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.