Anyone want to rewire/rebuild my MES? Central New Jersey

[AndyInNYC]

As another thread will show, I have a second hand MES which 'doesn't get hot'. Anyone willing to rebuild it with an Auber, etc. for a fee? I'll deliver and pick up and (obviously) pay for all the parts. I have no mechanical skills and my wife wouldn't trust anything I've 'fixed' that runs on electricity. Choice 2 is to put it at the curb and head to Lowes for a new one (which is bad for the environment, my check book and having a better smoker with the Auber).

Respond publicly or privately. I'd just like to start making some BBQ.


Andrew

 

[normanaj]

This is so easily done you would regret paying someone to do it.

MES Rewire Simple Guide - No Back Removal Needed!!!

www.smokingmeatforums.com

If you're still not comfortable I'll tag tallbm to help you out.

 

[zwiller]

Take to local electrical place or motor shop and print out the above thread. VERY simple job for someone knowledgeable. Like 1 beer or $50 at most.

 

[processhead]

While it may be simple, you may find it difficult to find a reputable electrical shop to rewire it with anything other than factory parts.
Unfortunately, commercial businesses are liability conscious and they may balk at installing non-original parts that someone on the internet said would make their smoker work better. ☹

IMO you are more likely to find a handy friend or neighbor to do the work for you.

 

[Timber II]

I get it….but there are a ton op pics and if ya still have trouble you will get responses to your questions and pics. I say do it. If I can do it anyone can

 

[chopsaw]

I have no mechanical skills

I have all kinds of mechanical skills , and I still had my doubts about doing it .
People here can help you through it .

 

[tallbm]

As another thread will show, I have a second hand MES which 'doesn't get hot'. Anyone willing to rebuild it with an Auber, etc. for a fee? I'll deliver and pick up and (obviously) pay for all the parts. I have no mechanical skills and my wife wouldn't trust anything I've 'fixed' that runs on electricity. Choice 2 is to put it at the curb and head to Lowes for a new one (which is bad for the environment, my check book and having a better smoker with the Auber).

Respond publicly or privately. I'd just like to start making some BBQ.


Andrew

Hi there and welcome!

I've helped 2 if not 3 people out on this forum that have never literally cut or spliced wire together before attempting this and they knocked it out of the park even with all their worries.

With that said, it would be most likely to find a friend that your wife wouldn't scoff about and show them the information here:

MES Rewire Simple Guide - No Back Removal Needed!!!

www.smokingmeatforums.com

The rewiring part is literally no more than cutting the ends off 4 wires/ stripping a little bit of wire insulation off the ends, and then splicing together with 2 wire nuts to make 2 new whole wires. That is it!

So if you must have someone else do it, I'd recommend going that route.

While doing all of this I would highly recommend cutting into the back to be able to access the high temp safety limit switch so you can replace it or wire around it once it fails, and it will fail because masterbuilt uses cheap Chinese plastic switches that fall apart in like 10 seconds. This may also be the reason why the MES isn't fully heating up in the 1st place if the switch is starting to die out... which is the most common failing part of the whole thing.
Cut by drilling a small hole and then using tin snips to fold open the metal. When done just push back together and duct tape or flue tape it back shut to seal it all back up. Simple.

Go ahead and get both things done with with this electrically or mechanically comfortable help you find.
it takes more time to flip the thing over and move it than it does to rewire.

Again read that thread and ask all the questions you can, it's really very very very simple.