It affects the right side of the unit but is much more pronounced on the lower racks. This is the area right over the element and chip tray.
I took the advice of one of our members and got a 9" x 9" unglazed ceramic tile and set it on top of my chip tray and it solved the hot spot problem.
Thats a great idea.I was thinking maybe getting a piece of tin to put over the chip box.But thew tile would soak up and distribute the heat better.
You probably have more trouble than most MES owners.
I believe your's has a 1500 watt element, and the walls are not insulated.
All I use (sometimes) is a piece of aluminum sheet stock, about 6" X 11", and I put it in the extreme right side, front to back. Once it gets up to temp, I usually remove it.
However, one that isn't insulated would run more often, causing that right side to get much hotter than the right side of the insulated models.
The heat from the element (on the right side) rises straight up, and leaves through the exhaust vent (also right side).
If I was a metal worker, instead of a woodworker, I would try to mod an MES (like my old MES 30) by moving the exhaust vent from the right side to the left side, forcing the heat (and smoke) to have to go across, inside the smoker & through the meat to be able to leave the unit!
I think that would be AWESOME!
Bear