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Auger Won't Turn During Startup

Auger motor with small cooling fan on the front

If there are wood pellets in the firepot, that means the auger motor is working. You will also be able to see the auger intermittently, slowly rotating.

New Grill Auger Not Turning

For the first time you turn on the grill, it may take some time for the auger to start turning. Please wait for 4-8 minutes. If the auger is still not turning, please follow these steps:

Turn the dial back to the Shut Down Cycle and then turn off the power.
Check the wire connections first, then turn the power back on and set the dial to Smoke.
Wait for 4-8 minutes and observe the hopper to see if the auger starts turning.

Note: The small fan is turning all the time, while the auger turns very slowly and intermittently.

Auger Not Turning After Some Use

If the auger is not rotating, the auger motor could be faulty, or the auger shaft could be jammed. Here’s how to troubleshoot:

The auger moves intermittently and slowly: Please be patient and observe to determine if it eventually starts moving.
Check the wire connections: Verify that the wire connections between the Auger Motor and the Controller are secure. Alternatively, try swapping the feeding motor socket with the vent fan socket, and vice versa. Wait 2-3 minutes to see if both motors are operating. If they are, the issue is likely with the controller. If the auger motor still doesn't work, then it needs to be replaced. Contact the Support Team for replacement parts.

Pellets might be wet or jammed: If wet pellets in the auger or hopper are causing a jam, disassemble the hopper and auger to remove the pellets. After cleaning, reassemble and check if the auger functions properly again.
Check for metal parts or debris: Inspect the auger tube for any metal parts or foreign objects that could be blocking the auger.
Inspect the auger tube bushing: Disassemble the hopper to inspect the auger tube bushing to check if it's intact or broken.
Auger Jammed by Wet Pellets

If any moisture gets into the hopper or feed tube, the wood pellets, and especially the wood dust, can gradually harden like concrete. The image above shows dry pellets on the left and wet, swollen pellets on the right. If the pellets are still wet, they are soft and can be pushed out by the auger’s rotation. However, once they dry, they can bind up the auger shaft and need to be broken up and cleaned out.

Moist pellets are more common in very humid climates, especially when the grill has been left unused for a long time between uses. A lot of wood dust accumulated in the bottom of the hopper also increases the likelihood of this occurring. Pouring the wood dust at the bottom of the pellet bag into your hopper should be avoided. If the grill is not in use for an extended period, make sure to empty the pellets from the hopper and feed tube to prevent them from absorbing moisture, expanding, and clogging the auger.

Clearing hardened pellets from the auger shaft usually requires removing the entire auger shaft and cleaning it thoroughly. You can try breaking them up, but you'll only be able to access the small portion at the entrance of the feed tube, and it's likely the whole tube is filled with hardened wood pellets. So, follow the instructions below to access the auger shaft and clean it out.