Masterbuilt not working properly

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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.
Control panel had to be replaced after 4 months? Holy cow! How many uses did it get before it had to be replaced?
 
Control panel had to be replaced after 4 months? Holy cow! How many uses did it get before it had to be replaced?

When I first got it I noticed the temp was off by about 15-20 degrees. I could work around that. But as I used it more, the temp discrepancy would get worse and worse, until after 4 months it would be off by 50-60 degrees.

I was skeptical when MB told me that a new control panel would fix it, but it now reads within 2 degrees of my Maverick.

Swapping panels was easy - 4 screws and 5 minutes.
 
 
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. 
Hi, I agree with you hole hardidly In my opinion the gen 2 units are not worth buying. I do have to say that Masterbuilt service is very good. They do take you claims on a case by case basis. They replaced my unit after 11 months. no charge free shipping. I did have to prove I bought it and when they replaced it with the new one I had to send the cord (plug + 2 feet and the data plate ) Back to Georgia. 

 I live in Va and our summers are humid and I keep my smoker outside on the patio covered with a good cover that extends10 inches below the smoker.  I do keep my controller inside out of the weather. Since your husband is a trades man I have no doubt he can keep it running if he wants.  Jted
 
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What I have learned about Masterbuilt in the short time here is that the Gen. II has a lot of problems and customer service will take care of you. What I do not understand is why are the units faulty to begin with. My husband does not want to repair anything and I do not want to either. If the parts sent from Customer Service are better then why aren't they used at the factory? The more I read about their products, the less inclined I am to take a chance on purchasing another. An electrical product seems to be more trouble than they are worth. Maybe I should look at other options.
 
Hello everyone,

I have a pretty usual Canadian problem.

drum rolls........

a squirrel ate my electric cable. So today or tomorrow i am planning on fixing it. but after seeing those pictures posted by "Homebbrew and BBQ" i am a bit confused. The cable looks like it is going through the insulation. Will i have to remove it and put new foam insulation? and mine is a bit different. My electrical cable goes in the body in the middle of the unit not on the side. I am not all that of a handy man, could open it and close without casualties on both ends... but insulation?never done it. Any advice?                                                                                                                                                                            
 
What I have learned about Masterbuilt in the short time here is that the Gen. II has a lot of problems and customer service will take care of you. What I do not understand is why are the units faulty to begin with. My husband does not want to repair anything and I do not want to either. If the parts sent from Customer Service are better then why aren't they used at the factory? The more I read about their products, the less inclined I am to take a chance on purchasing another. An electrical product seems to be more trouble than they are worth. Maybe I should look at other options.
They can't very well change the many thousands of smokers they already sent out. All they can do is make changes to the ones they're currently building & try to get replacement parts to the ones out there with problems.

The important thing is to research before you buy. That way not so many people would have bought the Gen #2, because it was all over this forum.

Bear
 
 
Guys, today i have repaired the power cord that was eaten by a squirrel and made a post about it with pictures. If anyone is interested here it is.
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/182067/masterbuilt-30-smoker-power-cord-repair
Now you gotta fix the squirrels!!!

Last year it cost us almost $600 to get Mrs Bear's SUV fixed. Something got in the engine & chewed off a wire to the "Knock Sensor".

A squirrel is too big to get in there, but the teeth marks were bigger than from a mouse, so we figure it was a Chipmunk. #$%^&*

Bear
 
Now you gotta fix the squirrels!!!

Last year it cost us almost $600 to get Mrs Bear's SUV fixed. Something got in the engine & chewed off a wire to the "Knock Sensor".

A squirrel is too big to get in there, but the teeth marks were bigger than from a mouse, so we figure it was a Chipmunk. #$%^&*


Bear

Maybe you just need to leave some bear scat lying around. I've heard that stuff would chase off small critters. Lmao
 
My 30 died on the 3rd cook.
It was 110 days old when I emailed them. To my surprise they mailed me the new updated version with front control panel free of charge. A lot of disappointment but can't say enough for them sending me a complete unit
 
Hey all... I've had my 1st gen 40 inch stainless/window smoker for about 18 months... And it went kaput tonight. I really don't know anything about electrical work, but I can't really afford to just replace the smoker altogether.
The smoker started tripping the breaker during use about 3 months ago, and tonight the heating element went cold mid smoke. Heating light is on, but it won't work.
I have a good feeling that MB won't be too helpful when I call them tomorrow.

I hate to ask you guys to spoon feed me how to fix the wiring in this thing... But I have NO experience rewiring things.
 
Hello Luis, give then a call and talk to them. They were very helpful to me when I called. The first lady I spoke with was not a technical person, but when I started asking about the resistance readings & asking what they should be, she forwarded me to an engineering person. She was very helpful & identified my problem as the controller. Even though I was over the warranty period, she sent me a new part. I was very satisfied with the help I received.
 
Hey all... I've had my 1st gen 40 inch stainless/window smoker for about 18 months... And it went kaput tonight. I really don't know anything about electrical work, but I can't really afford to just replace the smoker altogether.
The smoker started tripping the breaker during use about 3 months ago, and tonight the heating element went cold mid smoke. Heating light is on, but it won't work.
I have a good feeling that MB won't be too helpful when I call them tomorrow.

I hate to ask you guys to spoon feed me how to fix the wiring in this thing... But I have NO experience rewiring things.
Do a search on here for repairs, there's all kinds of helpful info. Probably one of the wires connected to heating element burned off and needs repaired. The heating element is probably still good. Open it up and take a look.

Either way, good luck!
 
Thank you. I sure will call. I just have no idea what questions to ask. Resistance for example.
 
Do a search on here for repairs, there's all kinds of helpful info. Probably one of the wires connected to heating element burned off and needs repaired. The heating element is probably still good. Open it up and take a look.

Either way, good luck!
yeahthat.gif
   I used the link below when my connector burned out after 5 years of use.

It's probably just the connector, and you don't have to replace the wiring.

Check this out:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/89886/mes-wiring-upgrade-mod

Bear
 
I was just sold a new element for $20. Should get it soon. If that doesn't work she offered to send me a new box for $90 shipped. Replacing the wires should be cheaper if need be.
 
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