MES 40 Toxic Fire

[TomKnollRFV]

Chop; I almost did. Some of it, in mine is the same black as the material of the smoker and is wedged in flat and flush. It actually looked like it was meant to be in there. If some one else hadn't noticed I likely wouldn't have. It was dark out and it looked perfectly natural in the unit against the door. I also can't think of what else in the smoker would start on fire out of the box like that!

 

[mski2]

No, it shouldn't. I feel if it did, there was some sort of packing material inside, but the fact it was seemingly not properly sealed..like maybe it's an entire lot number worth? Definitely time to call and raise a stink either way. They should replace the entire thing certainly, and probably not send you an outdated model if two in a row weren't sealed properly.

That said; have you tried the new cabinet? I mean maybe the seams are fine for all I know.

No the door is toast so I didn't try
I'll wait to hear from them

 

[Bearcarver]

The seam pic, this is how the bottom and top looks all around,The one that caught fire looks the same.Like its only secured in the corners.
Got it at Academy Sports, was new unused I had to assemble and was in original packaging .
Would apreciate you looking.
Mark
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So this is a Pic of the replacement box.
Don't you have any Pics of the one that burned?
Maybe the Pics you sent to Masterbuilt?
Is this a Generation #2 MES 40?

Bear

 

[dls1]

mski2,

Sorry to hear about your experience, and even more sorry about Masterbuilt's response in handling your claim. Masterbuilt's crappy 90 day warranty states something like they will, at their discretion, will issue a refund, or replace the defective item. It doesn't say anything about sending a part so that you can repair/rebuild the item. They and other companies pull that scam as, from their experience, they know most buyers will accept it since they feel they have no other recourse. From what I can glean from your comments is that your unit was basically DOA and you deserve nothing less that a new replacement unit with free shipping, or maybe even a refund.

The direct solution to getting what you want is to make a courteous threat of the action that you could take that would hit them in their wallet. Simply tell the customer service rep that you want either a new replacement unit, or a refund. If neither is forthcoming the you will exercise your right to file a fire hazard complaint with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Masterbuilt has had a number of fire hazard complaints filed against them in the past and 3 cases that I'm aware of have led to recalls of over 60,000 units. Other complaints have been settled by corrective action, and some have been dismissed. Regardless of the outcome, simply responding to CPSC complaint action will cost Masterbuilt a Hell of a lot more than a replacement or refund.

CPSC complaint form > https://www.saferproducts.gov/CPSRMSPublic/Incidents/ReportIncident.aspx

Good Luck.

 

[TomKnollRFV]

You know this whole thread has lead me to a question..

I tend to put my Amazen 5x8 Pellet tray in my smoker, on the grease tray, and then blow torch it. It's alot easier for me then trying to hold onto stuff and bending over, so on and so forth and all of that. Am I risking some thing horrible happening by pointing a blow torch in a MES? I already burnt my self pretty darn bad with that 5x8 tray putting it on a metal table and lighting it and having to pick it up and carry it and bend over with my hand burning, thus I just light it in my MES.

Crap, now I'm worried I've been damaging stuff or risking toxins.

 

[Bearcarver]

You know this whole thread has lead me to a question..

I tend to put my Amazen 5x8 Pellet tray in my smoker, on the grease tray, and then blow torch it. It's alot easier for me then trying to hold onto stuff and bending over, so on and so forth and all of that. Am I risking some thing horrible happening by pointing a blow torch in a MES? I already burnt my self pretty darn bad with that 5x8 tray putting it on a metal table and lighting it and having to pick it up and carry it and bend over with my hand burning, thus I just light it in my MES.

Crap, now I'm worried I've been damaging stuff or risking toxins.

The problem mski2 is having are the first of this kind I have heard.
I'm still waiting to see what actually burned, so I never have to say that again if it happens again.
However normally we light the AMNPS before putting it in, and work on that Cigar-like Cherry for 15 to 20 minutes before putting it in. That is usually before the MES is pre-heated, or while it is pre-heating.
I use a welding glove when I handle a well-lit AMNPS.
When I do it the torch has to be held on the AMNPS for too long to do it after the AMNPS is in my smoker.

Bear

 

[mski2]

Update Toxic Fire
I contacted Masterbuilt and they are sending me a new door, drip pan is backordered till Aug. They did it without argument.
Upon further inspection I found the internal insulation was burning, now How it started is unknown, I do know that I went to 2 stores and looked at the newer Mes 30 , they have rivets securing the inside panels where I have a gap.
I am going to either rivet it or put a small SS angle and rivet it on to seal the gaps.
One more thing I would like to give Academy Sports a thumbs up, they were willing to take this back and even send Fedex to pick it up, Should maybe went that route but after dealing with Masterbuilt and cutting the cord it was too late
Thanks to all for your input.
Will report back if I ever get it going.

 

[Nutshell]

Academy is FANTASTIC!! I guarantee they will take it back without the cord.

 

[Bearcarver]

I still don't understand why Masterbuilt won't replace the whole Smoker, but I didn't see the pictures they saw.

Good luck with it !!

Bear

 

[mski2]

I still don't understand why Masterbuilt won't replace the whole Smoker, but I didn't see the pictures they saw.

Good luck with it !!

Bear

Well they were willing to send me any parts I needed, I think it might be a model they dont have in stock , you would figure it caught on fire they wouldn't want any of it reused, heck could have been the controller bad,
will see, I did confirm it was the inner insulation that caught fire, I took the screws out that holds the ash tray shield above the heating element, they had melted black insulation on them where they pass through the cabinet.

 

[Bearcarver]

Well they were willing to send me any parts I needed, I think it might be a model they dont have in stock , you would figure it caught on fire they wouldn't want any of it reused, heck could have been the controller bad,
will see, I did confirm it was the inner insulation that caught fire, I took the screws out that holds the ash tray shield above the heating element, they had melted black insulation on them where they pass through the cabinet.

Right, but they used to have a habit of replacing a Gen #1 with a Gen #2, which in that case would be better to fix the Gen #1, since it was a better Smoker than a Gen #2. So they didn't used to have a problem with replacing one model with a different model.

At this point, I'm just hoping for the best for you.

Bear

 

[mski2]

Hi, New here but need to know if anyone had their MES catch fire.
Mine arrived last week, 1 or so hours into the break in or seasoning it caught fire, smelly black smoke with toxic smelling fumes , no chips were added, looks like the insulation ignited.
Called Masterbuilt, they had me send pictures , then a pic of the cord cut and label taken off.
Today a new cabinet ( no door wheels racks or pans ) arrived , on the door trim the bottom is melted and the thick smoke coating that smells like burnt plastic wont come off the inside door barely off the window even with acetone.
I noticed on the new cabinet the seam all around the floor is not sealed and if I push on it I can tell there is a gap there , looked at a MES 30 in the store , ( a newer model ) and there are rivets along that seam.
Anyone else have this problem ?
Mark

UPDATE
I finally got all the parts from Masterbuilt and got the smoker working, did jerky and ribs.
It work great the temperature could be better regulated and a bigger vent would also help but I'm satisfied for now.
I did seal everything inside before the break in, gaps inside cabinet and around the vent and chip chute opening.
pic
Also did an Autopsy on the original cabinet, all the wiring was fine but the foam was definitely on fire, probably from the gaps in the cabinet.
Masterbuilt did give me everything I needed with no problem . Why part by part ? maybe they had no smoker in stock .
Thanks to everyone for all your help and input.
Mark

 

[Bearcarver]

UPDATE
I finally got all the parts from Masterbuilt and got the smoker working, did jerky and ribs.
It work great the temperature could be better regulated and a bigger vent would also help but I'm satisfied for now.
I did seal everything inside before the break in, gaps inside cabinet and around the vent and chip chute opening.
pic
Also did an Autopsy on the original cabinet, all the wiring was fine but the foam was definitely on fire, probably from the gaps in the cabinet.
Masterbuilt did give me everything I needed with no problem . Why part by part ? maybe they had no smoker in stock .
Thanks to everyone for all your help and input.
Mark

Now that I've seen the fire results, I'd have given you a Brand New Smoker of your Choice, but I'm not Masterbuilt!!

Bear