Pellet Dust Nightmare !

[Cii21234]

Model Austin XL
These all were PB Brand Pellets!!!

I initially burned 40lbs of Competition Pellets with no issues. Then refilled Hopper with PB Hickory Pellets and after 3 days of rain the Auger froze solid. On closer inspection I determined that the bottom half of the Hopper was impacted with 100% dust. The was no water in the Hopper, the dust hardened in the Auger tube like concrete, just from Humidity. Disassembled and had to use a crow bar to dislodge the Auger, and then pounded a long piece of PVC pipe through the Auger tube to clean. As a result of the jam, the Auger Motor stripped the reduction Gears in the transmission rendering the Motor useless. The electronics should have sensed the lock up and stopped the Motor before it stripped the gears. The display showed no error codes and the motor continued to run. Took me 4 hours of disassembly and diagnostics. So put out with Pit Boss, I ordered a replacement motor from Amazon, (SP6016G) $ 24 bucks. I will for sure sift the Pellets in the future. Wondering if any of you have had the simular issues?


Best,
Jay Dallas, TX

 

[Mike From R.I.]

I went to Bear Mountain, less dust and crumbs for pellets like Pit Boss has.

 

[Cii21234]

Thanks so much, I'll try Bear Mountain.

 

[MikeInFla]

I always sift. Bear Mountain pellets for me too. I rarely buy PB pellets unless they are on clearance and I’ll always sift them. I’ve had good luck with the brand from Sam’s Club as well.

 

[Cii21234]

Mike Thanks so much.

 

[Sparky]

I always sift. Bear Mountain pellets for me too. I rarely buy PB pellets unless they are on clearance and I’ll always sift them. I’ve had good luck with the brand from Sam’s Club as well.

Same here

 

[Cii21234]

Thanks so much, I tried a bag of Treager today and they were clean as a pin.

 

[MikeInFla]

Try Bear Mountain. I’ve never used Treager but I’ve heard they don’t result in much smoke flavor. We have a video round here somewhere and a guy compares all the leading brands. Will have to find it, he does a good job on each brand.

 

[t-roy]

I too tried bear mountain for the first time and sifted what little dust there was out. I have also tried Cabelas hickory and competition blend and both were really clean bags. Thats all the ones that I have used. Tractor supply carries the bear mountain brand if there is one close to you.

 

[Cii21234]

Try Bear Mountain. I’ve never used Treager but I’ve heard they don’t result in much smoke flavor. We have a video round here somewhere and a guy compares all the leading brands. Will have to find it, he does a good job on each brand.

Thanks so much, will try Bear Mountain.

 

[Cii21234]

Thanks so much, will try Bear Mountain.

 

[Dad_Roman]

Ive used B&B Champions Blend from the beginning. Never a problem.

BUT, I cover my pit with a PitBoss Cover and I roll it under the back porch when it rains. (convienient)

 

[t-roy]

I also clean the grill and empty the hopper except for the auger and cover, then place under the deck where it gets no rain. I checked on it Sunday and it was fine. If I know Im not going to cook for a month I will empty the auger by putting it on prime untill all the pellets are out then blow the auger area out with my compressor. That does the trick.

 

[rewagner]

I had a freeze-up on my PB Lockhart...not sure why? But once I determined it was frozen I took the hopper off and follow some instructions I found online on how to free up a frozen auger. Was pretty simple...take off the small screw that connects the auger to the motor and hand turn until you clear the jam...then move the auger in and out to make sure all is clear. Reassemble and test. Have not had a freeze-up since.

 

[b.beach]

Austin xl is the worse grill that I ever had in my life. Had just as soon cook on a camp fire. Have put 5 controllers, and 3 heat sensors and It still don't control heats. also spent $80.00 on after market fixes. Have tried every suggestion that pit boss has given has given me. when I put new controller on it may cook 3or 4 times then heats are all over the place. It is kept on back porch with a cover on it, has never been in weather. As much as I paid for it would expect better support from Pit Boss ,Seems that they would have offered some thing that would have been some thing to make me believe that they cared about customer service. Take my advice if you buy one you will be on your own.