Pit Boss · Troubleshooting
How to Fix a Pit Boss Auger Jam
An auger jam is Pit Boss's most common mechanical failure. Symptoms: no pellets feeding, the auger motor humming but not turning, or an Err 1 mid-cook. Root causes are 90% pellet moisture and 10% foreign object. The repair is 20 to 30 minutes, needs no parts in most cases, and almost always comes down to emptying the hopper, clearing the auger tube, and swapping to dry pellets.
By Reed · Updated November 9, 2026
What you need
- Shop vacuum
- Phillips screwdriver
- Long-handled wooden spoon or dowel (never metal in the auger)
- A dry replacement bag of pellets
Step by step
Empty the hopper completely
Open the hopper lid, scoop out all pellets with a plastic cup, finish with the shop vac. Save dry pellets in a sealed container — toss anything damp or clumpy.
Inspect the auger inlet for foreign material
Shine a flashlight down the auger inlet. Common finds: packaging foam, plastic bag pieces, or a pellet that swelled to twice its size. Remove with needle-nose pliers.
Vacuum pellet dust from the auger tube
Pellet dust accumulates in the auger tube over time and seeds future jams. Vacuum the entire visible length of the tube.
Rotate the auger by hand to clear the jam
With the panel still open, grab the auger shaft and rotate by hand (both directions). Feel for the resistance point. Work the jam backward until free. If completely locked, continue to the next step.
Remove the auger motor and inspect
Four bolts secure the auger motor to the hopper. Remove the motor, inspect the coupling for sheared pins (common after a bad jam). A sheared coupling means the motor spins but the auger doesn't — order a replacement coupling kit.
Reassemble and run with DRY pellets only
Dry-storage pellets only on the first restart. Run the priming cycle, verify feed, then resume normal use.
Common mistakes
- Topping off with the damp pellets you just cleaned out. The same batch that caused the jam will cause it again. Toss them.
- Running without clearing the firepot too. A jam often leaves ash and unburnt pellets in the firepot — clear those at the same time as the auger.
Hands-on tips
- A food-grade silica tub in the hopper (NOT touching pellets directly) keeps moisture low in humid climates.
- Keep a spare auger motor coupling kit on the shelf — shearing is the one in-the-middle-of-a-cook failure that stops the cook cold.
- If jams recur within 2 to 3 cooks, suspect the pellet brand. Switching to a competition-grade pellet usually solves recurrence.
Questions people ask
Can I fix a jammed auger without opening the hopper?
No. Every reliable fix path requires opening the hopper service panel and emptying pellets.
How often should I clean the auger tube?
Visual inspection every 20 cooks, vacuum every 40 cooks or seasonally. Humid climates need more frequent attention.
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