Yikes How Big A Problem is This

Griller guy · Sunday at 6:22 PM

Since I live in Florida I drain the pellets every time I know it will be a while before I use it again since it is so humid. I actually pull the plug plus use a shop vac to suck it out as much as I can see. Not perfect but I thought it was good enough. The pit boss is out back with a cover. Last night my wife asked what model mine was, since it is Christmas I did not ask many questions. Just to make sure I was telling her correctly I went out uncovered it and lifted the hopper lid to get the model number (850PS). Well I came back and unfortunately got caught up in other stuff and did not go back out and cover it back. This morning I remembered and it rained last night and sat there with the lid open in the rain. The hopper and auger are clean but it looks like Lava is flowing out the auger tube. I cleansed as far in as a could and checked the fire box and the ones there were dry. I turned it on and the auger does not move. Is there a way to clean it without tearing it down? Can you tear it down? Thanks.

sparkyv · Sunday at 6:55 PM

Most likely the auger is going to have to be backed out so you can get that swollen mush out. Plenty of how-to videos on the interwebs.

Griller guy · Sunday at 8:25 PM

sparkyv said:
Most likely the auger is going to have to be backed out so you can get that swollen mush out. Plenty of how-to videos on the interwebs.

Thanks, I pulled up a couple videos and looks pretty straight forward so I will sleep easier tonight knowing I did not ruin it. I will also up my game on cleaning it and emptying the pellets from now on. I knew I was leaving some in the tube but from the amount of swelled pellets that pushed out it was a lot more then I thought. From now on I will empty and burn out what’s left in the tube. Thanks for the reply.

Ol' Smokey · Sunday at 11:59 PM

Ya, i always burn mine out. Crank temp to hi, empty pellets and let it run until temp drops to about 250. Then shut it down and let it do its thing until it shuts off. I vacuum out the ash before every cook. Then i move the hose on the shopvac (cheap HF) to the exhaust outlet and blow out the auger tube. Gets alot out even after vacuuming.

Got it on sale for $25. Then took the $10 two year replacement warranty. Take it in towards the end of the warranty and say its acting up and walk out with a new one. HF really honors their warranty well.....