Pellet Fan
Pit Talk -- Comments and Questions Regarding These Pellet Pits => Dansons/Country Smokers...Louisana Grills...Pit Boss => Topic started by: Bar-B-Lew on May 18, 2018, 04:01:13 PM
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I had tried to start up my Copperhead a few days ago and noticed after about 10 minutes that it wasn't increasing in temp. Tried again a few days later, and same issue.
Well, today, I was on the patio and went behind the unit and noticed that there were pellets bursting out of the pellet drop door. I'm guessing they got wet from the rain and swelled up. Probably are causing an issue with the auger. Gonna have to look at it before cooking jerky on it next week. What a pain in the xxx this will be.
Moral of the story is this unit doesn't seem to be a good unit to leave out in the elements.
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This is the first I have read anything about the verticals and rain, but the barrels and rain seem not to mix very well, as rain gets in the auger some how and binds everything up.
I wil have to look at mine and see if I can figure out how rain would get in it. I do keep mine in the garage.
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Top of the pellet hopper was fine. It was the door on the back to release pellets where the water got into it.
The only grill of the five on the patio that had an issue.
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I had the exact same issue last week!! (Didn't notice to door bulging; started up fine, then steady temp drop.) I had mine covered with a tarp, secured with bungees. Pellets swelled up, auger was feeding sawdust. Was a real chore to clean out. I since received the fitted cover from Pit Boss. We have been getting rain all day today--will have to check tomorrow to see if the smoker fared better with the new cover. I cannot move it into the garage after each use. Plan on adding a covered area for the cookers sometime this year :).
Not sure if the issue is rain splashing up under the unit or what. If I find the same issue after this rain again, I may build a stand on casters with some decking boards for a floor to protect the underside of the smoker. Elevating the unit several inches would reduce the amount of bending over to the controller as well, and better casters will help with moving the unit.
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I have a cover on mine which seems to be working good. I had several days of hard thunderstorms and I did some smoking yesterday. Mine sits under the eaves of my house which has gutters.
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I had close to 20# of pellets in the hopper. I've sifted through roughly 2/3 of them...have a few inches of Pit Boss Comp Blend sawdust now that I can use in the Amazen tray for cold smoking in the bottom of a 5 gal bucket. Gonna have to make the PVC pellet cleaner I think, plastic colander takes a long time!
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I haven't unpacked mine yet, but I ordered a cover yesterday. It will sit under a covered patio but could/ will get water underneath. Raising it up sounds like a good plan
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I had the exact same issue last week!! (Didn't notice to door bulging; started up fine, then steady temp drop.) I had mine covered with a tarp, secured with bungees. Pellets swelled up, auger was feeding sawdust. Was a real chore to clean out. I since received the fitted cover from Pit Boss. We have been getting rain all day today--will have to check tomorrow to see if the smoker fared better with the new cover. I cannot move it into the garage after each use. Plan on adding a covered area for the cookers sometime this year :).
Not sure if the issue is rain splashing up under the unit or what. If I find the same issue after this rain again, I may build a stand on casters with some decking boards for a floor to protect the underside of the smoker. Elevating the unit several inches would reduce the amount of bending over to the controller as well, and better casters will help with moving the unit.
What did you have to do to get to the auger to clean it out? I am going to have to do that this week sometime.
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Bar-B-Lew:
I initially used a big flat bladed screwdriver to 'chisel' out the compressed sawdust. I then used an old lever door handle (right angle) to get up the sides some. That drop door is NOT hand friendly! Plus, it's not flush with the bottom of the hopper, making getting the sawdust out trickier. I had a piece of 3/4" wide flat bar that I used to scrape down the sloping sides of the hopper. Once I got the hopper as free of sawdust as I could (didn't try the shop vac--not sure if it would fit thru the little door?), I put in a pound or so of fresh, dry pellets, and went to the front.
I turned the smoker on and turned to High. Held the Prime button for what seemed like an eternity until all of the sawdust cleared and pellets were feeding. So glad they started feeding--I thought I was going to have to try and remove the auger assembly ???
I used the smoker on Mother's Day, and it worked fine. I'm not sure if all of the sawdust is cleared out, but I had zero issues with temps for the 3+ hours I was smoking, so I'm thankful for that.
Now, to go check and see if the fitted Pit Boss cover made a difference with the nearly all day rains we had yesterday! (Will report back on that in a bit.)
Skip
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did you just clean through the trap door or is there some other way to get to the auger?
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I just cleaned thru the door. Not sure how to access the auger. (Glad I didn't have to find out too!)
Like I said above, I had a piece of bar stock long enough to reach from the hopper loading door on top to scrape down the sides, thru that protective grid.
Skip
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Well, just checked the smoker...took the cover off and saw this:
[ Invalid Attachment ]
Apparently the seams on the Pit Boss cover are not waterproof. Heart sank. Grabbed a small bucket and went to the back of the smoker, opened the pellet drop door, and dry pellets came out :clap:!
Still may build a small 'deck' with casters, leaving a small gap between the boards for airflow.
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I am probably going to remove that protective guard in the pellet hopper and scoop out as many good pellets as I can. Then I will work on the trap door. Thanks for the tips.
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Be careful with either the drop door or the opening (or both). Some sharp edges down there!
Hope to do some ribs today.
Skip
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I didn't go look at mine, but looking at the manual, it looks like there is a louvered piece right under the hopper/pellet dump that covered the auger motor. so it should be easy to get to. Not for me I would have to put it on it's side or something, my days of laying down to fix things are pretty much over.
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Well, just checked the smoker...took the cover off and saw this:
[ Invalid Attachment ]
Apparently the seams on the Pit Boss cover are not waterproof. Heart sank. Grabbed a small bucket and went to the back of the smoker, opened the pellet drop door, and dry pellets came out :clap:!
Still may build a small 'deck' with casters, leaving a small gap between the boards for airflow.
Mine has not leaked, but just to be safe I will put an old firepit cover on top of the Pit Boss cover.
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Here are some pics of what I discovered once I opened the pellet door. I ended up using a small bus pan to wedge underneath to get most of the pellet dust out. Now, I need to figure out how to get to the pellet dust that is in the auger channel to empty that out. Not a happy camper right now.
That pellet release door is pretty useless unless you have a bus pan. I think if you tried to use a bucket or one of those Kingsford containers to empty out pellets into you would have them all over the ground.
Will probably end up setting it on a table to figure out how to get to the auger to clean it out.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1724/27478140587_460c09683c_c.jpg)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1752/42299243042_1d1f5eb5e8_c.jpg)
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Yikes!
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A pellet nightmare. As for the dust, try a leaf blower. Just make sure you are down wind.
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A pellet nightmare. As for the dust, try a leaf blower. Just make sure you are down wind.
I vacuumed most of that out. I need to get to the jammed auger now.
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Wow, that's terrible - enough to convince me not to get the Copperhead. Of course moisture is always the enemy of pellet grills, but this design seems very susceptible to it. I've seen a few reports already for folks having the same problem. Hopefully they do a manufacturing change to improve it.
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This post is why I won't be smoking anything on the Copperhead this week due to I am in the path of heavy rain for about 5 days. I also have the Pit Boss cover on plus another cover over the top.
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This post is why I won't be smoking anything on the Copperhead this week due to I am in the path of heavy rain for about 5 days. I also have the Pit Boss cover on plus another cover over the top.
Why not just dump the pellets out?
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This is a serious bummer, I was about to pick up a Copperhead this weekend. I have a covered gazebo but it still can get a bit of rain in when its blowing hard enough. Would some sealant or gasket around the hopper empty door help or is that not where the water is getting in?
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This is a serious bummer, I was about to pick up a Copperhead this weekend. I have a covered gazebo but it still can get a bit of rain in when its blowing hard enough. Would some sealant or gasket around the hopper empty door help or is that not where the water is getting in?
I believe the water got in through the pellet empty door as the pellets at the top of the hopper were dry. But the moisture was enough for it to deteriorate several inches of pellets at the bottom. I thought about putting some caulk or something around the outside of that door, but would probably have to redo it every time the pellet door is used. I am sure someone with some metal fabrication skills could create some sort of overhang that would cover the opening that would probably stop water from being able to get in. Sorta like an exterior dryer vent type shape but smaller.
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Why not just dump the pellets out?
Because you just shouldn't have to do that, especially with the cover on! From some of the reports I've heard, it's not just the hopper but you have to clear the auger too or moisture will get in there and swell up, blocking it.
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For the price, this is still a great smoker. I learned my lesson, and will keep it dry once I get the time to get to the auger. I don't want to mess with it today while I have 3 other smokers going and 2 dehydrators.
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Thanks for the information, now to decide if I want to deal with this or not.
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Why not just dump the pellets out?
Because you just shouldn't have to do that, especially with the cover on! From some of the reports I've heard, it's not just the hopper but you have to clear the auger too or moisture will get in there and swell up, blocking it.
I don't believe Bar-B-Lew had a cover on it, I think he left it uncovered in a rain storm on his patio.
And my point was, if you are that worried about it that you are double covering it, isn't it easier just to dump the pellets and not worry at all.
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I have not looked at clean out door since putting it together, I was thinking if you tapes the hopper wiped with a bit of veg oil then applied a small bead of silicone RTV around the door and closed it and left it for a day or so to cure, take the tape off you should have it sealed up, the only problem is that in your picture it looks cut out on the hinge side. not sure it would seal there.
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This is a serious bummer, I was about to pick up a Copperhead this weekend. I have a covered gazebo but it still can get a bit of rain in when its blowing hard enough. Would some sealant or gasket around the hopper empty door help or is that not where the water is getting in?
I believe the water got in through the pellet empty door as the pellets at the top of the hopper were dry. But the moisture was enough for it to deteriorate several inches of pellets at the bottom. I thought about putting some caulk or something around the outside of that door, but would probably have to redo it every time the pellet door is used. I am sure someone with some metal fabrication skills could create some sort of overhang that would cover the opening that would probably stop water from being able to get in. Sorta like an exterior dryer vent type shape but smaller.
Could you simply fab a "U" shaped deflector that goes around the top and sides of the door, held in place w/ silicone? It doesn't have to be very high. 1/4" should work.. Just so the water coming down the side, hits the deflector and follows it " around" the door.
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The subject of water entry may present an opportunity to add an other test parameter to our product evaluations. For whatever the reason; design or manufacturing, something went awry w/ the Copperhead.
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I belong to 4 or 5 different pellet groups on FB the Pit Boss folks seem to have a lot of water/cemented auger issues for some reason. Granted most are in the barrel cookers. but the GMG or RT folks rarely have that issue.
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I was thinking the same thing with the sealant but I didnt notice that cutout part by the hinge. Eh, I am still going to end up buying one...pretty much already talked myself into it. I will likely use hardwood pellets for heat and my Apple/Cherry/Hickory for use in the AMNPS so I wont have much reason to use the empty door and can just seal it up if I it becomes an issue.
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Thank you for this! I have some other comments, but they would just xxxx a few folks off so will keep them to myself!
For the price, this is still a great smoker. I learned my lesson, and will keep it dry once I get the time to get to the auger. I don't want to mess with it today while I have 3 other smokers going and 2 dehydrators.
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Thank you for this! I have some other comments, but they would just xxxx a few folks off so will keep them to myself!
For the price, this is still a great smoker. I learned my lesson, and will keep it dry once I get the time to get to the auger. I don't want to mess with it today while I have 3 other smokers going and 2 dehydrators.
Yeah, didn't mean to bad mouth the company or the equipment. Could the design be better, yes. Do I take accountability for it, yes. Like other pits, you need to learn your pit. I've had two auger jams in my MAK over the years for reasons not as "clear" to me as this one. I am probably more upset that the timing was bad due to my plans to use it for my big jerky cook this holiday weekend. I will fix it and it shouldn't happen again to me.
I was certainly pleased with the performance on my first jerky cook. I do want to try it for a chicken wing cook.
Let's also remember that Pellet Fan did not do a performance test. They tested things that the people that participated in the raffle asked to be performed. I don't want my issue to put a sour taste in the mouth of future raffles. I would not even thought of testing such a thing as I obviously didn't think about it when it was raining and my issue happened. Not the fault of Pellet Fan. It was my fault.
Canadian John, you described what I was thinking better than I did. I think that would work for those that will keep it outside all of the time.
I can't speak for a cover (or two) as I don't have one and don't intend on buying one.
I posted this thread so that people who have one or may be interested in buying one would know about this potential issue. No different than the pros and cons I have posted about the other 4 pellet grills I have. I try to be fair to all of them. I have not found a perfect pellet grill yet and I have 5 of them on my patio right now.
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I stopped today at a Walmart nearby and they had 1 left...now they have none. Very much looking forward to learning new things about a new smoker. Thanks for this thread, it gave me something to pay extra attention to as I learn how this unit works for me.
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I stopped today at a Walmart nearby and they had 1 left...now they have none. Very much looking forward to learning new things about a new smoker. Thanks for this thread, it gave me something to pay extra attention to as I learn how this unit works for me.
Glad to hear. That was my intent. Give members here a heads up on something they need to pay attention to.
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I apologize if I offended anyone. I was trying to be helpful and offer my opinion..We are a great group with an extremely hard working and dedicated owner. We are here to enjoy ourselves and share information.
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I don't believe Bar-B-Lew had a cover on it, I think he left it uncovered in a rain storm on his patio.
Thanks, I stand corrected, and Bar-B-Lew confirmed as well that it wasn't covered. Definitely a case of knowing the limitations of the cooker and something to be aware of...
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There was no bad mouthing, NO ONE has been out of line...and I am glad I did not make the comments I was going to...as it appears some did not know it was not covered!
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The 2 simplest solutions I can come up with is black electrical tape along the top and sides. Should stay in place in a rain storm and easy enough to remove and apply new when necessary. This more of a quick fix or temporary band aid type solution. A more permanent solution would be a 10" or so piece of 1"x1" angle siliconed and riveted /screwed to the back an inch or so above the door. Even better to straighten the angle just a little.
Mine stays under the over hang on my back patio. It extends more than 5 feet in every direction beyond my grill but I move it closer to the edge to cook. That said, I might go ahead and apply a solution to this issue before I have an opportunity to experience it.
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That said, I might go ahead and apply a solution to this issue before I have an opportunity to experience it.
This is the type of reason I created this thread so that people could be made aware of the issue before it becomes an issue for them. And, I think your electrical tape idea may work. You could empty everything out, apply the tape, and run some water down the back to see if you get any inside. Use a hair dryer to dry it out of you did.
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with the finish ob the unit I would think you could use duct tape or even a piece of aluminum tape and it would come off easily when needed.