I sheared an auger shaft pin this weekend....this ever happen to anybody else. Does this happen often? I don't see anything that would have caused it (ie rock or something in the pellets).
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I think I may have heard of one,a few years ago.
I don't believe it was on the forum.though.
I don't believe it was on the forum.though.
Brad,
I responded to your post over on the other forum, but didn't really elaborate. I have three FE-100's. I stopped counting the lbs. of pellets I've used a year ago, but it's got to be over 5000 lbs by now. In all of that time and with three units, I've only broken two pins.
You expressed your concern about cooking at a contest and having a pin break. Obviously it can happen. For that reason, I carry about every possible part that could break during competition. After all, it's expensive to compete, and if you break down, you're out of it all together. The parts I carry are that #6 set screw that is the auger shaft pin, spare fuses (did you see that they must be purchased at Radio Shack and that there is one of them attached to the circuit board?), an old Smoke/Medium/High circuit board, the fan motor, and the auger motor. Knock on wood, all I've ever needed was the set screw, but I have these things for me or any other pellet cooker at the contest that weekend.
Rod
I responded to your post over on the other forum, but didn't really elaborate. I have three FE-100's. I stopped counting the lbs. of pellets I've used a year ago, but it's got to be over 5000 lbs by now. In all of that time and with three units, I've only broken two pins.
You expressed your concern about cooking at a contest and having a pin break. Obviously it can happen. For that reason, I carry about every possible part that could break during competition. After all, it's expensive to compete, and if you break down, you're out of it all together. The parts I carry are that #6 set screw that is the auger shaft pin, spare fuses (did you see that they must be purchased at Radio Shack and that there is one of them attached to the circuit board?), an old Smoke/Medium/High circuit board, the fan motor, and the auger motor. Knock on wood, all I've ever needed was the set screw, but I have these things for me or any other pellet cooker at the contest that weekend.
Rod
You're a good man Rodney. I don't care what Lampe says about you. LOL.
We have gotten to the point that carry fuses for the inverters we use also.
We have gotten to the point that carry fuses for the inverters we use also.
Good information Rodney, thanks. Can i just cook next to you, so i don't have to bring all that stuff 
I got the smoker back up and running last night, but one thing kinda has me concerned.....the hole in the motor end of the shaft is now looking a little bit oval (as opposed to round). I'm thinking that could start to elongate and twist the shear bolt and cause more pin failures.
I got the smoker back up and running last night, but one thing kinda has me concerned.....the hole in the motor end of the shaft is now looking a little bit oval (as opposed to round). I'm thinking that could start to elongate and twist the shear bolt and cause more pin failures.
Hey Brad,
Don't quote me, but I think that whole was oblong before. I know I looked at that myself and wondered the same thing.
Other than that pin problem, how's your new cooker treating you?
Rod
P.S. - Thnx John, I knew I could count on you.
Don't quote me, but I think that whole was oblong before. I know I looked at that myself and wondered the same thing.
Other than that pin problem, how's your new cooker treating you?
Rod
P.S. - Thnx John, I knew I could count on you.
Really starting to enjoy it. It took a number of cooks before finally starting to feel comfortable with it. (thats pretty much true with any cooker though)
I did a rib cook last night (because i couldn't cook them saturday, because of the auger problem) and with very little effort they came out dead-on in tenderness and flavor. It seem a little too easy.
I did a rib cook last night (because i couldn't cook them saturday, because of the auger problem) and with very little effort they came out dead-on in tenderness and flavor. It seem a little too easy.