Pellet Fan

All Things Considered => General Discussion--Non food Related => Topic started by: yorkdude on August 24, 2019, 08:42:22 AM

Title: Pit Boss pellet jam
Post by: yorkdude on August 24, 2019, 08:42:22 AM
BBL, I think you had this issue. I always keep it covered but don’t dump the pellets. Anyway I have 20# of jerky and went to start it, NO feed. Pure sawdust. Cleaned what I could through the dump door but still no auger. Need to get some help as to do what next. Anyone else please chime in but I don’t think this is going to be a good time.
Title: Re: Pit Boss pellet jam
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on August 24, 2019, 10:49:22 AM
I sent you a PM with a link to instructions on how to fix it.  Hopefully, the link will work.
Title: Re: Pit Boss pellet jam
Post by: Canadian John on August 24, 2019, 10:59:07 AM
 
You need to free up the auger. First try tapping on the end of the auger just enough to shock it, not to damage it. If that doesn't do it or you would rather not; remove the auger motor and try tapping on that end and/or lock onto the shaft with Vicegrips and rotate both ways until it breaks loose..Make sure it is free. Disconnect the igniter and start it up until all good looking pellets start to flow. Clean up the mess. Reconnect the igniter and go. Either water got into the pellets to break them down  and caused them to solidify or there is something foreign in the pellets that has jammed things up..
Title: Re: Pit Boss pellet jam
Post by: ZCZ on August 24, 2019, 05:56:31 PM
Had that happen to me on my Memphis Select when it was up at the cabin. I left pellets in the hopper & did not get back up there for a while. After a hard driving rain moisture got in to the pellets in the auger tube. Of course they swelled & the auger motor would not turn. Had to remove the auger motor from the end of the auger shaft then had to beat the auger out of the auger tube with a hammer.
Z
Title: Re: Pit Boss pellet jam
Post by: Bentley on August 24, 2019, 08:02:00 PM
Been a long time since I had to pull and auger, but man is it a bear!
Title: Re: Pit Boss pellet jam
Post by: yorkdude on August 25, 2019, 06:08:23 AM
What a pain. Door off, gutted, chimney off, upside down and basically everything off underneath. Took about an hour and 3 bandaids. Can’t even get close to the auger shaft without all of the above. Waited a long time for the tech (1-20 minutes) but did get 5 year parts, 25% off anything they sell and 4 more racks with 8 supports, might have helped that I dropped Pelletfan name. She said she was familiar with the site. Anyway back to puffing. Thanks Lew, got your PM but was well underway.
Title: Re: Pit Boss pellet jam
Post by: ylr on August 25, 2019, 07:09:07 AM
Certainly looks like a design flaw on Danson's part; is that rust trying to form around the chimney?
Title: Re: Pit Boss pellet jam
Post by: yorkdude on August 25, 2019, 07:44:16 AM
Certainly looks like a design flaw on Danson's part; is that rust trying to form around the chimney?

No rust, its smoke residue. Not sure what they were thinking because I have cleaned easier ones, however as noted below, they set it up so this can be avoided. I won’t do it again though as I plan on dumping it each time and let the auger empty. They did put a auger primer function on it as well as the pellet dump also. I am chalking this up to Operator error.
Title: Re: Pit Boss pellet jam
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on August 25, 2019, 10:04:38 AM
Were the instructions good as I have yet to take care of this on mine and it has probably been close to a year not in use.
Title: Re: Pit Boss pellet jam
Post by: Bentley on August 25, 2019, 10:19:59 AM
Ahh, personal accountability, so rare, so refreshing!


I am chalking this up to Operator error.
Title: Re: Pit Boss pellet jam
Post by: yorkdude on August 25, 2019, 12:35:20 PM
Were the instructions good as I have yet to take care of this on mine and it has probably been close to a year not in use.
Spot on. It was literally concrete though. 2nd time for an auger jam neither have been fun. Truly though, both times my fault. Should have learned the 1st time. Different grills though.
On a different note, I am worried about the Davey Crocket, spent all summer in the garage.