I believe I do have a problem

I tried some other tests...

Like an oven, I decided to turn the knob until I heard the "click" of the thermostat turning on the heating element. My internal temp was reading 205*. I cranked it up to almost 240* before I heard that click of the heating element being turned on. That means, my unit thought temps were at 240* when they were really 205*.

I'm going to put some ribs on in about 10 minutes. 1 piece of hickory. I Hang em and set the knob to 225. I don't look at them until they've been smokin for 5 hrs. Never been disappointed yet. I have the 08 also.

Thats great, but last time I did baby backs I let them go 8 hours and they weren't even close to done. Thats what prompted me to verify the temps.

Glad your unit works great...mine doesn't.

I'd certainly call Cookshack service,and let them run you through the checks.

It does sound a little like a therm problem.

I assume you had checked out the unit operating temps,with a correctly calibrated therm,back before you started your new cooking operations?

If it isn't reaching temps,there could be a couple of explanations.

Yeah, this isn't the first time I checked the temps. Same result every time. I was trying to NOT OVERTHINK THINGS and I gave the unit the benefit of the doubt. Now I am finding it increasingly difficult to cook.

By the way, I cranked it up to 250* and I am only getting temps as high as 212* and as low as 185*.

Is this plugged straight into the wall?

Yes, I have never used an extension cord and have it plugged directly into the wall.

well then call CS and they'll walk you through the temp test. Good news is if there's a problem, they have great customer service.

Kevin -- Try not to get discouraged. Cookshack will do you right. You have an excellent smoker. It may have a bug but I guarantee in the long run you WILL be happy & satisfied. Keep the faith!

Kevin, I had the same problem. Called cookshack and they sent me a new thermostat. Got it two day's later, installed it and problem fixed.

Thanks for the support...

Ribs turned out ok but took 8.5 hours at the 250* setting!! My experimental rub mixture was the best I have had, so the cook ended up being educational. Just can't seem to get them real tender without the temps getting up there.

I will call CS tomorrow morning. Thanks for the advice. I still love my smoker!

UPDATE:

So I temperature tested one more time today. this time, I left the probe in the exact same place I had it yesterday during the rib cook.

Now the chamber temps seem to be in check! At a 225* setting, they fluctuate between 210* and 240*.

I was always told on this forum that loading up your unit shouldn't cause longer cook times. Why couldn't I get the chamber temps up to 225* then?

I cooked 3 slabs of baby back ribs. Each slab was around 2.75 lbs. I cut them in half and put 2 halves on each shelf. They were spaced so that air could move around them on all sides. This should have been fine...right?

Did I do something wrong?

I meant to mention that the temperature test today was in an empty unit.

I can't help but wonder if one of your shelves is contacting the thermostat probe area at the back wall inside. There have been issues similar to this in the recent past. See if you can find where it is located and then adjust the racks or shelf holders differently so that the grills or shelves are located differently in relation to the back inside wall.

It has to be something simple like this.

GLH

Checked that out, nothing seems to be contacting the probe. The probe is situated perfectly between the bottom and middle shelf.

The only difference today was the lack of meat in the unit.

I have also read on this forum that the temps in a new unit will tend to even out as the unit gets (really) seasoned. This means that the walls are black with a nice covering of <whatever they call the stuff>.

When I got my 055, I did an initial temp check and when set to 225 it swung from 270 down to 180. Yup, 225 is right in the middle of that.

I haven't checked or worried about the temps since and the thing turns out a great product. Just chill for a bit and see how it is after about 10 cooks. CS will still take care of you.