Fire Box

Not sure.. but how often are you opening the box?

Every time you open the box.. the heat drops a bunch.. unless it is stuffed with product.

Have you put a thermometer probe in the box to see if it is heating properly? Stuff the probe thru a potato.. all the way thru so the tip is not in contact with the spud but maintained off the metal shelf.. close to the firebox. Should give some sense of how it is heating.

Unseasoned wood too high in moisture? Probably not but worth asking about.

If this doesn't help.. CS Support is fantastic.. and you can't go wrong making that the first thing to do.

Call - Customer Service 1-800-423-0698 X14

Try bending the passes (bends/loops) in the element up, just so they contact the bottom of the wood box for more heat to the wood...this helps a great deal.
Also might put cold water in the drip pan and place on a rack inside to simulate "load" or try a hotter temp. (than manual suggests) 225˚-250˚.
Rob

To break in the smoker the instructions suggested to set the temp to 200 degrees for 4 hours. I did as you suggested in bending the heating loop so that it is just touching the bottom of the fire box and that helped. I think all is OK as some wood now turns to ash and other blocks turn to coal. If using 225 degrees for normal cooking I'm sure all will burn properly. I now at least have a smoke residue all over inside the smoker.

quote:

Originally posted by Magic Dragon Be Smokin:
Try bending the passes (bends/loops) in the element up, just so they contact the bottom of the wood box for more heat to the wood...this helps a great deal.

Not gonna agree with this one and mods to the smoker just aren't appropriate if it's still in warranty. Maybe it works for you, but it's now how it was designed.

I think the right thing, for a new owner is to call Customer Service so they can work through any potential questions.

4play the element touching the wood box will craete a hot spot and will shorten the elements live. paul

I bet you do not have the box installed properly. As simple as it seems, it is easy not to see it.There is a 'slot' under the box that slides onto the guard around the elemnet. This places the element less than an inch from the bottom of the smoke box. Don't ask how I know this.