Bearcarver, the reason given for removing the chip loader was too ensure airflow to the pellets so that they don't go out. You have never had the problem of the pellets going out?
Like Worktogthr (Below) said, "Every MES has different air flow".
With my MES 40 Gen #1, I don't do anything at all, other than keep my Pellets & Dust in air tight jugs, and then make sure I get it lit really good, and the only problem I used to have was when I tried to burn 100% Cherry Pellets. That just does not work!!! I no longer try to burn 100% Cherry pellets.
Other people pull the chip drawer out a bit, and/or pull the dumper out a bit, but some guys had been doing that, and then tried later to light the pellets properly, and found out once lit properly, they didn't have to do those other things.
I'm sure there are a lot of mailboxes out there that weren't necessary to get the
AMNPS to stay lit, if they were just lit better.
However air flow is key:
I get too much smoke with a Tube smoker, and no matter what I do, I can't reduce that amount of smoke, but I get perfect smoke with my
AMNPS.
Many of the guys who have trouble keeping the
AMNPS lit get good smoke from the Tube smoker, without getting too much smoke. I contribute that comparison to the difference in air flow from my MES and theirs.
Bear
Every MES has different airflow it seems. I have to pull my loader out about 2 inches and as long as they are lit properly to begin with they don't go out. Sometimes I get nervous it's going to go out and pull the loader out a little more and it just burns a little faster so I might get 2.5-3 hours per row instead of 3-4 . You have to experiment a little. That's the fun part. As far as butts are concerned, I always side with CliffCarter. Higher temps yield a great product with delicious bark, no stall, and much less unpredictability. Try it fast and try it slow. Like I said, have fun with the experimentation.
I noticed that some guys pull the loader out at the start, and then later in the smoke they push it back in. That would seem to indicate to me that they needed it out some in the beginning because they didn't get it lit good enough to stay lit. Then later when it was burning like it would have been earlier if they had lit it good enough, they can push it back in.
Bear