MES 40 can't keep AMNPS lit

[chiefp]

Hello all and happy holidays.  I can't keep my AMNPS lit.  I'm following the directions.  Lighting both ends (pellet blend) with a torch after nuking for 60 seconds.  Burning for 5 min then blowing out and letting it smoke another 5.  At this point it's smoking up a storm!  Put it in and 10 min later at least 1 side is out.  Half the time both sides are out.  I pull it out and repeat above.  Sometimes one side will stay lit and sometimes I have to start again.  Course all this opening and closing isn't helping my cook much either. 

The top vent is full open, empty water pan and no juices are getting on/in it.  I've tried setting it both long ways and side ways on the rail next to the chip box. 

I've read the suggestions I can find including opening the chip trap a bit and leaving loading tube ajar.  Have also tried leaving the tube out entirely.  For T day, I tried pulling the tube out and placed a small fan next to it blowing into the tube hole.  This seemed to work better...but I don't think this is something I should have to be doing each time.  Any other ideas?  Any chance I have a bad bag of pellets?  I also read that high altitude can affect these.  I'm in Vegas, so the actual altitude is 2500ft or so but the Density Altitude (I do some drag racing) is always almost 5,000ft.  Lastly, I thought I saw where the dust burns better?

Scott

 

[hkeiner]

 I have better luck putting the AMNPS in the center of the bottom rack, rather than putting in on the rails next to the chip box. This way the AMNPS is more directly in the air flow between the chip box and the exhaust vent. If the AMNPS starts burning too fast, I place a tile under the AMNPS or move it to the rails.

If you give this a try and get better results, this would seem to confirm that inadequate air flow is your problem (rather than bad pellets) and get you closer to solving your promlem.

 

[roadkill cafe]

Hi Scott,

Here's a couple suggestions:

• Fill AMNPS to within about 1/8" of the top. If using wine barrel or bourbon barrel pellets, first put a layer of hardwood pellets such as hickory, oak, etc.
• Hold the torch to the pellets for a full 45 sec.
• Allow pellets to burn a full 10 min., not 5. If they go out before 10 min. gently blow on them and they should fire up again. You need a good bed of cherry red coals.
• Ensure chip tray is pulled out about 2" and chip loader chute is out about 2".
• Top vent 100% open as you're already doing.
• If you have a breeze blowing, you might want to face the side with the chip loader chute towards the breeze, thus forcing more air into the unit.
• One thing others here have done is made a chimney over the vent to create more "draw" in the box. This could be as simple as a piece of PVC pipe, larger diameter than the vent, a foot or so high.

You can also search additional ideas and mods in the search bar at the top. You can also contact Todd for additional recommendations. Hope this helps.

 

[mitchk]

I've been having the exact same problems with mine in my MES40.  I like roadkill cafe's idea of pulling out the chip tray a little and leaving the chute open a little.  Mine will burn for a while but goes out every hour or two.  

 

[roadkill cafe]

I've been having the exact same problems with mine in my MES40.  I like roadkill cafe's idea of pulling out the chip tray a little and leaving the chute open a little.  Mine will burn for a while but goes out every hour or two.  

If you're leaving the chip tray and loader chute in then it will just burn until there's no more oxygen to support the burn. Gotta have a draft. This is why the AMNPS has all the holes. It's like having a candle in a jar and putting the lid on, candle goes out. If you still have problems keeping it going, drop Todd at A-Maze-N a line or a call. He'll help you through it.

 

[mitchk]

That makes perfect sense RC, I have no idea why I didn't put two and two together.  I'm about 8 hours into my first summer sausage smoke and of course I'm learning as I'm doing it rather than before...  

 

[roadkill cafe]

That makes perfect sense RC, I have no idea why I didn't put two and two together.  I'm about 8 hours into my first summer sausage smoke and of course I'm learning as I'm doing it rather than before...  

Hope it works out for you. We're here to help however we can. Heck, I'm learning everyday. Would be interested in hearing how your summer sausage smoke turns out. Remember,

 

[mitchk]

HA!  I'll have pics up in the am, at the rate its taking it will be way best my bedtime before I get this done,  8 more degree's till its done and its like watching grass grow...

 

[tromaron]

I think your main problem is only letting it burn for 5 min.  I fill my AMNPS then put it in the MES 40 for 30-60 min while it pre-heats.  After lighting it & letting it burn for 15 min, I put it on the bottom rack with a foil drip pan on the rack above it.  I have my chip loader all the way removed.  I struggled with keeping my AMNPS lit, and/or having it flash over & all burn at once, for a year.  Once I started following these steps, all my problems stopped.  I should also mention, I have my MES in the garage, and I had more success once I started opening a small window above the MES along with having the garage door open.  It makes a bit of a cross breeze and seems to get a lot more air to the MES.  I also have the vent wide open, and a 3" elbow on top of the vent.  

 

[chiefp]

Thanks all.  I'm going to do a brisket tomorrow and will try what's suggested.  It's obviously an oxygen issue which explains why I've had the most luck with the fan method.  I'm going to try putting it on the rack, with tray and tube removed.  I will drop Todd a note too.  

 

[chiefp]

Update.  I just spoke with Todd.  He also thinks it's an oxygen issue and asked me to get a 3" elbow to put on the exhaust port to help create a draft like TromaRon has done.  He also suggested not pulling the loading tube out completely, but just a couple inches as RC explained.   

Certainly not a news flash for most here....but Todd's customer service is absolutely outstanding.  Count me in as a lifetime customer!

 

[smoke83340]

Thanks all for this thread.   I am at 7,000 feet, Sun Valley, Idaho 83353, and I will try getting some vent pipe.  Straight makes more sense to me as any turns will constrict air.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how best to attach the vent?  I was thinking some of that metallic tape that is used for dryer and hot water heater vents.

Thanks & happy smokes!

Adam

 

[chiefp]

if you have the same vent, the elbow wedges into it very snugly,  don't need anything else.  This wasn't the final fix for me.  What I eventually found that worked was to put the AMNPS on the right side above the heating element on the lowest rack.  I folded up a piece of foil and put it on the rack above it to keep drippings from getting into it.  If I have no breeze, I put a small fan on the top blowing across the vent pipe with the chip tray and loader ajar.  Figure that creates a vacuum.  It's still gone out a couple times, but only intially.  Once it gets going it really gets going.  I can go with just lighting one end now, the end facing the door. 

 

[smoke83340]

Thanks very much, I got an e-mail from Todd and he noted that an elbow should fit right in also.

I'm going to try a few things and will report duly.

Mine is MES30