Hopper grid removal?

[JOE URSICH]

Hey everyone, sorry if this has already been asked before. Has anyone else attempted to remove the grid cover inside the hopper? Not sure why it's there or why it's needed but it's a pain to try to remove pellets to swap them out with the grid in the way. Thoughts?

👁 left the 2 back screws in place, removed the 2 front, so it works like a door , empty hopper on back side Drain spout. Confused go to YouTube

 

[Badgersmoking]

Someone correct me if I'm missing something with this solution, BUT - if the concern is to keep children's hands out of the auger whats to keep the kids from just lifting the grate off the new shelf brackets and then playing in the pellets and being in danger of the arguer. A simple latch for the lid, one that would be hard for a child to manipulate, would make more sense.

 

[Kicked Ash]

Someone correct me if I'm missing something with this solution, BUT - if the concern is to keep children's hands out of the auger whats to keep the kids from just lifting the grate off the new shelf brackets and then playing in the pellets and being in danger of the arguer. A simple latch for the lid, one that would be hard for a child to manipulate, would make more sense.

For me (after installing the brackets), I still have to pull up hard to get the screen out. It just doesn't lay in there loose, but it is a lot easier then removing the screws every time. When Pit Boss makes these Smokers... they do a very nice job. Not a lot of tolerance or extra room with that screen.

 

[Badgersmoking]

Thanks for the clarification KA. If it ever warms enough in WI, I'll test mine out. Looks like your maybe a few hours north of where I use to live in Oregon. Nice area,

 

[Kicked Ash]

Thanks for the clarification KA. If it ever warms enough in WI, I'll test mine out. Looks like your maybe a few hours north of where I use to live in Oregon. Nice area,

Love it here (lived in Oregon my whole life)... although the "Liquid-Sunshine" is flooding everything right now, but we hopefully won't have a drought and severe wildfires again this summer.

 

[Badgersmoking]

Wild fires out there can really be dangerous. We lived south of Roseburg about 30 miles. Small town in the hills called Days Creek. My brother in law was a fire fighter for a number of years in that area. Glad he is out of it now.

 

[Kicked Ash]

Wild fires out there can really be dangerous. We lived south of Roseburg about 30 miles. Small town in the hills called Days Creek. My brother in law was a fire fighter for a number of years in that area. Glad he is out of it now.

Beautiful area. I love taking waterfall images in that region (lots to shoot). I retired from the Fire Dept. in Corvallis (25 years + 4 years a volunteer for Tualatin/Sherwood). Thus my login name here on Pit Boss... "Kicked Ash"... because that's what I did for a living.

 

[Rob123]

Removed mine as well. Be sure to silicone the holes so water doesn't get in or use metal tape on the inside to cover them. Have not had any issues with pellets swelling or jamming the auger for two years being outside. One guy had issues after removing the grate because he didn't plug the holes and water got in. as Far as safety is concerned, really? have you ever watched how SLOW that auger turns? You'd literally need to be a sloth to get stuck in that.

Thanks for the advice, I see why it's called an idiot grate. Bought my vertical 5 series from Walmart a couple of years ago and they already had it assembled. Wish I would have built it myself and I would be more comfortable making moderations. Next cook, no grate

 

[JOE URSICH]

Thanks for the advice, I see why it's called an idiot grate. Bought my vertical 5 series from Walmart a couple of years ago and they already had it assembled. Wish I would have built it myself and I would be more comfortable making moderations. Next cook, no grate

I like the Grate , but I modified it,left the 2 bolts in back, removed 2 front lifted up put 2 longer bolts so when you drop the grid down it has a stopping point.
I put my Gloves on top of the grid . I also put a piece of card board with a note of flavor of my BEAR MOUNTAIN pellets.
Ask 2 people for a opinion and you’ll get 3. Good Luck

 

[Kawrider750]

Hey everyone, sorry if this has already been asked before. Has anyone else attempted to remove the grid cover inside the hopper? Not sure why it's there or why it's needed but it's a pain to try to remove pellets to swap them out with the grid in the way. Thoughts?

I seen a guy on YouTube and he removed his and then just put the screws back in with Nuts on the inside. (W/out the rack)
That way you can set it back in on top of the screws. Very easy removal and replacement and still have probe storage.
I replace mine with longer screws just because that's what I had on hand.

Hey everyone, sorry if this has already been asked before. Has anyone else attempted to remove the grid cover inside the hopper? Not sure why it's there or why it's needed but it's a pain to try to remove pellets to swap them out with the grid in the way. Thoughts?

 

[Kawrider750]

I seen a guy on YouTube and he removed his and then just put the screws back in with Nuts on the inside. (W/out the rack)
That way you can set it back in on top of the screws. Very easy removal and replacement and still have probe storage.
I replace mine with longer screws just because that's what I had on hand.

Eliminates the holes also.LOL

 

[Gerrit]

Hey everyone, sorry if this has already been asked before. Has anyone else attempted to remove the grid cover inside the hopper? Not sure why it's there or why it's needed but it's a pain to try to remove pellets to swap them out with the grid in the way. Thoughts?

Obviously a safety/liability feature. Tin snips made mine disappear.

 

[Jimsmokes]

Obviously a safety/liability feature. Tin snips made mine disappear.

Did mine the same way then folded the cut edges under. So I wouldn't scratch/cut myself on them.

 

[Steve In Pa]

I was going to remove my grate because some water from a heavy rain leaked down inside and got some pellets wet. However, turns out my shop vac hose extensions fit down between the grid easily so I was able to vacuum out the wet ones.

 

[Dab942]

I left mine in figuring it might add some support to the smoker on my vertical when I'm moving it around. I use a wooden dowel to move the pellets while smoking and to get them out the door when changing pellets, the little that's left will be burnt up during the heat up.

This.

I removed mine the other day to replace my controller. I was going to leave it off -- top of my vertical felt too flimsy without it.

I use a four foot piece of 1/4" pvc to move the pellets.