1. The Sound of Trouble

You turn on your Green Mountain Grill (GMG), expecting the gentle hum of the fan and the rhythmic click of pellets dropping. Instead, you are greeted by a high-pitched squeal, a rhythmic grinding noise, or a deep, straining groan. Before you panic and assume your weekend BBQ is ruined, know that auger noise is one of the most common issues with pellet grills.

The auger is the mechanical heart of your grill—a metal corkscrew that pushes wood pellets from the hopper into the firebox. Because it deals with solid fuel, dust, heat, and moisture, it is prone to friction and jams. This guide will help you identify what that specific noise means and how to silence it for good.

2. Diagnose the Noise: Squeak vs. Grind

Not all noises indicate a broken part. Listen closely to your grill. The type of sound often tells you exactly where the problem is.

3. Cause #1: The Pellet Jam (Most Common)

This is the number one reason for auger noise. Wood pellets are compressed sawdust. If they get wet—even from humidity in the air—they expand and turn into a hardened, glue-like substance. This creates a cement block inside your auger tube.

When the motor tries to turn against this immovable block, it groans. If it keeps trying, the plastic gears inside the gearbox will eventually snap (creating that clicking sound mentioned earlier). This often happens if you leave pellets in the hopper for weeks without using the grill.

4. Cause #2: Auger Motor Failure

The auger motor is a small high-torque electric motor. Over time, or after a severe jam, the internal gears can wear out. On older GMG models, the connection between the motor shaft and the auger bit can also become loose or misaligned.

If you hear the motor spinning (a whirring sound) but the auger isn’t turning, the shear pin (a safety bolt connecting the motor to the auger) might have snapped. This is actually a good thing—it means the pin broke to save your motor from burning out.

5. Cause #3: Fan Blade Obstruction

Sometimes the noise isn’t the auger at all, even though it sounds like it comes from the hopper assembly. The combustion fan and hopper fan are located right next to the auger motor.

Over time, wires can shift and touch the spinning plastic fan blades, creating a loud “ziptie-on-bicycle-spokes” noise. Alternatively, spider webs or debris can unbalance the fan, causing a vibration that rattles the whole hopper box.

6. Step-by-Step Auger Unjamming Guide

If your auger is groaning or clicking, stop immediately. Do not force it. Follow these steps to clear the jam:

1. Unplug the Grill: Safety first. Never work on moving parts while plugged in.
2. Empty the Hopper: Use the clean-out door on the back of the hopper to dump all the pellets. Vacuum out the remaining dust.
3. Remove Internal Components: Take out the grates, grease tray, and heat shield so you can see the firepot.
4. Detach the Auger Motor:
   • On the side of the hopper, remove the access panel (usually 4 screws).
   • Locate the auger motor. Remove the shear pin/bolt connecting it to the auger shaft.
   • Slide the motor off.
5. Manual Turn Test: Try to turn the auger shaft by hand (or use a pair of vice grips). If it doesn’t move, it is jammed.
6. Clear the Jam:
   • If it’s just dust, vacuum the firepot end while twisting.
   • If it’s “wet concrete” wood, you may need to chip it out from the firepot side with a screwdriver, or remove the entire auger assembly to clean it.
7. Reassemble: Once the auger spins freely by hand, reattach the motor and test.

7. Prevention & Maintenance

To ensure you never hear that horrible grinding noise again, follow these rules:

• Empty the Hopper: If you aren’t going to use the grill for 2+ weeks, empty the hopper. Pellets absorb moisture from the air surprisingly fast.
• Sift Your Pellets: Before pouring a new bag, use a colander or bucket sieve to remove sawdust. Dust creates friction and jams.
• Lubricate (Carefully): You can apply a tiny amount of high-heat silicone lubricant to the auger bushings (the metal rings it spins in), but NEVER lubricate the auger tube where pellets touch grease/oil.

8. Frequently Asked Questions