Wanna see something cool?

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Little-m

Meat Mopper
Original poster
May 27, 2019
174
46
Winnipeg
Halfway through my rib smoke last night the grille stopped working. Cracked it apart this aft and this is what I found. The motor was sitting on a 45* angle due to the broken shaft and therefore could not turn the auger. It turned itself 90 degrees, bending the metal shelf under it. Pretty strong motor I must say...

And no, there was no clog. Everything was fresh.

This is not a bash, just something that may happen to someone else. I honestly feel I purchased a unit built on Monday or something. This is the second issue I had with it since I bought it earlier this summer.

Mark
 

Attachments

  • DSCN4434[2].JPG
    DSCN4434[2].JPG
    123.7 KB · Views: 177
  • DSCN4435[1].JPG
    DSCN4435[1].JPG
    123.9 KB · Views: 167
  • DSCN4438[1].JPG
    DSCN4438[1].JPG
    123.4 KB · Views: 174
PB.

It is possible the shaft had a crack in it, but there is no way to tell. The motor is not mounted to anything; it just hangs there, wobbles around and shifts position. This I think was probably what did it in - it was able to shift too much to one side and started a "jamming effect". Then it just progressively got worse as time went on.
 
The auger on my pellet stove has a slip clutch.... It's been used a few times as I have found metal parts, in the pellets, from their extruder... nuts. bolts etc.... Too bad they don't do something like that....
 
PB.

It is possible the shaft had a crack in it, but there is no way to tell. The motor is not mounted to anything; it just hangs there, wobbles around and shifts position. This I think was probably what did it in - it was able to shift too much to one side and started a "jamming effect". Then it just progressively got worse as time went on.
yea i would think the motor should be mounted.. it shouldnt be able to move around like that, just asking for problems... Like Dave said, if the pellet factory has a piece of metal or even a screw come off and it finds it way into a bag.. a clutch gear or a shear pin will save it from major damage.. you lost the entire end piece man.. you may need a new auger and shear pin, then try to find a way to mount the motor so it cant move around..
 
yea i would think the motor should be mounted.. it shouldnt be able to move around like that, just asking for problems... Like Dave said, if the pellet factory has a piece of metal or even a screw come off and it finds it way into a bag.. a clutch gear or a shear pin will save it from major damage.. you lost the entire end piece man.. you may need a new auger and shear pin, then try to find a way to mount the motor so it cant move around..

Yup. Luck is not on my side though. Augers are back ordered 4-5 weeks. I wanted to get a few more smokes in before the snow flies. I have a turning center so I will just make my own bushing and weld it on. Then make a mount for the motor.

For China made stuff, it is always a race to the bottom. I bet the first run of grills off the assembly line were absolutely perfect.

I guess what pisses me off, is I (we) have to be the troubleshooter and repair man for these things. There is no such thing as reseller support with this stuff.

/rant
 
So here is a pic of the plate that the auger motor bent. It bent the plate enough that it had turned itself 90 degrees. Now you understand why i rant on about Chinese steel (I'm kidding...).
DSCN4465[1].JPG

With the homemade bushing in place I added angled pieces on each side of the motor to stop it from twisting again. I also leveled the motor with the auger. Hopefully I won't encounter this issue again (yes, the white on the left is snow, unfortunately).
DSCN4466[1].JPG


DSCN4467[1].JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: daveomak
Nice repair... Pays to be handy or mechanically inclined. Probably just helped others who have or may encounter the same issue with this brand or others.
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Clicky