Pellet JAM on Slope

Not sure what to tell since you have one of the new UL design units. If you don't get an answer before Monday, call Tony at Cookshack.

John

I just thought of one thing. You might see if raising the two left legs up a little bit (1/4-1/2") to see if that helps. But no more than that as you will change the drain patterns of the fat runoff in the bottom of the cooker.

John

Maybe check the level before you change things, and call customer service.
Peggy

I have a FEC UL unit and I make sure that the trailer it is on is setting as close to level front to back and side to side and I have not had a problem with the pellets catching on fire on the slide to the hopper. I think I would check and make sure you are close to level. This is important for your grease to drain also.

Cooked on smoker again today, put a level on the smoker and adjusted so there was a slight fall in the direction the pellets are falling. I also cleaned the pellet slope with sandpaper and steel wool. Worked good for about three hours, then Same thing pellets jamming not in the auger but on the slope going to the fire pot. The pellets would be burning on the slope and falling to the bottom of smoker, never making it to the pot. I used the Traeger Hickory pellets that came with the smoker. I will call customer service tomorrow, any help would sure be appreciated, thanks. Gordon.

Are there any major differences in the UL units as opposed to the pre-UL units? If so, could you tell what they are? Thanks.

Tom,

The augur was shortened to come to the firewall and raised up some. From there, a V-shaped slide was put in from the augur to the burn pot for the pellets being fed in to slide down to the burn pot. This was done, I think, to take away the potential of the fire coming back up through the augur on the pre-UL unit.

John

Yes,

Speaking of fire coming back up the auger, it happened to me last week.

Have two FE's on the trailing and the one pointing into the south wind had the problem. The wind was blowing 30 to 40 (average day here in OK

I noticed the temp was going up and checked and smoke was coming out the hopper (not a usual occurance) so I took out the pellets from the hopper and sure enough those on the bottom, nearest the auger were smoldering.

I now have a vent cap for use on windy days.

Always something new to learn in Q.

Russ

Smokin,
When did you get your smokers? Are they the older models, too?
Peggy

Peggy,

Russ is not kidding about the wind. OK City is windier than Chicago!

John

Peggy,

They're actually on a trailer I borrowed from Stuart and they are they older model with an auger. With the vent caps on, it not only helps with the wind blowing in, but any rain also.

Gordon,
I am not sure I understand. Your saying that the fire was going up the slope and the pellets were catching on fire? I don't see how this could happen. I got to see on of the new ones last week and the pellets just slide a long way down. Your saying the the pellets would not slide down the shoot? I know the auger is shorter now, but it is also higher up and away from the fire box. This is nice because if you ever do get pellet creat it will be alot easier to get it freed than the older ones. The ones I got to see slide real nice down the slide. It also seemed to smoke alittle more that the older ones that I have seen.
If you can't get it figured out call cookshack they will fix the problem for sure.

Craig

Craig I will try to explain what has happen, the pellet auger extends out 3 inches from the inside of the smoker and like you said it is above the burn pot. The pellets drop onto a slide, which is about 7 inches long, this lets the pellets slide to the burn pot. After awhile the pellets will stick about 2/3 of the way down the slide not making it to the burn pot. The smoker temperature falls off and the auger keeps dropping more pellets on the slide filling up the slide, when the slide has filled up the pellets spill over the side of the slide onto the bottom of the smoker. The pellets that have built up on the slide will start burning on the slide. I seam to have the only one with this problem. I have called Stuart at Cookshack, I will let you know what they come up with. In the meanwhile I will experiment myself wanting to use it again this weekend. Any help appreciated. Gordon

Pellet jam on slope resolved. Cookshack sent me a new FEC100. The reason I bought the smoker from Cookshack was the ease of operation and what I had heard about their customer service. Cookshack's customer service is truly second to none. Thanks Cookshack. Gordon

Just out of curiosity Gordon, what was different with the slope on the new one versus the old one so that it resolved your problem?

John

Haven't tried new one yet, just figured it will be okay. I just got it this evening and have it unpacked, so I probably won't use it til this weekend It looks like the pellet slope is a little longer and the pot is lower to the bottom. Will let you all know. Gordon

Gordon,
I love to hear cumtomer service success stories!
I hope that takes care of the problem. Best of luck.
Peggy