30" MES smoker is not smoking, 20070910.

[english-bulldog]

Thanks man, I will give it a shot.

Crazy to think such a thin piece of metal could cause the problem.

This is what your chip tray housting should look like inside you smoker. The exta metal plate that the arrow is pointing to is the issue. The plate was put there so that the wood chips did not fall  directly on the heating element. The retro kit removes this and gives you a full size wood chip tray. I do know some MES owners removing this plate and having good smoking results. You could remove yours until you get your Retro kit from masterbuilt and find out what happens.

1

 

[english-bulldog]

What is the best way to clean this thing?

I've used warm wash cloth with some soap, but it does little to clean the walls.

 

[TulsaJeff]

He did not answer my question on the facebook page, so I will just wait for mbtechguy to send the tray mod.

It may take them a bit to get an answer for you.. They may not be as fast at answering as the SMF.. we spoil folks with fast answers around here

 

[TulsaJeff]

HI, I can't post.

 

 

Looks like our robot detective (defensio) was holding some of your posts for moderation.. he gets a little overly zealous sometimes and we have to give him some Prozac to calm him down.

At any rate, I think I got him convinced that you're one of the good guys. Let me know if you notice any further problems with posting.

 

[english-bulldog]

  Thanks.

Looks like our robot detective (defensio) was holding some of your posts for moderation.. he gets a little overly zealous sometimes and we have to give him some Prozac to calm him down.

At any rate, I think I got him convinced that you're one of the good guys. Let me know if you notice any further problems with posting.

 

[english-bulldog]

Just took a look, I noticed they use rivets on right right side.

I will take it apart in the morning.

Thanks for the tip.

 

Thanks man, I will give it a shot.

Crazy to think such a thin piece of metal could cause the problem.

 

 

[english-bulldog]

Can I use pellets too?  or just chips?

Just did a search.

Yes I can :)

 

[Bearcarver]

This is what your chip tray housting should look like inside you smoker. The exta metal plate that the arrow is pointing to is the issue. The plate was put there so that the wood chips did not fall  directly on the heating element. The retro kit removes this and gives you a full size wood chip tray. I do know some MES owners removing this plate and having good smoking results. You could remove yours until you get your Retro kit from masterbuilt and find out what happens.

1

The one I got my son last year for Christmas had that plate in the way, and it wouldn't smoke. I even removed the drawer & put a few chips directly on that piece of metal---It still did not smoke!

This was before they had the retro kit. My son took it back to Cabela's, and an MES 40 followed him home!

Bear

 

[english-bulldog]

Got it today, installed.   MUCH BETTER!

Thanks Darryl.

 

[deltadude]

Do not soak chips for the MES ! I dont care what the instruction book says.

The above blanket statement, is being repeated by many.  If you can't burn soaked chips then there is a problem with your MES smoker and you should be calling Masterbuilt.  There should be enough heat to combust and smolder chips either wet or dry.  I can't say what the lowest temp is for enough heat to burn both wet or dry, but at 225º there should be ample heat for both wet or dry to burn.

I have the lower 800 watt 40" and I soak my chips and never have a problem with the chips burning, in fact I doubt there is more than two minute difference between when soaked chips will ignite vs dry chips igniting.  Maybe I'm being fooled and the smoke coming out is just steam, but I doubt it because I can smell the smoke.

Note I am not taking sides here, some prefer dry chips, some wet, I don't care what you do, but I am interested in accuracy regarding MES knowledge, and since the MES manual says wet chips, it then is the opinion of Masterbuilt that they too believe that wet or dry chips should be able to burn.

So I will restate, if you can't burn wet chips you need to contact Masterbuilt, your smoker is not operating properly.  In addition with the release of the kit mentioned above, again Masterbuilt is acknowledging not only a problem but a solution so both wet or dry chips can burn.  

 

[english-bulldog]

Thanks for that reply.

The new smokes box turns my chips into ash, unlike my other.

I do like using wet chips, when I got to work. (it lasts longer)

 

[jfkiii]

hi everyone, my MES had the same problem .... chips became charcoal and didn't go to ash. Then it was suggested that the problem was that the retro fix kit needed to be installed. I called Masterbuilt asked for the kit and when I installed it , presto no more problems! It's an easy fix and the results are perfect.

   An interesting point here, before I posted my problem on the Forum, I called Masterbuilt to inquire and told them of the poor results. They never even mentioned that a retro kit was available and would solve the problem. I had to make a second and a third inquiry about the problem before being made aware that a kit was available. Only then did I ask for the retro kit as suggested on the Forum.

   Good info is easy to find here, Thanks again!

jfkiii

 

[Bearcarver]

Glad to hear your good to go now jfkiii.

Bear

 

[dale5351]

   An interesting point here, before I posted my problem on the Forum, I called Masterbuilt to inquire and told them of the poor results. They never even mentioned that a retro kit was available and would solve the problem. I had to make a second and a third inquiry about the problem before being made aware that a kit was available. Only then did I ask for the retro kit as suggested on the Forum.

jfkiii

An additional comment for others reading here -- if you are not getting what you need from customer service, sent a message (open or PM) to MBTechguy here on the forum.  He has been quite helpful to the folks here and has helped more than one to get things done. 

The customer service person (people?) are good and helpful for standard things.  I recently had my controller go bonkers on me, and ordering a new one was easy given that I gave her the model number of my unit.  But -- it has been reported here that sometimes she (they?) is (are?) not up to date on everything, e.g. latest features of various 40" models.

 

[johnvh]

Great info, just tried to season my new 30" last night, it didnt even smoke at 275* for the last 45min as the instructions say. Ill remove that layer of metal and try to get the upgrade.

Thanks.

 

[hkeiner]

 An additional comment for others reading here -- if you are not getting what you need from customer service, sent a message (open or PM) to MBTechguy here on the forum.  He has been quite helpful to the folks here and has helped more than one to get things done.

The above comment is right on. I recently sent an PM to MBTechguy about getting an upgrade kit and he responded within a day letting me know that one is on the way to me. Great service...

 

[johnvh]

Im still waiting to hear back from the tech guy, so I took the chip tray holder to work and cut open that plate below the tray so all the heat can get to the tray, it helps, definately dont soak the chips though! Smoked alot better now, still want the upgrade!

 

[woody1960]

Instructions are written by guys who don't use the products on a regular basis!!

Dry Chips Only In the MES.

Todd

I know I am new at this but I soaked my chips for the recomended 30 min.They smoked just fine, & real quick too.

 

[johnvh]

Mine sure didnt, wouldnt even make smoke with soaked ones.

 

[steveo90290]

Good Morning fellow smokehounds!

I have two MES 30"ers.  A new replacment for one that was damaged in the box. and the "damaged" one.  The damaged one was technically working and I have had two successful smokes with it, however it has started to not burn the chips, possibly due to cold weather here in Cali.  I figured that the cold would make the element stay on longer and hence not create the unburn chip problem.  So i just unboxed the replacement  to burn it in incase the old one quits on me today.  I noticed a smaller chip tray and loader, also the metal plate between the chip tray and element.  Does this need a retrofit?  If i can get my old one to maintain temp, is the chip system better on the old one?  All in all I'm hoping to pull off a 12# packer cut for christmas dinner, so I have to come to a resolve soon, or fire up the stick burner. 

Thanks,

SteveO