To Return Or Not Return?

[stwallace]

Well I was moving the MES 40" smoker I bought just about a week ago and applied some pressure to the handle to tilt it back on its wheels and move it out of the way before it rained.  I'm not knocking the product at all, I would recommend it to anyone but....  The handle popped out the top two rivets that held the screws of the handle and pulled them out, bending the sheet metal and edging of the smoker.  I can see some of the insulation and kind of bent it back into place and took the handle off to prevent that from ever happening again.  Not sure but will find out soon if the integrity of the actual smoker temps or anything else are affected.  Can I just ask anyone if this has ever happened to you or am I just the unlucky one? Also If it did would you return it for another one or just keep it?  heres a Qview....

Hard to tell what happened there but basically the brass colored rivet that holds that screw in (normally the handle would be in between the screw and sheet metal) pulled out of the pre drilled hole.  both sides on top.  I bent most of it back together.

 

[roller]

Bummer !!! 

 

[stwallace]

I called Sams Club.  No problems...  Kind of a far drive for me but it is worth so I can stop thinking about it now.  Got a new one and am seasoning it now.  I will probably end up taking the handle off and attaching four casters to the bottom.  This should make it a lot better and easier to move.

 

[Bearcarver]

Doesn't it have two wheels in the back & a handle at the top, in back, to tilt it & roll it?

I guess it doesn't. That shows I haven't kept up with them since I got my new MES 40.

I was thinking they all had the wheels now. I've been wrong before!

Bear

 

[tjohnson]

The handle is a nice addition, but not that big a deal to me.

Installing (4) casters, or (2) casters in the front may be a nice mod.  I tried to fins casters before, but the threads are metric.  Pretty tough to find metric threaded casters.  Check out Harbor Freight for cheap casters.

Todd

 

[stwallace]

Oh, hopefully i'll find something Todd.  I'll let you know if I do.

Bear, they do have wheels.  It was stuck on a crack in the cement and I applied to much pressure.  I'll just have to be more careful this time.  I like the handle but I'm thinking if someone that doesn't already know what I know now they might try to lean on it or something and do what I did.  Might just take it back off.

sean

 

[stwallace]

Oh and by the way Todd I just received the AMNS I ordered and am going to use it real soon.  I got a few bags of dust too.  Can't wait to see it in the works!

 

[SmokinAl]

I guess it's time to smoke something in the new one!

 

[Bearcarver]

Oh, hopefully i'll find something Todd.  I'll let you know if I do.

Bear, they do have wheels.  It was stuck on a crack in the cement and I applied to much pressure.  I'll just have to be more careful this time.  I like the handle but I'm thinking if someone that doesn't already know what I know now they might try to lean on it or something and do what I did.  Might just take it back off.

sean

OK Thanks,

I was reading it wrong (duhhhh!).

Now I got it---Thanks for the warning---Everybody should watch out for that now!!!

Glad you got a new replacement,

Bear

 

[stwallace]

Now I got it---Thanks for the warning---Everybody should watch out for that now!!!

Glad you got a new replacement,

Bear

Yeah Bear, I'm not sure if the rivets just weren't set right or what.  

And on another note - I just noticed yesterday that the door doesn't completely touch at the bottom when its locked.  Not a complete seal!  I think the door is slightly bowed out.  It still holds the temps just fine.  Not sure if the coil is turning on more often though.  I'm over it.  Good smoker but I must be getting the ones made on Monday or Friday... Heh

Sean

 

[pokey]

A couple of other sources:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#casters/=cevjou

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/casters-and-wheels/material-handling/ecatalog/N-cnm

 

[Bearcarver]

Yeah Bear, I'm not sure if the rivets just weren't set right or what.  

And on another note - I just noticed yesterday that the door doesn't completely touch at the bottom when its locked.  Not a complete seal!  I think the door is slightly bowed out.  It still holds the temps just fine.  Not sure if the coil is turning on more often though.  I'm over it.  Good smoker but I must be getting the ones made on Monday or Friday... Heh

Sean

Do you see smoke leaking out on the bottom?

If so, does it help to turn the adjustment in the door latch a couple turns clockwise?

Bear

 

[stwallace]

No, if there is any smoke leaking out its a miniscule amount.  I tried the door latch also; didn't work.

I'll live with it.  I just wonder if a lot of others are the same way and they just never got down to look at it.  The gap is about this big     |   |

Thanks pokey!

When I was in Vegas for work a while back I went into a store that had every type of caster you could want.  I wonder if there is one around here...