoQ]

Bummer… and a pain in the butt!! I guess I’ve been lucky. In 6 years of cooking with pellets, never a jam. Have lived in humid TN for 2 years now and never remove pellets between cooks. Not a single moisture related issue… knock on wood.

I keep them in there a long time as well. 8 years, and I haven't had a problem with that. It isn't under any awnings but I keep a cover on it most of the time. A few times I forgot and did the pellet poppers sinners prayer before a fire up.

 

[glitchy]

I’ve never emptied a pellet hopper between cooks. Though the longest I’ve probably ever gone between cooks is 4-6 weeks.

You said vertical, right? It’s not one of the first gen Pit Boss verticals is it? I remember reading some of the early Pit Boss verticals had an issue where it actually channeled rain into the hopper/auger.

 

[Hotch]

I’ve never emptied a pellet hopper between cooks. Though the longest I’ve probably ever gone between cooks is 4-6 weeks.

You said vertical, right? It’s not one of the first gen Pit Boss verticals is it? I remember reading some of the early Pit Boss verticals had an issue where it actually channeled rain into the hopper/auger.

Yes it is, a series 5. It had a cover on it but it had it had degraded.
Many small openings on the top.

 

[Big George's BBQ]

You are a good man Hotch I am sure Chris and family fool like it too I like my Egg too except I need to change the gasket-actually there is not much of one there- got the Egg 13 years ago

 

[PatAttack]

Been there...done that. :x

It sucked.