Let's Talk BBQ

Outdoor Cooking Equipment => Grills & Smokers => Homebuilt & Modified Cookers => Topic started by: TMB on January 30, 2013, 01:08:45 PM

Title: Pellet grill question
Post by: TMB on January 30, 2013, 01:08:45 PM

OK here is the question.....

If the hot rod on a Traeger (cause that's the hopper I used) get dirty with ash build up where only 1/2 of the rod is glowing red would I be better to leave it alone or try to remove the build up??

 I don't want damage the rod just make it more efficient. 
Any help would be great

Title: Pellet grill question
Post by: GrillGeek on January 30, 2013, 01:37:38 PM

You can try to remove the buildup. Shouldn't be an issue.

Title: Pellet grill question
Post by: mikecorn.1 on January 30, 2013, 01:51:36 PM

All I've ever done is vacuum out the ashes in the  fire pot.


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Title: Re: Pellet grill question
Post by: Hub on January 30, 2013, 02:03:13 PM

You can scrape away accumulated crud with a small knife or ice pick.  Be careful not to poke a hole in the rod.  As long as you are getting consistent lighting (lights every time you fire it up) there may not be a need, though.

Hub

Title: Re: Pellet grill question
Post by: TMB on January 30, 2013, 02:42:44 PM

Well,lighting is no problem for sure but being an auto mechanic I like to see things run the way they are designed to run.

Seeing 1/2 the rod glowing while the other is not kinda made me think about the build up on the rod

Title: Re: Pellet grill question
Post by: smokeasaurus on January 30, 2013, 03:10:47 PM

Is the build up keeping the rod from heating up or should the rod get hot enough to burn off the build up?

Title: Re: Re: Pellet grill question
Post by: squirtthecat on January 30, 2013, 03:18:23 PM

Quote from: mikecorn.1 on January 30, 2013, 01:51:36 PM

All I've ever done is vacuum out the ashes in the  fire pot.


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

Ditto.  Just keep the ashes cleared away, and don't risk damaging the rod by scraping on it. 

Title: Re: Pellet grill question
Post by: TMB on January 30, 2013, 04:36:42 PM

Believe me after waiting fo 9 months to finialy build this cooker last thing I want to do it hurt it.  I was just looking at it the other day,  looking at mods I want to try and noticed the build up and thought should that be there? 

Reason for the post

Title: Re: Pellet grill question
Post by: sparky on January 30, 2013, 05:23:05 PM

Quote from: mikecorn.1 on January 30, 2013, 01:51:36 PM

All I've ever done is vacuum out the ashes in the  fire pot.


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

i do the same thing as mike & squirt.   8)

Title: Re: Pellet grill question
Post by: Keymaster on January 30, 2013, 05:30:55 PM

I just wish I  had a rod to vacuum like Mike and squirt :o