First impression Weber pellets not great

[Goneincognito]

I had my first issue with pellets last weekend at the end of my brisket cook. The pellets somehow blocked the glow plug and wouldn’t allow new ones to drop to burn. The temp kept dropping. When I took it apart I found what looked like a tootsie roll sized jamb of pellet dust blocking the glow plug. I have only used Weber Pellets so I’m not sure what caused the issue in the first place.

The glow plug only ignites at the beginning of the cook to start the pellets and will not come on again.
The issue was more likely that the pellet dust was blocking air flow in the burn pot and choking out the fire.
Did you clean the burn pot out before the cook?

 

[GeoV_MI]

Did you get those new casters from Weber?

I did not get them from Weber. My local Ace Hardware had them.

A little pricey, but I did it anyways and really like them

 

[AHoneyman]

I had my first issue with pellets last weekend at the end of my brisket cook. The pellets somehow blocked the glow plug and wouldn’t allow new ones to drop to burn. The temp kept dropping. When I took it apart I found what looked like a tootsie roll sized jamb of pellet dust blocking the glow plug. I have only used Weber Pellets so I’m not sure what caused the issue in the first place.

The glow plug has nothing to do with burning pellets after the fire is started.

 

[MrPhilGrillTX]

I had my first issue with pellets last weekend at the end of my brisket cook. The pellets somehow blocked the glow plug and wouldn’t allow new ones to drop to burn. The temp kept dropping. When I took it apart I found what looked like a tootsie roll sized jamb of pellet dust blocking the glow plug. I have only used Weber Pellets so I’m not sure what caused the issue in the first place.

I have that tootsie roll after every cook. It's the only thing I do to clean every time: break that sucker up. Reminds me, I need to check the ash tray.

 

[Brad S]

I am using pellets from Sams Club with no problems. $14.99 for 40 lb bag Weber is 20 lbs for $16.99.

Same here. They now have hickory too. End of season last year they went on sale for 7 bucks for a 40 lb bag.

 

[Brad S]

Same here. They now have hickory too. End of season last year they went on sale for 7 bucks for a 40 lb bag.

Ps clean your ash tray every cook. That's the minimum maintenance you need to do. You need air flow.

 

[JpsBBQ]

Ps clean your ash tray every cook. That's the minimum maintenance you need to do. You need air flow.

There is an induction fan for airflow, right?

I’m all for the cleaning OCD crowd of which I’m definitely not a member, but I never clean mine or maybe once every several months and have no issues at all. I use it at least five times a week. Going on 18 months. Had some issues in the beginning related to software and the mechanically fastened auger but none for a looong time now. None. I just offer this as either strong evidence that it’s not the incessant cleaning that solves all these issues. It’s usually a combination of assembly and user error in my experience. On the other hand I could be the luckiest man alive. In which case I definitely should have bought a lottery ticket last week.

 

[MrPhilGrillTX]

By ash tray, I meant the drawer below the cooking chamber that catches the ash and grease that goes through the two slots on either side of the firebox. (Not sure I made it any clearer). (It was fine and not yet overflowing) (I do usually scrape the excess ash down every cook)

I've been wondering how much of an affect the level of the surface plays into pellet feeding problems? If people who tilt one way far enough overcome any problems, and some who tilt the other way get into trouble that wouldn't happen on a completely flat surface. I guess if you are on a deck you will be more level than my patio...

 

[MackeyC34]

I started with two bags of Weber pellets, then switched to Lumberjack.

I've had NO problems at all!

I am fairly new at pellet grilling, but love my smokefire

I did do the caster upgrade and find it rolls much better from the garage to driveway.

I really want to upgrade the casters on my EX4 but it came from Ace fully assembled so I don't know the details on the casters. What is the diameter of the threaded stem? If I have that I can proceed to find what I need and order. TIA.

 

[Goneincognito]

I really want to upgrade the casters on my EX4 but it came from Ace fully assembled so I don't know the details on the casters. What is the diameter of the threaded stem? If I have that I can proceed to find what I need and order. TIA.

If you do a search here for "casters" you should find some info.

 

[MackeyC34]

Thanks - I totally overlooked that entire Forum on Mods. Much appreciate the redirect.

 

[JpsBBQ]

Revisiting this thread due to some activity unrelated to pellets makes me wonder if the fact I only use Weber pellets has a cause and effect influence on my lack of any problems what so ever for a year and a half now. As I’ve stated before I’m really negligent with cleaning and still I’ve been bullet proof. I’m sure I have jinxed myself now, but no amount of saved money would get me to change my pellets now. I feel it’s a serious sample size. There’s no way I’m just lucky.

 

[Goneincognito]

Revisiting this thread due to some activity unrelated to pellets makes me wonder if the fact I only use Weber pellets has a cause and effect influence on my lack of any problems what so ever for a year and a half now. As I’ve stated before I’m really negligent with cleaning and still I’ve been bullet proof. I’m sure I have jinxed myself now, but no amount of saved money would get me to change my pellets now. I feel it’s a serious sample size. There’s no way I’m just lucky.

The fact that Weber designed the SF hardware and software to use those pellets (and by extension, Lumberjack) is probably the exact reason users have more suggests than others.
Sure, other pellets will work but so will a car not made to run on diesel when you do just that. It will run but your changes for failure are increased drastically.
There is probably a better analogy but you get my point.