Thank you for such an easy fix!!! Took about 20 minutes and I didn’t have to take the door off. It swings open exposing the interior!! Thank you sir!!!
Okay, first off... Thank you so much! I was ready to throw it in the dumpster! My wife found this video and I gave it a shot! Exactly as he said! The saw dust was like concrete in the auger. I dug it out and it started working. It took 20 minutes from start to finish. It works perfectly! Thank you so much!
Thank you for your video and sorry for this extended rant. This is a design flaw. The last time this happened to me was my 6th in less than a year. I have sifted my pellets (still clogged 3x) and cover my Pit Boss as soon as it cools down and store it under my eave. My last de-clogging was a 6 hour adventure using all sorts of tools, vacuums, compressors, gadgets and gizmos. The pellet clean out shoot is directly above the auger feed hopper (refer to this video). ALL dust and damp pellets bypasses the shoot and settles into the auger feed space. A little bit of humidity and you get bloomed cemented wood dust. In my case it froze my auger to the point of a very difficult removal. For my next go around I emptied the hopper of usable pellets and stored them indoors, burned out the remaining pellets in the Auger and will cuss under my breathe the next time I use it for the ridiculously slow Auger recharge. This is not how this unit was intended to be used. I'm certain that Pit Boss knows about this design flaw but still sells it anyways.
Sirloin tip roast in the Pit Boss. I happen to check on it and the unit shut down. I watched your video and pulled the hopper apart and vacuumed it out in 15 minutes....dinner saved. Happy wife.
Thank you TOM! I had my smoker alll of 1 month and it jammed. I followed your video and there was a big wood chip blocking the auger. It took some tugging and a little bit of blunt force but I got it out. I learned a couple of lessons. 1) Sift the pellets if you can before you pput them in the hopper. This removes some of the dust, tiny pellets and you can pul out the wood chips. 2) Pit Boss customer srevice was beyond terrible. I called at 8:30 Amish and left a call back number - by 11:30 I had recieved no call back, I called in at noon and literally waited in queue for 1 hour before I hung up, I opened a case on their website and have yet to hear from them 3) RUclips and folks like you that share your help - made a world of positice difference - Thank you!
I made a box with a piece of screen on the bottom and put my pellets in it and shake the dust out thru the screen and it has made a huge difference in keeping the auger from clogging
Thanks for this video. Was gonna start a smoke last night and didn’t work on my Louisiana Grill, which is the exact same, besides name. I pulled the hopper from below, dumped the hopper and tried vacuuming and pushing my finger in the clean out door. Worked for a minute, but the crushed pellets/sawdust started coming out, than stopped. After seeing your video, I’m gonna remove the back panel. I’m 99% sure they are just caked above the hopper. Wish me luck. Lol
Thsnks Tom. Worked just as described. It was a couple of pellets jamming the auger and was able to easily free them with the hopper gone. Really appreciate your video.
One good pro tip is probably not to leave pellets in the hopper for extended periods. This is not a copperhead specific issue I don't believe. Empty and vacuum the hopper between cooks. The pellets absorb moisture and create the clogs when combined with the sawdust from old cooks.
that's my plan from now on. when the cooking is done, empty the hopper an let it run out of pellets. it seems to be the dust from the pellets and the changes in air temp and humidity
Thanks for the solution - it helped me unclog my auger. A lot easier to just take the back off than flipping it over and working with the electrical. I didn't have to take my door off. Even after cleaning it out - took several on and off attempts as it started moving an 8th of an inch at a time. Finally when it was rotating smoothly - then burned out what got pushed into the pot - all is good.
Thanks Tommy i was getting ready to take this thing a part but after watching your video I believe this is the way to go! Definitely liked and subscribed
First time using my brand new vertical copper pellet smoker this Clog happened. I was cruising the you tube for a fix. I'll try this after work today. Thanks brother.
Hey buddy! I have to say, you might not be a genius but your video is going to save a lot of people a lot of heartache. Your video was spot on I followed you step by step and that was exactly what the problem was and that was the exact fix!!! BARBQRIOT says you are the man! Giddy up my friend! I'm doing a festival in two weekends and I really needed this smoker to keep things warm for me 👍👍👍👍
Fixed it. It was a quality control thing with the pellets. When I removed the hopper. There was a chunk of wood caught in the auger. Had to chisel it out. Thanks For the help, much appreciated!
Thank you sir...I accidentally left mine outside without the cover and it rained last night so the pellets got wet. I’m so glad I didn’t have to take it all apart or even worse, send it back in to get fixed. It only took me about 30minutes
Hi Tommy thanks for the video. I bought a cover for mine and it still turned my pellets to dust and then almost like cement in my auger. I live in Utah where the winters are brutal so I have started to quit filling hopper full and to run it pretty much dry after I use it. I had to replace auger motor last fall so lesson learned. Thanks for video
I to have copper head and had a fire in my lower section under auger . Either a bad inspection before assembly or auger jamded and broke welds . Took almost 6 months to get parts an to fix. So whdn done smoking I take a small shop vac and suck up all pelletes then prime whats left in . Works great thanks for you insight.
There's actually a faster way I use when mine clogs up... takes about 10 minutes... but this way works also if your entire hopper is clogged... Thanks for the Video
Always pickup the cover you can get them at Walmart or online around 45 bucks well worth it and vacuum out the ashes after every use and if u get the error code just unplug it then plug back in it should start going again but if your not going to use the smoker for a little while just drain the hopper out
Great tip! Thanks for posting this information! I just bought a new copperhead and have read about this issue. Between your comments on your video and the comments from the people who watched your video, I feel much better about handling this situation. I will be keeping mine on the covered back porch and the smoker will have a cover on it.
I just had this problem also. I emptied the hopper completely and used a torch to light the dusty pellet mixture from the hopper side, turn smoker on then back off and the fan will run for about 10 min as a cool down phase, after 3 times it was clear
Try using Lumberjack Charcoal pellets. I literally get no dust at all from them being charcoaled. I use the hickory char pellets and they work great. Also gives a little bit of that Charcoal flavor.
I have the Louisiana Grills 7 series version of your smoker. Hey appreciate your tips hopefully I never have to do this. I have a cover that came with my vertical smoker and then I use a canopy to cover it. I think if I ever have any problems with mine I’m just going to try what you did or run my leaf blower through the auger to see if it gets rid of all that dust.
Hello Tommy, thanks for the video. I have a CH 3, never had and real pronlem with it. However pouring water in the auger tube......really, not a good idea.
After owning mine for only three weeks I cannot cook above 300F without receiving the ERH code. After reading a few forums it looks like the temp probes seem to be having issues...
Thank you for such an easy fix!!!
Took about 20 minutes and I didn’t have to take the door off. It swings open exposing the interior!! Thank you sir!!!
Sir this was a huge help. I felt defeated in thinking i couldnt get it un clogged. Followed your advice and boom! Fixed
Okay, first off... Thank you so much! I was ready to throw it in the dumpster! My wife found this video and I gave it a shot! Exactly as he said! The saw dust was like concrete in the auger. I dug it out and it started working. It took 20 minutes from start to finish. It works perfectly! Thank you so much!
Thank you for your video and sorry for this extended rant. This is a design flaw. The last time this happened to me was my 6th in less than a year. I have sifted my pellets (still clogged 3x) and cover my Pit Boss as soon as it cools down and store it under my eave. My last de-clogging was a 6 hour adventure using all sorts of tools, vacuums, compressors, gadgets and gizmos. The pellet clean out shoot is directly above the auger feed hopper (refer to this video). ALL dust and damp pellets bypasses the shoot and settles into the auger feed space. A little bit of humidity and you get bloomed cemented wood dust. In my case it froze my auger to the point of a very difficult removal. For my next go around I emptied the hopper of usable pellets and stored them indoors, burned out the remaining pellets in the Auger and will cuss under my breathe the next time I use it for the ridiculously slow Auger recharge. This is not how this unit was intended to be used. I'm certain that Pit Boss knows about this design flaw but still sells it anyways.
Sirloin tip roast in the Pit Boss. I happen to check on it and the unit shut down. I watched your video and pulled the hopper apart and vacuumed it out in 15 minutes....dinner saved. Happy wife.
Thank you TOM! I had my smoker alll of 1 month and it jammed. I followed your video and there was a big wood chip blocking the auger. It took some tugging and a little bit of blunt force but I got it out. I learned a couple of lessons. 1) Sift the pellets if you can before you pput them in the hopper. This removes some of the dust, tiny pellets and you can pul out the wood chips. 2) Pit Boss customer srevice was beyond terrible. I called at 8:30 Amish and left a call back number - by 11:30 I had recieved no call back, I called in at noon and literally waited in queue for 1 hour before I hung up, I opened a case on their website and have yet to hear from them 3) RUclips and folks like you that share your help - made a world of positice difference - Thank you!
I made a box with a piece of screen on the bottom and put my pellets in it and shake the dust out thru the screen and it has made a huge difference in keeping the auger from clogging
Jim Bennett. That’s the fix right there. Humility and saw dust makes a cake
Thanks for the video. Recently got my first "gunk up" and you have one of the better straight to the point videos
Thank you sir, you saved our Labor day bbq!
This was tremendously helpful. Thank you. I let rain get into the chamber and it’s totally jammed. Excited to clean mine out today!
Thanks for this video. Was gonna start a smoke last night and didn’t work on my Louisiana Grill, which is the exact same, besides name.
I pulled the hopper from below, dumped the hopper and tried vacuuming and pushing my finger in the clean out door. Worked for a minute, but the crushed pellets/sawdust started coming out, than stopped.
After seeing your video, I’m gonna remove the back panel.
I’m 99% sure they are just caked above the hopper.
Wish me luck. Lol
Tom. Thanks for the video. I had an auger jam today and your method worked!
Thsnks Tom. Worked just as described. It was a couple of pellets jamming the auger and was able to easily free them with the hopper gone. Really appreciate your video.
Thanks Tommy! I was able to fix the clogged auger on my Pit Boss Copperhead following your instructions.
One good pro tip is probably not to leave pellets in the hopper for extended periods. This is not a copperhead specific issue I don't believe.
Empty and vacuum the hopper between cooks.
The pellets absorb moisture and create the clogs when combined with the sawdust from old cooks.
that's my plan from now on. when the cooking is done, empty the hopper an let it run out of pellets. it seems to be the dust from the pellets and the changes in air temp and humidity
Thanks for the solution - it helped me unclog my auger. A lot easier to just take the back off than flipping it over and working with the electrical. I didn't have to take my door off. Even after cleaning it out - took several on and off attempts as it started moving an 8th of an inch at a time. Finally when it was rotating smoothly - then burned out what got pushed into the pot - all is good.
I did what you showed me how to do... and Voila! It's Working Again! Thank you Brother.
Thanks Tommy i was getting ready to take this thing a part but after watching your video I believe this is the way to go! Definitely liked and subscribed
First time using my brand new vertical copper pellet smoker this Clog happened. I was cruising the you tube for a fix. I'll try this after work today. Thanks brother.
Awesome tip Tommy! Cleared mine up in just a few minutes. Thank you for sharing.
Hey buddy! I have to say, you might not be a genius but your video is going to save a lot of people a lot of heartache. Your video was spot on I followed you step by step and that was exactly what the problem was and that was the exact fix!!! BARBQRIOT says you are the man! Giddy up my friend! I'm doing a festival in two weekends and I really needed this smoker to keep things warm for me 👍👍👍👍
You saved my brisket. Thanks!
Fixed it. It was a quality control thing with the pellets. When I removed the hopper. There was a chunk of wood caught in the auger. Had to chisel it out. Thanks For the help, much appreciated!
Where do I send the beer? Had 30lbs of meat ready to go and the auger was stuck. Your video saved the day! Thanks!
This was just the thing to fix it thank you so much.I was lazy and didn't put my cover back on cause its in a screened in porch , Lesson learned.
Thanks for the video, I have the same unit the auger was stuck did what you said and it's working fine now.
Thank you sir...I accidentally left mine outside without the cover and it rained last night so the pellets got wet. I’m so glad I didn’t have to take it all apart or even worse, send it back in to get fixed. It only took me about 30minutes
This video fixed my smoker. Thank you!
Hi Tommy thanks for the video. I bought a cover for mine and it still turned my pellets to dust and then almost like cement in my auger. I live in Utah where the winters are brutal so I have started to quit filling hopper full and to run it pretty much dry after I use it.
I had to replace auger motor last fall so lesson learned.
Thanks for video
I to have copper head and had a fire in my lower section under auger . Either a bad inspection before assembly or auger jamded and broke welds . Took almost 6 months to get parts an to fix. So whdn done smoking I take a small shop vac and suck up all pelletes then prime whats left in . Works great thanks for you insight.
There's actually a faster way I use when mine clogs up... takes about 10 minutes... but this way works also if your entire hopper is clogged... Thanks for the Video
Always pickup the cover you can get them at Walmart or online around 45 bucks well worth it and vacuum out the ashes after every use and if u get the error code just unplug it then plug back in it should start going again but if your not going to use the smoker for a little while just drain the hopper out
Thank you for this video, I had a similar problem
Worked perfectly. Thanks
I did your way and it was fast and easy! Thank you!
Thanks Tom I almost took everything apart.
I just took my ogger completely apart from the bottom. That worked and it didn’t take long at all
Great tip! Thanks for posting this information! I just bought a new copperhead and have read about this issue. Between your comments on your video and the comments from the people who watched your video, I feel much better about handling this situation. I will be keeping mine on the covered back porch and the smoker will have a cover on it.
Thank you! Gives me something good to try to clear up my clogged auger. Hopefully I'll be smoking again soon.
did just that today. back in service
Thanks Tommy. Pit boss needs to correct this problem
Great video. Thank you Tommy.
I just had this problem also. I emptied the hopper completely and used a torch to light the dusty pellet mixture from the hopper side, turn smoker on then back off and the fan will run for about 10 min as a cool down phase, after 3 times it was clear
Pop Pop you just saved Turkey Day!!!
Thank you so much for this video
Depending on where you live I’m sure all pellet grill augers sometimes clog
Very helpful! Thank you!
You are the man! Thank you
Try using Lumberjack Charcoal pellets. I literally get no dust at all from them being charcoaled. I use the hickory char pellets and they work great. Also gives a little bit of that Charcoal flavor.
I have the Louisiana Grills 7 series version of your smoker. Hey appreciate your tips hopefully I never have to do this.
I have a cover that came with my vertical smoker and then I use a canopy to cover it.
I think if I ever have any problems with mine I’m just going to try what you did or run my leaf blower through the auger to see if it gets rid of all that dust.
Did you have the error code erL?
Thank you.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
Thank you sir I almost took mine back.
Hello Tommy, thanks for the video. I have a CH 3, never had and real pronlem with it. However pouring water in the auger tube......really, not a good idea.
Thank u!!
What error cold popped up for that
thank you!! Really helped !
After owning mine for only three weeks I cannot cook above 300F without receiving the ERH code. After reading a few forums it looks like the temp probes seem to be having issues...
Use comprest air
What if the hopper is full? Pellets are gonna go everywhere!
After smoking drain hopper and completely burn out remaining pellets
Think you sir I don’t have to hear my lady mouth about my birthday gift