Rat Holing = Flame Out

[sparkyv]

My T/C remote monitor woke me up at 3:00 this morning. This was my 1st overnight cook on my Lexington, and the pellets bridged over after 7 hours, and the pellet-starved fire went out. I had it relit after 15 minutes, so disaster averted. I was using the PB Classic pellets. Is this unusual? Short of a hopper extender, is there a way to prevent this?

It started doing it again towards the end of the cook:

 

[bobissmokin]

I have not had that happen. Looks like you started with a full hopper.

 

[Jimsmokes]

When I leave a overnight cook. I fill my hopper so full the lid won't close.

 

[Elfcane]

Ah, the vortex of death...

 

[sparkyv]

I like this idea. Also, I'll make sure to fill up completely right before I hit the sack.

When I leave a overnight cook. I fill my hopper so full the lid won't close.

 

[Smokeyholler]

I have a paint stick on the grate in the hopper and randomly through the burn, as I walk by, give it a stir.

I didn't know that could happen actually.

 

[Elfcane]

VERY common with the smaller hoppers.

 

[sparkyv]

Yeah, but I wasn't near my smoker...I was catching me some ZZZZs.

I have a paint stick on the grate in the hopper and randomly through the burn, as I walk by, give it a stir.

Been thinking about this, and I've got me another idea...coming soon.

 

[Jimsmokes]

I have a paint stick on the grate in the hopper and randomly through the burn, as I walk by, give it a stir.

I didn't know that could happen actually.

I cut the center of mine out.

 

[sparkyv]

Do the charcoal pellets give the meat more smokiness, Jimsmokes?




That's part of my plan, the other is to raise that side wall up to the lid height.

I cut the center of mine out.

 

[Jimsmokes]

Do the charcoal pellets give the meat more smokiness, Jimsmokes?




That's part of my plan, the other is to raise that side wall up to the lid height.

View attachment 9869

Smokiness no. I use a smoke tube with pellets and wood chips for that.
It does seem to add a lil charcoal flavor like I get off my WSM

 

[sparkyv]

OK, here's my solution to hopefully let my unit run longer before the pellets rat hole during an overnight cook. I raised up the hopper wall with scrap aluminum plate so I can add maybe another pound of pellets, and cut out the grate. Plus, I'll overfill the hopper before hitting the sack, like Jimsmokes does.

 

[brewersfan73]

I know some people with the original Weber Smokefire, and they have issues with pellet bridging as well. They put Teflon tape on the walls of the hopper and it seems to help a lot.

 

[Elfcane]

I know some people with the original Weber Smokefire, and they have issues with pellet bridging as well. They put Teflon tape on the walls of the hopper and it seems to help a lot.

Interesting.

 

[brewersfan73]

I should have been more clear. It is not the Teflon pipe thread tape. It is this stuff...