Pellets, does size matter?

[txpops]

I've had my outdoor gourmet pellet grill for about 6 months now. I haven't had any problems with it until recently. I have had 3 auger jams in the last 3 weeks. I think the jams are caused by the pellets I'm using now. I got a bag of mesquite pellets from Academy and the pellets seem extremely long(see photo). I have previously used hickory and apple pellets from Academy and they were shorter and worked just fine.
I have 2 questions , 1. Do yall think the pellet length is contributing to the jams I've had recently or is there something else I need to be looking at?
2. Is there a standard length for pellets or is it just determined by how the machine is running that day.

Thanks
Mike

This is one of the mesquite pellets along with one of the other pellets from Academy.

[CDN Smoker]

Not to cause trouble but my neighbour had lots of issues with his pellets jamming. With friends we ordered a pallet of CookinPellets this spring. He has had no issues since.

[muebe]

Could be. Are just a few that size are most of them? Have you heard the auger straining? Are those  pellets harder than the other ones?

You may need to take them out and into a large plastic bag for some "ground impact" to reduce their size. 

Sometimes a few long ones get through but a large amount could cause a jam.

[mikecorn.1]

Ditto. Could be a combo of a harder pellet and LENGHT. I use cookingpellets.com perfect mix and have never had a jam problem.


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[teesquare]

Mike -

Pellet length is determined by several factors that I have observed, and I am sure there are some that I have  not...

Wood species is important because some woods have more lignans (naturally occurring polymeric compounds found in cellulosic fiber, i.e. plants and trees.

And - it seems that darker, more dense woods contain more lignans...mesquite, and black walnut pellets come to mind.

Those kinds of woods tend to make pellets that can run longer, because when pellets are made, the sawdust is pressed, or squeezed under tremendous pressure, causing the lignans to become semi-lquid or syrupy, and glue the pellets together better.

[TMB]

Lots of good info.  But so far my Traeger hopper has not had any problem with using Traeger, B&B pellets, pellets from Amaz'n smokers and BBQ's Delights . 

[Ka Honu]

I don't know nuthin' about no pellet poopers but SWMBO tells me that size always matters.  Jus' sayin'.

[teesquare]

I don't know nuthin' about no pellet poopers but SWMBO tells me that size always matters.  Jus' sayin'.

Sounds like she "dreams big"...but upon awakening - find the situation lacking...?

[Smokin Soon]

The length and density of a pellet do make a difference on my Traeger. I never heard munch & crunch noises until I tried a bag of charcoal pellets. No flavor added, so I just mix them in to get rid of them. The Bear Mountain Mesquite is not 100%, but does add some really good flavor. I would just blend in the what you have with some Hickory.

[txpops]

Could be. Are just a few that size are most of them? Have you heard the auger straining? Are those  pellets harder than the other ones?

All of the mesquite pellets are pretty much the same length. I haven't heard the auger straining, it just seems to stop when it gets in a bind. That motor may not have very much torque.  The first time it jammed up I had a few racks of ribs cooking and I walked by and said something doesn't sound right.  I couldn't hear the motor at all. So I powered down,  removed all the pellets and found a few of em jammed up between the frame and the auger. Cleaned it out and put a few pellets back in, just enough so that I could still see the auger, fired it up and the auger worked fine. Yes the mesquite pellets seem harder than the others. I won't be buying them again.
 

You may need to take them out and into a large plastic bag for some "ground impact" to reduce their size.

Wish I'd thought of that before I mixed them in with the others. Guess it couldn't hurt to put them all in a bag and smack em a few times.

[teesquare]

Another option may be to put any pellets that you suspect will cause you grief in an Amazen Smoker tube - that way you get the flavor you like - and no auger issues.

T

[Hub]

I use BBQer's Delight mesquite pellets fairly frequently and have had no problems withe either of my pellet machines "crunching" them properly in the auger path.  However, I think density/hardness CAN matter and if your cooker is clogging on only the pellets you reference, T's suggestion to use them as flavor pellets in an augmentation smoker will be the  best way to utilize them. 

Hub

[squirtthecat]

Yep, bounce them off of the sidewalk a few times..  That's what I had to do with BBQrs Delight charcoal pellets.