the auger on my pit boss is making a loud grinding noise and now it won't feed pellets.

Diagnosis

The loud grinding noise followed by a failure to feed pellets in the Pit Boss Pro Series 1150 typically indicates a mechanical obstruction or a failure of the drive coupling. The most common cause is "pellet bridging" or "clumping," where moisture enters the hopper, causing the wood pellets to swell and fuse into a rock-hard mass. This mass creates immense resistance that the auger motor cannot overcome, resulting in a loud humming or grinding sound as the motor strains against the jam. Alternatively, the grinding noise may be the sound of the motor spinning while the auger remains stationary. This happens when the shear pin—a small, sacrificial piece of metal designed to break to protect the motor from burnout—has snapped. If you hear the motor running but no pellets are moving and there is no physical blockage, the drive connection between the motor and the auger shaft has been severed. You can confirm this by removing the hopper and attempting to turn the auger manually; if it spins freely without any resistance from the motor, the shear pin is gone.

How to Fix It

To clear a jam and restore pellet flow, follow these precise steps:

1. Disconnect the grill from the power source immediately to prevent the motor from overheating or burning out.
2. Remove all remaining pellets from the hopper using a shop vacuum. Ensure you vacuum deep into the throat of the auger intake to remove any swollen pellets.
3. Locate the auger access point. On the Pro Series 1150, you will need to remove the hopper assembly by unscrewing the mounting bolts.
4. Inspect the auger flighting for foreign objects, such as small stones or metal fragments that may have been mixed into the pellet bag.
5. If the pellets are clumped, do not force the motor. Use a heavy-duty flathead screwdriver or a metal pick to manually break up the hardened pellet mass inside the tube.
6. If the auger is stuck, use a socket wrench on the auger shaft nut. Gently rotate the shaft counter-clockwise (backward) to relieve the pressure of the jam. Do this in small increments, then forward, until the obstruction is cleared.
7. Once clear, manually rotate the auger one full turn to ensure it moves smoothly through the entire tube to the fire pot.
8. Reinstall the hopper and plug the unit back in to test the feed cycle.

If That Didn't Work

• Replace the Shear Pin: If the motor is running but the auger isn't turning, the shear pin has failed. Remove the motor housing and locate the small pin connecting the motor gear to the auger shaft. Remove the broken fragments using needle-nose pliers and install a new replacement pin of the exact same diameter and material. Do not use a nail or a bolt, as these are too strong and will cause the motor to burn out the next time a jam occurs.
• Test the Auger Motor: If there is no sound at all and no movement, the motor may have failed. Use a multimeter to check for 120V AC power at the motor terminals when the grill is in "Startup" or "P-Set" mode. If power is reaching the motor but it isn't turning, the motor internal windings are blown and the entire motor assembly must be replaced.
• Clear the Fire Pot Bridge: Sometimes the jam isn't in the hopper, but at the exit point. Remove the fire pot and check for a "pellet volcano" where unburnt pellets have backed up into the auger exit. Clear this area completely with a vacuum and a wire brush.
• Check the Control Board: If the motor intermittently grinds or stutters, the control board may be sending inconsistent voltage. Inspect the wiring harness for any melted insulation or loose connections caused by the heat of the grill.

Heads Up

• Store Pellets in Airtight Containers: Never leave your pellet bag open to the air. Even moderate humidity can cause pellets to swell, which is the primary cause of auger jams on the Pro Series 1150.
• Avoid "Cheap" Pellets: Low-quality pellets often contain "fines" (sawdust) or contaminants like small pebbles that can wedge into the auger flighting and snap the shear pin.
• Run the Grill Regularly: If the grill sits idle for months, pellets in the auger tube can settle and harden. Run a short burn cycle every few weeks to keep the mechanism moving.
• Vacuum the Fire Pot: Every 5-10 cooks, remove the fire pot and vacuum out the ash. Ash buildup can restrict the flow of pellets, causing them to back up into the auger.