CandySueQ
​​​​​​​Long? I don't know. Pellets vary in length. I'm going to try my "funnel" again. Was so sure it would work. Look forward to seeing the pictures. Thanks.
Bob.G
I have a Pro 22 and I've never had that issue. Does it happen right away or later in the cook. I've only used Traeger and B&B pellets in it. I also always start a cook with thee hopper filled to the brim.
Greasy
It happens almost any time during the smoke. Filling up the hopper I think is a good idea. So, you never "stir" the hopper during a smoke to make sure the pellets are not "tunneling"?
I do stir them when that cone gets formed over the auger but I do it to keep the older pellets on the bottom. I just never really thought about it going all the way down to the auger and starving it of pellets.
Having a Rec Tec 680 the only problem I ever had was a pellet to long, about 3 inches, clogged up the bottom of the funnel. Now I look at the pellets as I dump them in. if they are over 1 inch, I'll snap them in half. Usely run 1.5 to 2 40 lbs' a month.
I have a pit boss I bought the first of the year I have I burned over 200 pound o f pellets not a hick up I’ve used Traeger pellets Cabela pellets and one bag of camp s i’ve used Traeger pellets Cabela pellets and one bag of camp chefs I poor them in close the lid ive done 10 hr cook and lots of 6 hr cooks I hope I luck holds out
Yesterday I smoked a turkey. As I was letting the smoker get up to temp I noticed the temperature stated going down. I had filled the hopper to the brim. I don't know how it could be but the pellets had stopped feeding into the auger, I guess. I removed a few handfuls and gave the hopper a stir and the temp went back up. Every 30-60 minutes I go out there and stir the hopper. When I do that there is no problem. However, that's not "set it and forget". Btw, the bird came out great.
I've have had the Pro 22 for about a year with many cooks under the belt, and have never had a problem with the pellets feeding properly, nor the issue described in your last post. It sounds like the pellet intake into the auger might be the problem, but that is just a guess. Have you called Traeger to troubleshoot? If so, what did they say?
I did call. They said to stir the pellets from time to time. I suppose I should call again. So you have never had a situation where the pellets "tunneled" with the temp going down due to no pellets feeding through the auger? You typically "set it and forget it'? You never stir the pellets?
Never had the tunneling problem you describe. However, I do stir the pellets when I open the hopper to check the supply every few hours, but just more for the hell of it than any real need.
It sounds to me, after reading through this entire thread one more time, like you may have a problem with your auger. The pellets hanging up or tunneling is something that may occur from time to time but there is no way you should have to stir the hopper on a continuous basis. I suggest you empty your hopper completely and try advancing your auger manually and observing the results. It may be cycling wrong and causing the pellets to somehow jamb up.
If nothing else I would be wearing out the Treager hot line. They don't want you to be dissatisfied, make them part of the solution and don't let them blow you off.
OK. I will do that. I have reached out to them via email. I did get back some instructions to check to see if the augur is functioning correctly. Let's see if I can do it. I have to admit I'm not the handiest of guys. If I can't do it I'll call in over the weekend and get them to help me. I really appreciate everyone's help. Thanks.
Troutman, thank you. I don't consider myself even remotely in your league or for that matter anyone else in the forum. It was a 12lb bird. I set it a 225 for 3 hours and then moved it to 250 for two hours. Just short of five hours altogether. I used a mixture of hickory and mesquite. I used Jeff Phillips "lots of butter" recipe. I do enjoy it. I still work so I don't have a lot of time to play. Being in the Chicago area also limits me somewhat because of the weather. Anyway, thanks again.
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