Masterbuilt not working properly

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I also bought a Masterbuilt  electric stainless steel smoker from Sam's, three years ago.  After using it a little over a year, it quit heating.  I called the factory, and was told they would send me a new cabinet, less the door for $180.00.  I would then have $479.00 plus tax, in a $299.00 smoker.  Didn't like that.  I was also told you could not remove the heating element.  Wrong again!  I am working on memory  now......after removing the screws  inside the cabinet, around the heating-element, the element was loose.  It even had a mfg. name on the bracket, and they are on the internet.  My unit also had one of the wire connectors to the heating element burned off.  I bought high temp wire and new connectors to use.  I also mounted a metal electric switch box behind the hearing element.  I had to cut a hole in the back of the cabinet for it to fit, and holes in the back of the switch box for the heating element connections.  It protrudes about 3/4 inch past the back of the cabinet.  After hooking  up,  I gave everything in that electric box two coats of clear spray paint.  Then,  I bought a tube of high heat silicone, and coated all the connections.  I bought a metal plate to cover the switch box, and used more silicone to seal it.  I have never had any more trouble with my smoker....so far.  If I do, I will just remove the switch-box cover and make my repairs.

Yes, Masterbuilt does know about this problem....I told them about it almost two years ago.  Sounds like they didn't listen.  I also told them at that time, I thought the wiring needed to be larger, with  bigger connectors.   RVBBQ
 
I contaced Masterbuilt this morning.  Even though the smoker did not complete the preseason process, they refused to send me a new unit.  Only a "box" in which I would have to strip out the dead unit and transfer the parts to the box including the door.  Customer Service suggested that I take it back to Home Depot and get my money back.  I was surprised by their lack of customer service.  I thought is the unit failed out of the box they would have issued me a return authorization and when UPS dropped off a new unit they could pick up the dead unit and return it.  I guess good customer service is also dead!  I took the unit back to my local Home Depot and they processed a credit to my credit card.

In looking at the paperwork, Home Depot placed the order that I placed with Masterbuilt directly and then Masterbuilt shipped directly to me.  So, having to return the smoker leaves me smokeless. A sad end to my story.
 
I contaced Masterbuilt this morning.  Even though the smoker did not complete the preseason process, they refused to send me a new unit.  Only a "box" in which I would have to strip out the dead unit and transfer the parts to the box including the door.  Customer Service suggested that I take it back to Home Depot and get my money back.  I was surprised by their lack of customer service.  I thought is the unit failed out of the box they would have issued me a return authorization and when UPS dropped off a new unit they could pick up the dead unit and return it.  I guess good customer service is also dead!  I took the unit back to my local Home Depot and they processed a credit to my credit card.

In looking at the paperwork, Home Depot placed the order that I placed with Masterbuilt directly and then Masterbuilt shipped directly to me.  So, having to return the smoker leaves me smokeless. A sad end to my story.
Didn't HD have one to exchange it with, for you?

That's what Cabelas does.

Bear
 
Anybody have a dead Masterbuilt smoker they are looking to part? Preferably with a bad heating element, I just need the controller. 

My controller looks to have smoked itself.

I took it apart to see if I could repair it but they have encased the logic board in some form of silicon, good I guess to help it from getting moist outside but bad as I cannot really do mu repairing on it.

thanks

-d 
 
 
Anybody have a dead Masterbuilt smoker they are looking to part? Preferably with a bad heating element, I just need the controller. 

My controller looks to have smoked itself.

I took it apart to see if I could repair it but they have encased the logic board in some form of silicon, good I guess to help it from getting moist outside but bad as I cannot really do mu repairing on it.

thanks

-d 
Welcome d,

Don't know if this guy still has this. It is from 2 months ago, for $20:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/145166/mes-digital-controller-old-style

Also:  Ought to stop in at Roll Call and introduce yourself, so you can be properly Welcomed.

Bear
 
Hey Kurtsara- better hag on to that little woman of yours!!   Took it upon herself to transfer the goods to another smoker??  Mine would've gone to KFC.......
 
I just repaired my Masterbuilt Electric Smoker. Thanks to everyone who wrote out the directions and how to repair the smoker. The only thing I did differently is I used a 4/40 bolt and nut and drilled the small hole on the coil a little bit larger to fit the bolt. I put a crimp connector on the existing wire and bolted it to the connector. My thought was the bolt would be significantly stronger than solder or a wireless connector alone.

I tested the smoker and it heated up perfectly.

Thanks again... GalenaBob

My kids asked me to do pork shoulders this weekend...
 
Tim,

You're very lucky that your MES lasted at least 11 months whereas mine did not even last 3 days from the day I first pre-seasoned it. LOL.  I got it from local Samsclub and it is going back today even though I have purchased the extended warranty on it.  I have changed my mind after reading a lot of reviews on it, the flaw in its wiring which would trip the GFCI after very few uses.  But in my case the coil did not even try to burn at all.  when I touched it from my bear hand it was darn cold!
 
Outstanding post with pics and all. I noticed a previous poster silver soldered the new connection. Excellent idea. It's probably overkill for smoker temps but silver does not corrode. The unit will turn into a pile of ferric oxide before that solder joint gives it up. Great job on the DIY fixes, though it's still a bummer that folks are shelling out good cash for a unit that pukes on itself after less than a year. MES needs to get their collective crap in one sock and up the QC on these smokers. 
 
After reading this thread and a bunch of others, I am wondering why people continue to purchase a MES.  Somebody explain it to me because from what I have been reading about the second generation units, there must be poor quality control. Logically wires should not be corroding or heating elements failing if the unit is used properly.  
 
 
After reading this thread and a bunch of others, I am wondering why people continue to purchase a MES.  Somebody explain it to me because from what I have been reading about the second generation units, there must be poor quality control. Logically wires should not be corroding or heating elements failing if the unit is used properly.  
You're only reading the bad reports, and most of that is of the Gen #2. Masterbuilt is constantly trying to fix the problems with the Gen #2.

Meanwhile-------

Maybe you should read some posts like mine:

Gen #1 MES 40 with Remote control & Window in door.

Never have to open door to see inside.

Remote works from a greater distance than any of my Mavericks.

Been working perfectly since I bought it over 4 years ago!!!!

There are many many MES 30 and MES 40 Generation #1 owners with similar stories.

Click below on my Step by Step Index to see All the wonderful things you can smoke with this Awesome Smoker:

Bear
 
 
You're only reading the bad reports, and most of that is of the Gen #2. Masterbuilt is constantly trying to fix the problems with the Gen #2.

Meanwhile-------

Maybe you should read some posts like mine:

Gen #1 MES 40 with Remote control & Window in door.

Never have to open door to see inside.

Remote works from a greater distance than any of my Mavericks.

Been working perfectly since I bought it over 4 years ago!!!!

There are many many MES 30 and MES 40 Generation #1 owners with similar stories.

Click below on my Step by Step Index to see All the wonderful things you can smoke with this Awesome Smoker:

Bear
Bear I have to agree and disagree

Gen #2  - 3 control units and remotes bad / service department sent me new ones, no more problem.

Gen #2  - chip loader blows out  / service department sent me new ones, I replaced that and used a Mail Box with AMNPS

Gen #2 still problems with temp control so I monitor it with a separate thermo probe. 

That was the disagree

Now for smoking these units can produce some of the greatest easiest smokes going.

Learn your unit adjust your times cook to proper IT temp

You to can be happy with a Gen#2
 
 
Bear I have to agree and disagree

Gen #2  - 3 control units and remotes bad / service department sent me new ones, no more problem. Agree

Gen #2  - chip loader blows out  / service department sent me new ones, I replaced that and used a Mail Box with AMNPS  Agree

Gen #2 still problems with temp control so I monitor it with a separate thermo probe. Agree

That was the disagree  I don't know how you figure that was a disagree. The Gen #2 still has problems, but like I said, they're still working on it.

Now for smoking these units can produce some of the greatest easiest smokes going.

Learn your unit adjust your times cook to proper IT temp I would do this with any smoker.

You to can be happy with a Gen#2  Of course you can, but the MES Gen #1 is MUCH Better!!!
I don't see any disagreement here.

My reply on post #75 (above) is my reply to people who unknowingly bad-mouth MES as a whole, because of problems with the Gen #2. That's not fair to the Gen #1 MES.

Bear
 
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Bear I have to agree and disagree

Gen #2  - 3 control units and remotes bad / service department sent me new ones, no more problem.

Gen #2  - chip loader blows out  / service department sent me new ones, I replaced that and used a Mail Box with AMNPS

Gen #2 still problems with temp control so I monitor it with a separate thermo probe. 

That was the disagree

Now for smoking these units can produce some of the greatest easiest smokes going.

Learn your unit adjust your times cook to proper IT temp

You to can be happy with a Gen#2
Speaking for myself, when spending a large amount of money such as this, one should not have any problems to begin with IMO.  My husband works for the DOD and has been repairing airplanes for 30 years.  I saw the pictures of corroded wires so I asked him what causes corrosion on wires and why heating elements fail.  His response was that corrosion is caused by moisture and/or uncompatible metals being used. As for the heating element, poor quality. I live in the Deep South and the humidity is horrible for the majority of the year.  If this item is kept outside on a covered porch, then the insides are going to corrode over time because I do not think the shell is air/water tight. One may say to cover it, but that won't help either because I have covered my vinyl patio furniture for the winter and still got black mold growing on it by springtime. I have brass and painted wrought iron stuff inside and outside our home and they have been affected by the humidity. Those items are either pitted or have become rusty.

I would like to know if MB customer service sends out replacement parts for free after the warranty has expired.  It seems to me that a 90 day warranty is worthless if you smoke minimum 1x a month. If the thermometer probes are not accurate, then they are not worth using either. A lot of newbies, like my husband, purchased a Gen. 2 expecting the unit to work as advertised on QVC. It just blows my mind to read so many people having to repair smokers.  I am not bad mouthing MB, just voicing my thoughts after reading so many posts about their products.  People naturally remember the bad stuff more than the good. 
 
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I would like to know if MB customer service sends out replacement parts for free after the warranty has expired. 

I called MB about 4 months after buying my Gen 2 40". They shipped a new control panel free of charge, no questions asked the next day. Their customer service is excellent.
 
Thank you  for resurrecting this post!!!! My MES was a Christmas gift and heating were bad after 7-8 smokes, but after 3 mos. Last winter was way too cold and snowy (deep snowy!) to get it outside. I will work on this this fall.

I am now using a thermometer inside for the heat and adjusting the temperature manually to get it up to temperature. I hope this will fix it.

All the best!
 
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