Traeger Auger Not Turning: Jammed Pellets, Motor

Quick Answer

Traeger auger not feeding pellets: the auger is a metal screw that pushes pellets from the hopper to the firepot. When it stops: #1 pellets expanded from moisture have jammed the auger in the tube. Remove pellets from hopper, use a drill with a long bit to clear the jam, or disassemble the auger tube. #2 the auger motor has failed ($30-50). Test by disconnecting from the controller and applying 12V directly.

A stuck auger usually means the grill sat through a humid week with a half-full hopper. Those pellets act like sponges, expanding until they turn into a concrete-like plug inside the tube. You'll hear the motor humming or clicking as it tries to turn, but nothing moves. Don't ignore it. If you let it sit, you'll burn out the motor or snap the shear pin, and now a two-dollar fix becomes a fifty-dollar one.

TraegerPelletgrillSeverity: moderateDifficulty: intermediate75% DIY Success

Time to Fix

15–90 min

Difficulty

intermediate

Parts Cost

$0 (no parts needed)

Tools Needed

Phillips #2 screwdriver, Long flathead screwdriver (12 inches or longer works best for clearing jams)

Traeger Auger Not Turning: Jammed Pellets, Motor

When a Traeger stops feeding, I always check the shear pin first because it's a cheap part that saves an expensive motor. If the motor's spinning but the auger shaft isn't, that pin's your culprit. It's basically a mechanical fuse designed to break when resistance gets too high, usually from wet sawdust or a rogue pebble. I replaced three of these last Tuesday on different grills. Super common, super easy fix.

Most Likely Causes

Based on aggregated repair data, here is the probability breakdown for this error code:

Component failure in the Traeger pelletgrill40%

Sensor or thermostat out of operating range24%

Control board fault14%

Power or electrical supply issue12%

Mechanical wear requiring inspection10%

Symptoms You May Notice

You're mid-cook and the temperature starts dropping even though the grill is running, because pellets stopped making it to the firepot.
You can hear the motor humming or clicking rhythmically but nothing's moving in the hopper. That little spinning screw at the bottom just sits there.
The grill throws a LEr error after running fine for a while, because the fire went out from lack of fuel.
You look down into the hopper and there's a full pile of pellets just sitting there, not moving at all, even with the grill in Cook mode.
A grinding or clunking noise from underneath the hopper area, especially right when the grill tries to start the feed cycle.

Can you reset a Traeger pelletgrill to clear the AUGER-NOT-TURNING code?

Flip the power switch to off and unplug the grill from the wall. Wait at least two minutes, not just a quick ten-second unplug. While you're waiting, run a shop vac through the hopper and clean any pellet dust out of the firepot. Plug back in, flip the switch on, and let it cycle through startup without interrupting it. The controller does a brief auger prime on startup, so you'll actually see the auger turn if everything's working right. That's your confirmation.

Tools Required for Diagnosis

Phillips #2 screwdriverLong flathead screwdriver (12 inches or longer works best for clearing jams)Multimeter with DC voltage settingShop vacFlashlight or headlampNeedle-nose pliers12V DC power source for direct motor test (car battery or bench supply)

Diagnostic Checklist

Follow these steps in order. We start with the easiest external fixes before opening up the machine.

ComponentComponent Under Test

Expected Range11–13 volts DC

ConditionIf Open (OL) or infinite, replace component.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to fix a Traeger auger that's not turning?

If you're doing it yourself, a shear pin is literally a couple bucks and a new motor runs $35-55 depending on where you buy it. Traeger's site has them, Amazon usually does too. If you call a tech, figure $150-250 total with a service call and parts. Honestly though, this is one of the easier repairs on a pellet grill. You don't need a lot of tools and the parts aren't expensive. Most people who've never touched a grill before can figure this out in an afternoon.

Can I fix the auger myself or do I need a technician?

Yeah, most people can handle this one. The hardest part is clearing a really bad moisture jam because that can take some muscle and patience. But swapping a shear pin or a motor? That's just a couple screws and a Molex connector. If you can change a light switch you can do this. Give yourself an hour the first time, maybe ninety minutes if you run into a tough jam. There's nothing here that requires special training or special tools beyond a multimeter.

Is it worth repairing or should I just buy a new grill?

100% worth repairing. Traeger builds these grills to be serviced. Every major part is a replaceable module. Unless the actual barrel has rusted completely through, a $40 motor or a $2 shear pin shouldn't make you throw out an $800 grill. I've fixed grills that are 10-12 years old and they cook just as good as new. Don't toss it. Fix it.

How do I keep the auger from jamming again?

The biggest thing is don't leave pellets in the hopper when you're done cooking, especially if rain or humidity is coming. Dump them into a sealed bucket. If you do leave them, at least keep the lid closed tight and cover the grill. And stick with quality pellets from brands like Traeger, Bear Mountain, or Knotty Wood. The cheap stuff has way more fine dust that compacts way easier in the tube. I've seen guys go through two motors in a single summer because they kept buying discount pellets. Buy decent pellets and empty your hopper. That's basically it.

How do I tell if it's the motor that died or the controller?

Easy test. Disconnect the motor from the controller at the Molex connector. Grab a 12V power source, a car battery works, or a cheap 12V DC power supply if you have one. Connect it directly to the motor leads. If the motor spins, the motor's fine and your problem is the controller or the wiring between them. If the motor doesn't spin with direct 12V, the motor's dead. Takes five minutes and saves you from ordering the wrong part. I do this test before I order anything.

Models Known to Experience AUGER-NOT-TURNING Errors

This repair applies to most Traeger pelletgrills with this error code. Common model numbers include:

Pro 575 (TFB57PUB), Pro 780 (TFB78GLE), Ironwood 650 (TFB65RLB), Ironwood 885 (TFB89RLB), Timberline 850 (TFB85WLE), Timberline 1300 (TFB131WHD), Ranger (TBT18KLD)

Written by

Sarah Kim

Smart Home & Specialty Appliance Tech · 12 years experience

Last verified for technical accuracy on March 15, 2026