So yeah bought this pellet smoker off fb marketplace for $20. Guy told me it worked fine but probably just needed a new control panel because sometimes it would start going up in temp. Been taking it apart and trying to clean it up. Had no idea how it all worked, been watching YT videos on how to clean out a jammed auger. There was a full load of pellets in it, I used a knife and vacuumed out the stuck pellets that were in that first part of the auger you can see. Been trying to remove that bushel where the auger turns, it won’t come out, not sure how I can get it out. All the videos say to pop it out and use a wrench to manually turn the auger and pull it out with the stuck wet pellets, which is what I’m trying to do but stuck on trying to get the bushel out. Am I SOL? Is there a way to get the bushel out I’m not realizing? Might’ve just wasted a lot of time and $20 on this thing. Any advice/help would be much appreciated! I’d love to get into the world of smoking but am on a tight budget. Also, I have not actually started it up to see if it work just maybe turn on its own. Just took it apart to replace the panel and stuff and came across this being stuck when I was trying to take the auger out. Should I crank it on and see if maybe it’ll just turn on its own? Thank you, have no idea what I’m doin like I said but trying to get there.
by WaywardOn
5 Comments
The bushings on all mine have a screw or a bolt holding them to the housing.
Sorry, should’ve added that the bushing had a screw holding it in. I got the screw out but it’s still stuck.
The bushing wont stop the auger from coming out if you removed the set screw. It looks rusted inside. I had to do this once before. If it wont twist at all, use a small pry bar on the auger and pliers on the end. Try to twist counter clockwise wise prying the auger towards you. If that doesnt break it free you can try heating the auger from the fire pot end with a blow torch. If that doesnt work use your hose and try and spray out the auger channel. I was able to get mine out with a pry bar and it was stuck for 2 years. I had to do the torch trick with a friend’s and that freed it up. Gl
I have a diff brand and model but have had to take out a stuck auger more than once.
My auger box actually comes completely out of the smoker but yours looks like it’s not able to do that.
I want to say last time it was a lot of tapping both inward and outward directions to loosen the auger enough I could slide it out. I had a little more leverage than what you’ve got with it permanently attached to the grill. But that’s what I would do – some wd40 and let it sit and then start tapping, being careful not to damage the end tip there.
You may be able to get some leverage from inside the grill where the auger ends and meets the heat plate.
I’ve unstuck 2 jammed augers but you may not like the solution. Basically a long pry bar and a sledge hammer. The pry bar should have a flat end at the handle side b/c that’s where you’ll be hitting it with the sledge hammer. Basically put the pry bar against the auger at the burn pot side and start banging away. You usually only need to get it to move a couple inches before it’ll loosen up enough to pull out.
It took me about 20 minutes and it was loud.