Least favorite thing about my pitboss, it “runs out of pellets” at about half full.
I know pellet grills are “easy bake ovens” compared to stick smokers but god I hate when this happens so much, it takes me 10-15 mins of holding the prime button to get it relit, all with half a hopper of pellets left.
by killaho69
14 Comments
One_Moose_3041
Same! What’s the solution.
tom4070
I wonder if you could put an indented line or channel going to the bottom. I’m thinking a puddy knife wrapped in a rag and a couple of taps of the hammer?
Evening-Animal-4820
tilt your smoker away from the hopper slightly. still happens but not that dramatically.
Leadme67
Wow – crazy. My campchef will be down to the last few and never complain.
IBeJewFro
I used A narrow silicone spatula to push them towards the hopper when this happens.
Fun-Deal8815
Remove the grate then you can pushed the pellets down so it doesn’t happen. But I have never had this problem. But I did remove the grate ( safty so you don’t put your hand in agure) but your smarter then that right
Drayton2K
I have a pair of chopsticks that sit in that little area under the pellet lid that i use to move pellets around when needed.
TemperatureNo3775
I use a paint mixing stick to move them around in there. Don’t have to do it very often.
warpathsrb
I got my metal grinder out and got rid of the grate. Then mix it up before a smoke
Middle_Ask_8694
Extendable shoe horn works great too
whyiswaterwetter
I saw that Pit Boss has an extended pellet box that will fit on several models including mine. I’m tempted to get it for the long cooks.
I did remove my grate so I move the pellets around with my hand when needed.
Technical_Newt6494
For long cooks you could use a hopper extension that goes on top and allows you to add more pellets by up to 20 pounds. I made my own extension since there isn’t one for my model. I used a cheap bucket from dollar store and cut the bottom out then put it in the hopper and filled it up. I don’t have to check it for many many hours.
HalfFullPessimist
What model do you have?
Also, maybe humidity makes the pellets “sticky” so they don’t fall down as easily?
GroggimusPrime
I have a kebob skewer that I use to push the pellets around with when it gets like this, but I also try to keep it topped off just so I don’t end up “ running out “ mid cook.
14 Comments
Same! What’s the solution.
I wonder if you could put an indented line or channel going to the bottom. I’m thinking a puddy knife wrapped in a rag and a couple of taps of the hammer?
tilt your smoker away from the hopper slightly. still happens but not that dramatically.
Wow – crazy. My campchef will be down to the last few and never complain.
I used A narrow silicone spatula to push them towards the hopper when this happens.
Remove the grate then you can pushed the pellets down so it doesn’t happen. But I have never had this problem. But I did remove the grate ( safty so you don’t put your hand in agure) but your smarter then that right
I have a pair of chopsticks that sit in that little area under the pellet lid that i use to move pellets around when needed.
I use a paint mixing stick to move them around in there. Don’t have to do it very often.
I got my metal grinder out and got rid of the grate. Then mix it up before a smoke
Extendable shoe horn works great too
I saw that Pit Boss has an extended pellet box that will fit on several models including mine. I’m tempted to get it for the long cooks.
I did remove my grate so I move the pellets around with my hand when needed.
For long cooks you could use a hopper extension that goes on top and allows you to add more pellets by up to 20 pounds. I made my own extension since there isn’t one for my model. I used a cheap bucket from dollar store and cut the bottom out then put it in the hopper and filled it up. I don’t have to check it for many many hours.
What model do you have?
Also, maybe humidity makes the pellets “sticky” so they don’t fall down as easily?
I have a kebob skewer that I use to push the pellets around with when it gets like this, but I also try to keep it topped off just so I don’t end up “ running out “ mid cook.