Pit Boss Auger Not Turning [Why And How To Fix]

One fine morning you open your Pit Boss Grill to cook some meat- but the auger is not turning! What could be causing this?

When the auger does not turn, the grill does not fire up. But does this mean that you need to replace your pit boss grill entirely? Fortunately, no.

Oftentimes, there are a lot of reasons why the auger on your pit Boss Grill might not be working. Most commonly, the reason is a jammed auger.

If you find your pit boss auger not turning, don’t worry. There are a lot of solutions to this problem. We are here to discuss all the steps you need to take to patch a jammed or clogged auger. Follow our instructions properly, and your pit boss grill will be brand new in no time at all!

What Is Auger And Why It Gets Clogged?

On a grill, an auger is a motor-driven device. This device spins in circular motions and transfers pellets from the hopper to the firepot.

The auger will spin depending on the temperature you have selected for your grill. For example, if you have set your pellet grill to a temperature of 121° c, the auger will have an ‘on period’ of 10 seconds and an ‘off period’ of 50 seconds.

So, when this auger fails to perform or becomes jammed, it does not heat your grill properly. When an auger becomes jammed, the pellets will not be transferred to the fire, and therefore the optimal temperature won’t be reached. An auger may become clogged because of two main reasons.

1. Moisture

If you have left your pit boss grill open and uncovered in the rain, there is a possibility that your auger has become clogged.

When moisture gets trapped inside the crevices of the auger, the device fails to perform properly.

Besides direct moisture, even humidity can affect the performance of this part. This is because the wood pellets inside the hopper absorb the moisture and swell up. This makes them harder to be transferred through the auger. Therefore, some of the pellets get trapped in the crevices and clog the auger entirely.

2. Debris

If you had not left your auger out in the open rain, your auger can become blocked because of debris.

Sometimes, the reason for the clogging is grass pellets or any other form of debris. It’s very common for wooden pellets to get stuck inside the crevices of an auger.

With time, as you keep on using the grill, one or two small pieces of broken pallets might fall off the road set by the auger. When this happens, you can remove the debris to unclog your auger.

Why Pit Boss Auger Motor Not Turning And The Solutions

As we have mentioned before, your auger not turning could be caused by several reasons. Here are a few common reasons why the auger could not be working, and how you can fix it.

1. Fix The Auger Pin

Sometimes, the reason why your auger is not turning is not that complex. It could be a very small issue in the installation process of the auger pin.

Give your grill a small shake to see if you can hear anything jiggle around. The auger pin might have gone loose and might have been lost somewhere inside the grill. In this scenario, you will have to scoop out the pin and put it in its right position.

If you can’t hear anything giggle, check whether the auger pin is missing. If you can’t find it, you will have to purchase a separate pin.

2. Check Power Source

If the auger Pin is correctly in place, check whether the grill has been connected properly.

There might have been a problem with the power source. Firstly, turn on your grill after plugging in. You should see the controller light up. Then, check the outdoor outlets with other appliances to see if it is working properly.

If the outlet is working properly, but your grill is not getting any power, we will have to contact customer services. But, if none of the appliances work with the outlet there is a problem with the power source.

3. Check Auger Motor

A pit boss auger stuck could also be because of motor damage.

For this, you will have to check the motor manually. Look for any external damages such as broken spots, or even cracks on the exterior.

If you have identified the damage, call customer services and try to fix the motor. You can also replace the motor if needed.

4. Check Auger

There might have been a problem with the auger itself.

Firstly, you need to take the plug out from the power source. Then, you will let the grill cool down completely.

Remove the grates, drip pan, city, and copper shell to access the auger parts.

Try and rotate the auger manually. If you can feel any resistance, there’s a high possibility that something is stuck in the auger. If this happens, you will have to clean out the auger for it to work properly again. If the damage is too severe, you might also have to repurchase the auger entirely.

How To Unclog Pit Boss Auger Step By Step

If you are sure that your pit boss auger has become clogged, you will have to clean it out as soon as possible.

Don’t worry, unclogging a pit boss auger is not that tough of a job. Here are the steps you need to follow to unclog a pit boss auger successfully.

Step 1: Unplug The Grill

The first thing that you need to do is unplug the grill. You cannot work on it, or clean the interior while it is plugged in. It is a very risky thing to do.

Therefore, you have to unplug the grill and let it cool down completely.

Step 2: Clean The Insides

Remove the grills and the hopper shield. Use a vacuum to suck out all the pellets and debris from the interior.

Step 3: Remove The Side Fan

On the left side of the grill, you will find a side fan panel. Remove this while keeping one hand on the panel so it does not collapse as you remove the screws.

Then, if the pit boss grill model comes with an interrupter switch, it needs to be turned off.

Then, you will have to unplug both the auger and the fan from the back of the grill. As removing the screw holding the fan bracket, the fan should come off easily.

Step 4: Unscrew The Auger Motor

Next, you will unscrew the auger motor screws. After that, the auger motor should also come off very smoothly.

Step 5: Remove Debris

Now, use a vacuum to scoop out all of the pellets from around the auger. The cleaning starts from the inside of the fire pot and goes to the end of the auger motor.

Sometimes, the debris gets wet and gets stuck in the auger. When this happens, you can use a long-handled screwdriver to scoop away as much as possible.

If the dirt and debris are stuck on the auger too hard, you can use a bottle of water to loosen up the grime. Make sure that you get all of the dirt away from the auger, as it is what stopped it from turning properly.

Step 6: Remove The Auger

Now, try and Get a good grip of the auger shaft and turn it counterclockwise. The device should slowly back out towards you. This way, very carefully, remove the auger shaft.

Sometimes, the auger might not come off that easily. If you find difficulty removing the auger shaft, you can use a long-handed screwdriver. Insert it in the firepot side. Use a heavy tool such as a mallet or a hammer to tap the screwdriver. It will help loosen the auger from any stuck debris.

Step 7: Clean The Auger

After successfully removing the auger, it is time for you to clean it thoroughly. Remove every bit of dirt and debris from the auger and make sure that it looks brand new.

While you’re at it, you can also try and clean out the interior of the grill. Try and get rid of any loose pellets or pieces of food.

Step 8: Reattach The Auger

After giving the auger a thorough cleaning it is time for you to put it back into its position.

Using the pin, put back the firepot in its position. Then, reattach the auger motor, and lastly put back the fan that you took off in the earlier steps.

Make sure to tighten the screw of the parts. Then, reattach the fan and auger to their respective receptacles on the control board.

Start another grilling session with brand new and dry pellets, and your auger should work just fine! Keep in mind that it will take a little longer to start and heat the grill as it has been cleaned thoroughly.

How To Clean Auger On Pit Boss

If you want to clean the auger on your Pit Boss Grill, the first thing that you have to do is detach it from the auger motor.

In the previous steps for unclogging Augers, we have mentioned how you can do so.

• So, after you have successfully detached the auger from the auger motor, and unplugged all of the wires you can start cleaning the auger itself.
• You have to get all of the debris of the loose pellets out of the auger. Sometimes, this can be easier if you let the debris soak in some water for a while.
• But, some types of pellets are very easy to remove with the long side of a screwdriver.
• Do not use any hard chemicals on the auger as it might cause it to rust. Gently remove all of the debris and get it to a point where it’s easy to slide.
• Then, you will have to put back everything where it was. Reattach the auger with the auger motor and plug in the devices to all of their respective receptacles.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Kind Of Pellets Should You Use On Your Pit Boss Grill?

After cleaning your auger properly, make sure you only use dry pellets in your hopper. You should not use wet pellets because they can easily clog up the auger.

2. Why Is My Pit Boss Auger Making Noise?

Your pit boss auger making noises because its pin has become loose. To check this, open up the shed and remove the fan. Check if the pin is in place or not.

With use, the pit boss auger might have become loose as well. If the auger cannot be placed into its initial position, the right thing to do is replace it.

3. When Should You Replace Your Auger?

Try to clean your pit boss grill auger as often as you can. Get most of the dirt and debris out of it.

Once the Auger becomes incapable of cleaning and rusty, you should replace it. You should also replace the auger if it becomes loose, and does not function properly no matter what hacks you try.

4. What Does The Pit Boss Auger Do?

The main function of the pit boss auger is to transfer the pellets from the hopper to the firepot. This is how the temperature is regulated inside the grill. Therefore, the auger has quite an important role in the structure of a grill or smoker.

5. How To Clean Pit Boss Auger Property?

You should never use harsh chemicals to clean a pit boss auger. Try and gently scrape off the debris and grime off of the auger.

6. How To Prevent Moisture From Getting In The Auger?

Moisture can cause a lot of harm to a grill. When the pellets inside the grill are exposed to moisture, they will swell up and clog the auger.

A great way to avoid this is by adding a high-quality waterproof cover on top of your grill. This way, you can leave the grill outside your house without worrying about any water or moisture damage.

Final Verdict

A pit boss auger not working is not that big of an issue. You only have to identify what the source of the problem is.

Most of the time, the issue is with a clogged auger. Wet and old pellets get stuck onto the auger and stop it from rotating.

If you clean the auger properly, this issue should be resolved completely. If this is the case, the problem might also be in the auger motor or the main power source. Sometimes the issue lies in the auger motor pin as well.

Worst case scenario is that the auger has become too old and rusty and needs to be replaced. But, in conclusion, the auger not rotating is not a reason for you to replace your pit boss grill entirely. So don’t worry about it too much!

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