AMAZN pellet smoker issues

[runway1]

Beginning to think it's the pellets themselves. Ever used Bear Claw pellets? Can't keep them lit for more than a couple hours. Causes me to open the MES and fire it up again. They'll go for one row in the tray and then fizzle out. What else could it be besides the pellets?

 

[darwin101]

Lack of oxygen is more than likely the issue.  Make sure the pellets are dry and the pellet tray is getting sufficient air movement. If one lane burns then stops, I would think it an oxygen issue.  

Which model of the MES do you have?  Maybe someone will have solved the same issue. 

 

[daveomak]

........Legs....  good airflow from below....

LEGS 3.jpg

• daveomak
• Mar 9, 2017

 

[runway1]

 
Lack of oxygen is more than likely the issue.  Make sure the pellets are dry and the pellet tray is getting sufficient air movement. If one lane burns then stops, I would think it an oxygen issue.  

Which model of the MES do you have?  Maybe someone will have solved the same issue.

Well heck, that's a good point.  I have the 30" MES #20070910.  On the bottom-left, right next to the chip box, are two rods that support the chip box just above the element.  AMAZN tray fits tight but just right.  I set it on top of the two rods, again just left of the chip box.

Maybe I'll try a smoke up on the tray.  Problem is, I usually have meat there!

 

[darwin101]

 
Well heck, that's a good point.  I have the 30" MES #20070910.  On the bottom-left, right next to the chip box, are two rods that support the chip box just above the element.  AMAZN tray fits tight but just right.  I set it on top of the two rods, again just left of the chip box.

Maybe I'll try a smoke up on the tray.  Problem is, I usually have meat there!

Well I forgot to ask the most important question.  Are you cooking while using the tray or cold smoking?  I have the same setup and it will work for me if the chip loader is removed and the top vent is wide open.  I don't use the tray if I am cooking, I just use the chip loader for a bit of smoke.  I only use the tray for cold smoking and that is mostly using a mail box modification. (lots of post on that all over this site)  

If you are cooking and trying to use a tray, the door may need to be cracked to increase airflow.  

Hopefully someone else might have better answers.

 

[daveomak]

I drilled bigger holes in the chip loader tube to get more air inside the MES when using the chip pan...

 

[runway1]

 
Well I forgot to ask the most important question.  Are you cooking while using the tray or cold smoking?  I have the same setup and it will work for me if the chip loader is removed and the top vent is wide open.  I don't use the tray if I am cooking, I just use the chip loader for a bit of smoke.  I only use the tray for cold smoking and that is mostly using a mail box modification. (lots of post on that all over this site)  

If you are cooking and trying to use a tray, the door may need to be cracked to increase airflow.  

Hopefully someone else might have better answers.

Yes, hot smoke cooking.  Using the MES chip tube/tray only provides about 90 mins of smoke.  That's why I bought this.  I guess I could just reload the chip tube every 90 mins.  Haven't tried it for cold smoking yet.  Also, I keep the vent 3/4 closed.  I'll try more opened next time.  Do you mean removing the whole tube or just the chip tray?

 
I drilled bigger holes in the chip loader tube to get more air inside the MES when using the chip pan...

That's something.  I'll take a look at that.

Yesterday, I did  some BB ribs and chicken wings - excellent.  This time, I placed the AMAZN on lowest rack.  It smoked the whole three hours (not saying much.  I pulled the wings at about 2 hours and foiled the ribs for another hour).  Meat was great but the remaining pellets in the AMAZN tray looked swollen up - like they got wet with drippings.  So, that didn't work too well.

 

[daveomak]

Upper vent wide open makes stuff work much better...

 

[cropharvester]

I really like  the Amaze N Dust quick easy to light,never goes out.