Any issues with your MES 40 BT + AMPS? Cast your vote!

[mummel]

A lot of guys have had great success with older Gens. I have not been as lucky with my MES 40 BT.  I thought I would take a poll.

Are any of you guys having issues with your AMPS staying lit in your MES BT 40?  If you vote, post your name in the main thread so we can maintain the integrity of the poll.

Thanks.

 

[mummel]

Yes for me.  I've had probs.  It's been hit or miss.  6/10 smokes have failed.

 

[dvuong]

No issues here.  I make sure to light it up real good and then raise it a few inches off the floor.  I also pull out the chip loader and tray about an inch. 

 

[dennispfaff]

No issues here.  I make sure to light it up real good and then raise it a few inches off the floor.  I also pull out the chip loader and tray about an inch. 

Same here - no problems once you give it a good start. I raise mine up a bit as pictured here.
Dennis

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• dennispfaff
• Aug 7, 2015

 

[smokingearl]

6 out of 6 smokes my amps has stayed lit perfectly. from my 6 hour smokes to my 12 hour smoke.

 

[candurin]

I have 4 smokes with my new 40" BT with no issues. I've had up to 10 hours of continuous smoke with cherry blended pellets as well (amnps 5x8)

 

[candurin]

Another Success.... Just smoked spatched chicken and Mac and cheese (f-ing fantastic BTW!!!). Did one row of mixed pellets (bourbon, Apple, pecan) and got 3 solid hours (would have had about 30 minutes left).

Top vent completely open, wood chip loader cylinder halfway out. I could physically see the smoke moving throughout the smoker in nice eddying patterns.

Tightly packed the first row (I have the original, 3 row version), lit with propane torch (simple brass fitting for my Coleman fatty tanks) and used Wagner heat gun to blow glowing ember/cherry about 2 inches in towards unlight pellets. Didn't go out once and had perfect TBS the entire time.

I leave my pellets in the original 2 lb ziplock bags Todd packages them in. All I do is lay all the pellets I plan on burning out on a paper plate for an hour before I light them and they always work perfectly.

 

[surfer joe]

I've been successful one out of three times.

 

[floridasteve]

I've never had any problems keeping mine lit AFTER I started nuking me pellets first. I DO wish it put out a little more smoke, but I just add a few pellets it chips through the loading tube every once in a while.

On the other hand, I've noticed that with the exhaust damper wide open, I see a big difference between my MES temp and my Maverick cooker temp. If I close the exhaust, that difference narrows a lot.

 

[dr k]

I've been successful one out of three times.

I have a 40" GEN 1 and have been using my 12" AMNTS with no problems with Traeger pellets.  They are the diameter of a pencil and appear to be harder to break than Todd's pellets, but I got them when I had a homemade tube smoker.  I just got my AMNPS the other day and it failed three times in one hour with Traeger pellets.  I switched to Todd's Hickory pellets that are thinner with no problems.  If your AMNPS is failing with Todd's pellets maybe getting the AMNPS over the middle drip pan drain hole may help.  Lotsa air is drawn through the drain hole. 

-Kurt

 

[dennispfaff]

I have a 40" GEN 1 and have been using my 12" AMNTS with no problems with Traeger pellets.  They are the diameter of a pencil and appear to be harder to break than Todd's pellets, but I got them when I had a homemade tube smoker.  I just got my AMNPS the other day and it failed three times in one hour with Traeger pellets.  I switched to Todd's Hickory pellets that are thinner with no problems.  If your AMNPS is failing with Todd's pellets maybe getting the AMNPS over the middle drip pan drain hole may help.  Lotsa air is drawn through the drain hole. 
-Kurt

That's not good news as I recently purchased a 20 lb bag of Traeger pecan pellets, and I am going to smoke lamb in a little while using 1/2 cherry and 1/2 pecan. I must say though, the Traegar pecan pellets do not appear any larger than the others I have.
Dennis

 

[dr k]

That's not good news as I recently purchased a 20 lb bag of Traeger pecan pellets, and I am going to smoke lamb in a little while using 1/2 cherry and 1/2 pecan. I must say though, the Traegar pecan pellets do not appear any larger than the others I have.
Dennis

Traeger pecan is what I have as well and I like it.  Traeger is 1/3 Pecan (flavor on the bag) and 2/3 Oak or Alder for fuel and flavor, as well as the 20 lb. bags of BBQ'ers Delight.  The BBQ'ers Delight one pound bags that Todd sells as well is 100% the wood on the bag as well as Todd's pellets.  My Traeger Pecan Pellets are up to 2" in length and bigger in diameter (short crayons.)  I'll break them into smaller pieces next time.  Like the booklet that came with the AMNPS said, you'll have different results with pellets other than Todd's.  I notice a big difference when starting the Traeger pellets vs.Todd's.  Traeger doesn't catch as fast (probably because they're designed to be exposed to continuous electrical heat.)  I'll use them in my AMNTS (which I use to cold smoke meat on my grill for 2 hrs. before grilling.) 

On the Gen 1 drain hole in the back of the smoker, you can't keep a lighter lit there from the draft coming into the smoker.  Your center drain hole is more difficult to test but has to be the same.  Putting your AMNPS as close to it as possible or an elbow pointing towards the AMNPS has to help solve air problems.  I haven't generated any grease to even use the drain hole for what it's designed for.  No one with air problems has even tested the drain hole as an air source.  I have GEN 1's with no air problems, but I have found that Todd's products work best with Todd's pellets.    

-Kurt   

 

[brickguy221]

 
Traeger pecan is what I have as well and I like it.  Traeger is 1/3 Pecan (flavor on the bag) and 2/3 Oak or Alder for fuel and flavor, as well as the 20 lb. bags of BBQ'ers Delight.  The BBQ'ers Delight one pound bags that Todd sells as well is 100% the wood on the bag as well as Todd's pellets.  My Traeger Pecan Pellets are up to 2" in length and bigger in diameter (short crayons.)  I'll break them into smaller pieces next time.  Like the booklet that came with the AMNPS said, you'll have different results with pellets other than Todd's.  I notice a big difference when starting the Traeger pellets vs.Todd's.  Traeger doesn't catch as fast (probably because they're designed to be exposed to continuous electrical heat.)  I'll use them in my AMNTS (which I use to cold smoke meat on my grill for 2 hrs. before grilling.) 

On the Gen 1 drain hole in the back of the smoker, you can't keep a lighter lit there from the draft coming into the smoker.  Your center drain hole is more difficult to test but has to be the same.  Putting your AMNPS as close to it as possible or an elbow pointing towards the AMNPS has to help solve air problems.  I haven't generated any grease to even use the drain hole for what it's designed for.  No one with air problems has even tested the drain hole as an air source.  I have GEN 1's with no air problems, but I have found that Todd's products work best with Todd's pellets.    

-Kurt   

Kurt, in reference to where you said that ..."Traeger is 1/3 Pecan (flavor on the bag) and 2/3 Oak or Alder for fuel and flavor" ... If the pellets are 1/3 Pecan for flavor and 2/3 Oak or Alder for fuel, wouldn't the Pecan flavor be weak and possibly non-existant since the other 2/3 is Oak or Adler? In other words wouldn't the Oak or Adler override the Pecan flavor?

 

[dr k]

Kurt, in reference to where you said that ..."Traeger is 1/3 Pecan (flavor on the bag) and 2/3 Oak or Alder for fuel and flavor" ... If the pellets are 1/3 Pecan for flavor and 2/3 Oak or Alder for fuel, wouldn't the Pecan flavor be weak and possibly non-existant since the other 2/3 is Oak or Adler? In other words wouldn't the Oak or Adler override the Pecan flavor?

When I called Traeger awhile ago they said what I posted. Which ever coast I forget has Alder and the other coast Oak. These two woods are primarily for low ash and clean burning heat in their electric pellet smokers. Then the wood on the bag. Alder is mild and recommended for fish. Oak is stronger. I like the pecan traeger but the AMNTS is my go to tool for Traeger pellets. So to answer your question, yes I can taste that it's not 100% pecan, but very good.
-Kurt

 

[brickguy221]

When I called Traeger awhile ago they said what I posted. Which ever coast I forget has Alder and the other coast Oak. These two woods are primarily for low ash and clean burning heat in their electric pellet smokers. Then the wood on the bag. Alder is mild and recommended for fish. Oak is stronger. I like the pecan traeger but the AMNTS is my go to tool for Traeger pellets. So to answer your question, yes I can taste that it's not 100% pecan, but very good.
-Kurt

Kurt, do you know if Todds Pecan Pellets are 100% Pecan or mixed with something else? I have some Todds Pecan but haven't used them yet.

I have wood chip Pecan also and of coarse it is really great in flavor, but I am trying to get away from wood chips. I currently have 8 flavors from Todd, but haven't tried all yet. Only the Jack Daniels, Pitmaster Choice, Mesquite, and Hickory is all I have tried so far. 

 

[dennispfaff]

Traeger pecan is what I have as well and I like it.  Traeger is 1/3 Pecan (flavor on the bag) and 2/3 Oak or Alder for fuel and flavor, as well as the 20 lb. bags of BBQ'ers Delight.  The BBQ'ers Delight one pound bags that Todd sells as well is 100% the wood on the bag as well as Todd's pellets.  My Traeger Pecan Pellets are up to 2" in length and bigger in diameter (short crayons.)  I'll break them into smaller pieces next time.  Like the booklet that came with the AMNPS said, you'll have different results with pellets other than Todd's.  I notice a big difference when starting the Traeger pellets vs.Todd's.  Traeger doesn't catch as fast (probably because they're designed to be exposed to continuous electrical heat.)  I'll use them in my AMNTS (which I use to cold smoke meat on my grill for 2 hrs. before grilling.) 

On the Gen 1 drain hole in the back of the smoker, you can't keep a lighter lit there from the draft coming into the smoker.  Your center drain hole is more difficult to test but has to be the same.  Putting your AMNPS as close to it as possible or an elbow pointing towards the AMNPS has to help solve air problems.  I haven't generated any grease to even use the drain hole for what it's designed for.  No one with air problems has even tested the drain hole as an air source.  I have GEN 1's with no air problems, but I have found that Todd's products work best with Todd's pellets.    
-Kurt   

Kurt,
I just looked at my bag of Traeger pecan pellets and it doesn't say anything about being a mixture of oak and alder.?? And the pecan pellets are the same size/length as my other pellets, including the ones I purchased from Todd. Interesting. Anyway, they smoked just fine today on my leg of lamb.[emoji]128515[/emoji]
Dennis

image.jpg

• dennispfaff
• Aug 15, 2015

 

[dr k]

Kurt, do you know if Todds Pecan Pellets are 100% Pecan or mixed with something else? I have some Todds Pecan but haven't used them yet.

I have wood chip Pecan also and of coarse it is really great in flavor, but I am trying to get away from wood chips. I currently have 8 flavors from Todd, but haven't tried all yet. Only the Jack Daniels, Pitmaster Choice, Mesquite, and Hickory is all I have tried so far. 

Todd's are 100% the wood on the bag except for Garlic Spice and the other herb/pepper blends are rubs in oak wood.
-Kurt

 

[dr k]

Kurt,
I just looked at my bag of Traeger pecan pellets and it doesn't say anything about being a mixture of oak and alder.?? And the pecan pellets are the same size/length as my other pellets, including the ones I purchased from Todd. Interesting. Anyway, they smoked just fine today on my leg of lamb.[emoji]128515[/emoji]
Dennis

image.jpg

• dennispfaff
• Aug 15, 2015

Looks great! Good to hear the Traeger pellets burned well. I know they work well in my AMNTS. Bbq'ers Delight mention the oak mix on the 20lb. Bags but it's not on the Traeger 20lb. Bags so I called Traeger and they mentioned either Oak or Alder is blended with each Flavor. I like their Pecan.
-Kurt

 

[floridasteve]

On the Gen 1 drain hole in the back of the smoker, you can't keep a lighter lit there from the draft coming into the smoker. Your center drain hole is more difficult to test but has to be the same. Putting your AMNPS as close to it as possible or an elbow pointing towards the AMNPS has to help solve air problems. I haven't generated any grease to even use the drain hole for what it's designed for. No one with air problems has even tested the drain hole as an air source

I have a 40" gen 2.5 BT and I have fount that my AMNPS works better if I place it over the drain hole than if I place it on the far left side.

 

[dr k]

I have a 40" gen 2.5 BT and I have fount that my AMNPS works better if I place it over the drain hole than if I place it on the far left side.

Exactly what I thought! I'm glad you tried it. Your the first other than me that has ever mentioned the drain hole as an air supply for the AMNPS. Before trying mods I'd move the AMNPS over the hole. I'm not sure what people are waiting for and why there has been zero discussion on this potential AMNPS air flow solution. I don't have the 2.5 BT or 2. So it doesn't apply to me with the Gen 1. I saw the hole on the back of the Gen 1 and said i wonder how much air is drawn though it. So I put a lighter to it and I couldn't keep it lit. I guess with the Gen 2 and 2.5 the outside hole isn't visible. Out of sight out of mind.
-Kurt