Hopper Pellet feeding issue (Junior Elite 20)

[Smokerbubba8610]

Hello Fellow Traeger owners,
Has anyone ever noticed when you fill the hopper with pellets and once you start the smoke and check the hopper about 2 hours into it, the auger is exposed and a bunch of the pellets are still stuck on the sides. Is there a way to remedy this and so all the pellets get fed in the auger?

 

[pkitch]

I think this is across all models, certainly was the case for two different grills for me. On my Ironwood I removed the protective grid just so I can reach down into them and move them across to the pellet funnel. If anyone has an easy solution to this would be good to know - hasn't been much of an issue for me so far but would like to eliminate the concern.

 

[Smokerbubba8610]

Yeah reaching down into the hopper is what I do now but I thought there might be something I was doing wrong. I’m going to figure out something and I’ll post it If I find out what it is

 

[Mr.Fabulous]

I took a 2.5 lb barbell plate, cut two squares of cardboard slightly smaller than the inside dimensions of the hopper, sandwiched the plate between the cardboard, and wrapped the sandwich with foil. I set it on top of the pellets, and it helps with the tunneling issue. Does not completely solve it, but I don’t get such a dramatic tunnel anymore

 

[Eward]

Mr Fabulous can you post pictures? I would love to alter this so it feeds better. I downgraded from a century to the junior because it was to big for me and I did not have this issue with the century. The hopper was angled down into the auger on the century and I assumed all were like that. Was shocked to see this design. I see it as a design flaw! I never had to babysit my century.

 

[Mr.Fabulous]

I will get one for you the next time I cook. It’s not a perfect solution. I got complacent this weekend and mine tunneled at the end of an overnight cook. It was time to pull the butts anyway, but still annoying

 

[Hobied]

I had the same problem with my Bronson20. I called Traeger and asked for a Small Cavity Hopper Insert Accessory BAC516 which they sent to me at no
Charge. It just drops in and adds slanted walls to the hopper. It works great
A well kept Traeger secret!
Pics in order: the insert. Hopper before insert. After insert installed
.

 

[Hobied]

My son-in-law requested, received and installed the inert in his Tailgater which also is a 20 series model.

 

[Mr.Fabulous]

I will get one for you the next time I cook. It’s not a perfect solution. I got complacent this weekend and mine tunneled at the end of an overnight cook. It was time to pull the butts anyway, but still annoying

Just a small 2 pound weight, between 2 pieces of cardboard slightly smaller than the interior dimensions of the hopper, wrapped in aluminum foil. Does not prevent the issue, but it definitely helps

 

[dme2golf]

I had the same problem with my Bronson20. I called Traeger and asked for a Small Cavity Hopper Insert Accessory BAC516 which they sent to me at no
Charge. It just drops in and adds slanted walls to the hopper. It works great
A well kept Traeger secret!
Pics in order: the insert. Hopper before insert. After insert installed
.View attachment 1221View attachment 1223View attachment 1222

I don't see this product on the Traeger website nor can i find it when searching the internet with the part number. Were you able to get this by calling Traeger directly?

 

[Hobied]

Yes, I called Traeger and requested the insert. I had looked for it as you did with the same results. Here’s a pic of purposely running the hopper almost out of pellets.

 

[Gary]

Did you get a positive response??

 

[dme2golf]

Yes. They will be sending the insert which is $10 (I am paying). They won’t be getting them in stock until June.

 

[csetterbo]

I had the same problem with my Bronson20. I called Traeger and asked for a Small Cavity Hopper Insert Accessory BAC516 which they sent to me at no
Charge. It just drops in and adds slanted walls to the hopper. It works great
A well kept Traeger secret!
Pics in order: the insert. Hopper before insert. After insert installed
.View attachment 1221View attachment 1223View attachment 1222

Is there any way you can take measurements of the long points and short points of that so I can make one?

 

[Hobied]

I would but I’m out of state for the next two months. I think if you looked at the spot in the hopper just under the yellow at the bottom of the Traeger sticker and took a horizontal measurement from that height (all 4 sides of the hopper) you’d have the width of each side. The side angles would be measured from each corner at that height to the corresponding corner of the pellet opening. You could then make an initial cardboard prototype and fine tune the fit for the insert lip as necessary. Here’s another pic showing the lip on the bottom of the insert. The lip is on all 4 sides and fits the hopper opening to secure the insert. I think the lip width is about 1/4“-3/8“. I was surprised to see that Traeger charged another forum member $10. My son-in-law and I received ours for no charge and also were both back ordered. Hope this helps you.

i.