Hi Chef-Boy-Arnie
Do you place the A-Maze-N-Smoker under the heating element? I've been using mine as well but had difficulty positioning it.
I too have problems making successful jerky in the SM025. It doesn't seem to dry well. I smoke at 170 for first 2 hours then 180 for the remaining times. I dump moisture about every hour. Some folks I spoke with smoke at 155-160.