Traeger Pro 34 Shear Pin

[Smoking Audi]

Went to fire up the Traeger today and clean it first. Last smoke I used it I probably had an auger fire starting as it was rolling smoke from the hopper which is why I wanted to get a good cleaning in. Well I cleaned out the hopper and vacuumed it the best I could then went to start it to discover that the auger was jammed up preset good. All cleaned up but I found the shear pin was pretty mangled and not reusable.

New pin is on order but I want to use it in the meantime. Is it safe to just pop a small thin cotter pin in for now?

The shear pin is really just a 6-32 short bolt.

 

[Smoking Audi]

Well I went ahead and used it that way so we could cook some burgers. All worked fine.

The motor attaches to the end of the auger but then does not get anchored to any sort of framework. It just sits there and self stabilizes and turns the auger. If the auger jams then the motor will spin then wedge a corner up against a plate under it then stall out.

Based on the design I would say it’s probably fine as it is now but I think I would want the stronger shear pin during a longer smoke.