2008 MES 40" died yesterday

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lowcountrygamecock

Meat Mopper
Original poster
Feb 4, 2009
238
42
It's been a while since I've been on here but I could use some help. I was in the middle of a rib/Boston butt smoke yesterday and my MES gave up the ghost. The controller seems to be fine but it quit heating. I did a hard reset and checked on different outlets so I know my breaker didn't trip. It seems like I remember others having trouble with the wiring burning up on the older 40" models. Can anybody help me figure out how to troubleshoot this thing? I don't want to tear into the rivets on the back panel unless I have to. I want to think I remembered seeing a tutorial on here about how to fix it but I couldn't find it. Anybody have any ideas? Can you check if the element is good without tearing into the back?
 
you have to drill out all the rivets and remove the back panel. replace both wires going to the heating element w/ high temp 12 / 14 gauge wire and stainless connectors. use 1/2' self tapping screws to put the panel back on. My 800 w MES 40 gave up the ghost this past weekend and i have done the wire repair a few years ago. Now it is just a cold smoke cabinet.
 
Great link. Thanks for that. I read on there that you can upgrade the 800 watt element to the 1200 that the new models have. Will the same control unit work or do you have to replace that also? If I'm tearing into I want to make it right. The 800 element annoys me on how slow it heats up on cool days.
 
Great link. Thanks for that. I read on there that you can upgrade the 800 watt element to the 1200 that the new models have. Will the same control unit work or do you have to replace that also? If I'm tearing into I want to make it right. The 800 element annoys me on how slow it heats up on cool days.
Sorry, I couldn't tell you. Maybe "Eman", or one of the electronic geeks on here can help on that.

Bear
 
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