MES 40" Not Producing Enough Heat on One Side

[tide92]

I know that there can be hot spots, but this one is really bad. This is my 2nd time to use this model. I had an older one and didn't have this problem. I had two pork butts beside each other. The one on the right side (element side) was 20-25 degrees hotter. It was at 293 and the left one was around 270. How can I fix this ?

I included a picture, less the right one which was already taken off, to show my setup.

 

[Winterrider]

Maybe take drip shield off completely, place rack on lowest and put foil pan on rack above element to block some heat. Could try with shield still in place also. I had 4 thermometers in mine MES like that. Hot spot was right rear.

 

[tropics]

25* sounds like you have a good one,mine ran as much as 50* off.

 

[SecondHandSmoker]

As much as I hate to say this, install the lower rack and then put an aluminum pan full of water on below the meat.
Or do as Winterrider suggested.
You could also ask Bearcarver to see what he would recommend.

 

[dr k]

I have the Gen 1 40 so the element and top vent are on the right rear corner and getting heat to the left is need. Alll Mes with right rear elements have air cruising straight up but manages to go left at some point to exit the left top vent. It was evident when people put too many chips and you couldn't see the food with all three Gens. Lots of turbulent air going up at the bottom rack. Its a good place for the Amnps for air. Some mention your Gen 2 with the slant drip plate your water pan hangs from pushes heat right. If you take that slant plate out and water pan and put the bottom rack in with an alum disposable pan to slide left, right, front and back you can play with it to even out temps. With your sensor on the back wall you can't block heat to it but people that have a PID put the sensor next to your food you can block any convection route to get even temps left to right on the top 3 racks.

 

[TomKnollRFV]

I suggest getting to talking with Mr Bearcarver, he's worked with every model of MES as far as I know and is the guru :)

 

[dr k]

The new Mes 400 coming out with the rotisserie and top broiling element and top two vents has been designed for more even heating and the bottom element is exposed and more centered in the bottom of the smoker under the water pan with a different smoke generator burner for chips. Too bad the even heating wasn't designed early with the Gen 1 40. The bottom or top burner is on one at a time not both at the same time. I'm not looking forward to the price besides I've got the Gen 1 40 nailed down.