150PPS pellets burning into the auger tube.

[Dooch]

I have had problems with the unit when smoking for a few hours at 225. The pellets start to burn up into the auger tube, and it will start to smoke very heavy white smoke and come out of the hopper. To stop it I have to push the prime button for quite a long time until new pellets push the burning ones out. Any others with the same problem?

 

[oxtail2]

I have had problems with the unit when smoking for a few hours at 225. The pellets start to burn up into the auger tube, and it will start to smoke very heavy white smoke and come out of the hopper. To stop it I have to push the prime button for quite a long time until new pellets push the burning ones out. Any others with the same problem?

i have that model i purchased it at canadian tire had it since april have used 10 times at least with no issues i love it plus i have the 850 pro also did you call customer service with that problem.

 

[Dooch]

i have that model i purchased it at canadian tire had it since april have used 10 times at least with no issues i love it plus i have the 850 pro also did you call customer service with that problem.

Actually, I did contact them, and he figured that it may be my control boardbecause my fan speed changes. They are sending me a new board. Hope that solves it. Great and prompt customer service.

 

[Big Ed Ohio]

I had this happen with with my Lerado 1000 after burning off. A friend told me to bring the temp back down slowly then let it run at 200 for 5-10 min before I shut it down. no problems since doing that!

 

[GeekChef]

Try tilting the left side up about 2".....I use a 2x4.....and I have not had that happen one time since I did that lift.
This is how it looks. Am looking into changing the feet with threaded rod and a base, so I don't have to use the 2x4

The issue is that whoever designed the Burn Pot did not make it deep enough.....so if the smoker is not adjusted to allow the pellets to roll from right to left when they drop out of the auger, then they will fall right on top the igniter....which is normally not an issue....unless they build up just a little bit due to the shallow pot. So if they build up and then they re-ignite....the fire will ignite the pellets at the end of the auger....which raises the temperature....which stops the auger....which allows them to "burn back" into the auger. If left to itself.....it can burn all the way back up into the pellet hopper....which is really bad. So it is SUPER important to clean the ash out after every cook on this portable smoker.

So there are two main solutions that do the same thing:
1. Deeper burn pot....keeps the burning pellets from the auger.
2. Tilt the smoker from Right to Left..... keeps the burning pellets from the auger.
Bonus solution: the latest burn pot design from another company uses small metal bars, instead of a solid bottom...with a small removable tray to catch the ash that falls....so no build up occurs.

I went with the cheaper solution for now.....with the 2x4....and I have not has a single instance of burn back.....but it happened to me 3 times before.

 

[sjw]

Mine is less then a month old and I have used it 5 times and had this burn back issue each time. It also would never get up to the temp I set. The last cook, the auger stopped turning at all but the feed motor was still running. I took it apart and discovered that the output shaft from the gearbox to the auger was just spinning on the shaft and very little resistance would stop the auger but the motor was still running. I assumed the gearbox was bad so I took it apart and discovered the issue. The output shaft has a large gear pressed onto it. In my case, the gear was not pressed far enough onto the shaft to get a good bite. I tapped the gear further onto the shaft and now it is locked on tight.

I will add that I was impressed by the quality of the gearbox. All of the gears appear to be forged and the shafts run in bronze bushings and had lots of graphite grease on them. I highly doubt that this thing would ever have a gearbox failure other then the assembly issue mine had. Pitboss is sending a new motor and gearbox just in case this fails again.

 

[Dooch]

Actually, I did contact them, and he figured that it may be my control boardbecause my fan speed changes. They are sending me a new board. Hope that solves it. Great and prompt customer service.

No control board yet, but they asked to review my new one which is a no show!

 

[Dooch]

Try tilting the left side up about 2".....I use a 2x4.....and I have not had that happen one time since I did that lift.
This is how it looks. Am looking into changing the feet with threaded rod and a base, so I don't have to use the 2x4

The issue is that whoever designed the Burn Pot did not make it deep enough.....so if the smoker is not adjusted to allow the pellets to roll from right to left when they drop out of the auger, then they will fall right on top the igniter....which is normally not an issue....unless they build up just a little bit due to the shallow pot. So if they build up and then they re-ignite....the fire will ignite the pellets at the end of the auger....which raises the temperature....which stops the auger....which allows them to "burn back" into the auger. If left to itself.....it can burn all the way back up into the pellet hopper....which is really bad. So it is SUPER important to clean the ash out after every cook on this portable smoker.

So there are two main solutions that do the same thing:
1. Deeper burn pot....keeps the burning pellets from the auger.
2. Tilt the smoker from Right to Left..... keeps the burning pellets from the auger.
Bonus solution: the latest burn pot design from another company uses small metal bars, instead of a solid bottom...with a small removable tray to catch the ash that falls....so no build up occurs.

I went with the cheaper solution for now.....with the 2x4....and I have not has a single instance of burn back.....but it happened to me 3 times before.

Tried the tilt method with a clean firepot, same burnback. Where do I get the modified pot?

 

[GeekChef]

Tried the tilt method with a clean firepot, same burnback. Where do I get the modified pot?

It doesn't exist.....unless there is one that you can convert from another smoker. I was going to have a welder make me a deeper one by cutting and extending it.

A third solution would be to complain enough that you get your money back and then get an Asmoke unit....they have a burn pot with small bars in the bottom where the ash drops below to a removable pan. They also have a MUCH larger top to cook larger items.....It is called the A350.

ASMOKE - AS350 Portable Applewood Pellet Grill

Revolutionary ASMOKE ASCA System™ with Auto-Ashes Cleaning & Micro-particles Vapor Technology | Check out 'ASMOKE - AS350 Portable Applewood Pellet Grill' on Indiegogo.

www.indiegogo.com

 

[Dooch]

It doesn't exist.....unless there is one that you can convert from another smoker. I was going to have a welder make me a deeper one by cutting and extending it.

A third solution would be to complain enough that you get your money back and then get an Asmoke unit....they have a burn pot with small bars in the bottom where the ash drops below to a removable pan. They also have a MUCH larger top to cook larger items.....It is called the A350.

ASMOKE - AS350 Portable Applewood Pellet Grill

Revolutionary ASMOKE ASCA System™ with Auto-Ashes Cleaning & Micro-particles Vapor Technology | Check out 'ASMOKE - AS350 Portable Applewood Pellet Grill' on Indiegogo.

www.indiegogo.com

View attachment 1810

I am a welder / fabricator. If Pitboss doesn't get the problem straightened out, I will try!

 

[Dooch]

I am a welder / fabricator. If Pitboss doesn't get the problem straightened out, I will try!

 

[ANT0407]

Nice stick burner!

 

[Dooch]

Nice stick burner!

Built it for a friend, he has screwed up his cooks, doesn't babysit! Over cooks! Thinking of making it a pellet burner for him. I got lazy in my old age, and now only pellet cook!

 

[Dooch]

Nice stick burner! My Past Life!

 

[MikeInFla]

never attempted a whole hog before. That is WAY out of my league! Not to mention a sight like that would probably freak out the kids hahaha! I remember the first whole hog I saw when I was a kid. We were on a field trip in school. I thought it was cool but it freaked out a lot of kids to see a whole hog like that.