New theory and possible workaround: Pellet bridging that can stop pellets from falling into the auger.

[Differentdrummer]

Yes. Full or not, I've always had to smoosh pellets. Emailed and spoke on the phone with Weber reps many times. None of their suggestions ever worked. I've never done an overnight cook, which is one of the reasons I bought this beast. I think my friend's theory has merit. Otherwise, I may end up using a cement vibrator and a timer.
p.s. I can't help saying how much I enjoy posts stating how everything works fine ;-) There's definitely a manufacturing process, or some other variation that causes some owners to have no problems while others have nightmares.
p.s.s. I'm living the dream! Nightmares are dreams too :-(

Run mine overnight for 8 hours, no flame out. More than once. No tape. And I never do more than push the pellets from the shallow side to he auger end, piling them up as the hopper level decreases. Early gen1, all updated, no finger guard.

 

[JpsBBQ]

Run mine overnight for 8 hours, no flame out. More than once. No tape. And I never do more than push the pellets from the shallow side to he auger end, piling them up as the hopper level decreases. Early gen1, all updated, no finger guard.

Same

 

[Mojo RyZen]

GREAT! Us outliers always enjoy hearing about those owners without problems. Thanks! I just love those posts!
Believe me. It's not my imagination, or ignorance, causing this issue. Check the smoothness of the Gen1 pellet slide and/or the more sloped Gen2 version. They seem pretty smooth, low friction surfaces, right? Now, compare that smoothness to the front and back walls of the hopper. For me and others, those wall surfaces are rough. Rough means more friction. Weather permitting, my friend and I will prove or disprove his *theory* which may benefit those of us who have the *REAL* issue that Weber has not solved.

 

[Differentdrummer]

GREAT! Us outliers always enjoy hearing about those owners without problems. Thanks! I just love those posts!
Believe me. It's not my imagination, or ignorance, causing this issue. Check the smoothness of the Gen1 pellet slide and/or the more sloped Gen2 version. They seem pretty smooth, low friction surfaces, right? Now, compare that smoothness to the front and back walls of the hopper. For me and others, those wall surfaces are rough. Rough means more friction. Weather permitting, my friend and I will prove or disprove his *theory* which may benefit those of us who have the *REAL* issue that Weber has not

GREAT! Us outliers always enjoy hearing about those owners without problems. Thanks! I just love those posts!
Believe me. It's not my imagination, or ignorance, causing this issue. Check the smoothness of the Gen1 pellet slide and/or the more sloped Gen2 version. They seem pretty smooth, low friction surfaces, right? Now, compare that smoothness to the front and back walls of the hopper. For me and others, those wall surfaces are rough. Rough means more friction. Weather permitting, my friend and I will prove or disprove his *theory* which may benefit those of us who have the *REAL* issue that Weber has not solved.

So you HAVE pulled your auger, made sure zero dust is compacted at the back of tbe auger? This is a key component to proper feeding.

Try to be less forceful (just try it) and slide the pellets from tbe shallow side to the auger side when you see the cone has developed over the feed. Not every 20 minutes but after hours of low/slow or and about an hour above 325° No force, just push over adding more depth and weight over the feed hole.
Any detectable potential for fiction on vertical surfaces is not “holding the pellets from feeding.” It’s not velcro.
Also since we are not dealing with grains of sand that are consistent in size they can’t “flow” as sand does. Don’t expect them to.
Pellets are all different lengths and can “beaver dam” at the entrance. Any movement above the dam helps re-settle the forming “cone of death” and allows for the pellets to move freely . Smooshing will break large and small into small and smaller, packing them tightly and I would say that can BE the cause as much as gravity taking its toll on feed?

 

[Camshawnphil]

Long cooks are not my problem. On grilling cooks I set my grill at 450 and it reaches temp just fine, once I start grilling and open the lid to flip or bast the temp drops understandably to maybe 375 but never recovers. It will dwell at 375 until I change temp setting to maybe 475 and then it will respond, very frustrating

 

[JpsBBQ]

Long cooks are not my problem. On grilling cooks I set my grill at 450 and it reaches temp just fine, once I start grilling and open the lid to flip or bast the temp drops understandably to maybe 375 but never recovers. It will dwell at 375 until I change temp setting to maybe 475 and then it will respond, very frustrating

This was an old glitch. I suspect you are not fully up to date with your software/firmware. I had this for a while last year.

 

[Hal4UK]

p.s. Being in my backyard is like a vacation for me. When my three kids were young, we took them to Disneyworld. When we got back, I was reading a book, drinking a beer, sitting by my pool, and wondering why I ever left my backyard. There's no place like home ;-)

I also agree! I'd rather sit by my pool with a tall glass of "Kentucky Lemonade" than to be anywhere else.