i have a new 4 rack digital smoker. i have 5 smokes on it so far and Sunday i went to smoke some trout and the door fell off the smoker. i noticed the plastic on the bottom front cracking the past couple of months but i didnt realize the door hindge was on that plastic also. i believe the cracking is the swing in temps from cold to hot since i have been smoking in below freezing temps. anybody else have this issue? i spent 369.00 for it and its broken after 5 smokes. wow. bradley has told me that they will send out replacement parts but my concern is the exact same thing happening again next winter after the thing is out of warranty.
Hi Im new here but have read a lot. I did see a mod on here to stop that. to me it sounds like the cabinet weight is on it. Basically looks like longer legs attached in another area.
Quote from: jdomep on April 26, 2011, 02:57:00 PM
i have a new 4 rack digital smoker. i have 5 smokes on it so far and Sunday i went to smoke some trout and the door fell off the smoker. i noticed the plastic on the bottom front cracking the past couple of months but i didnt realize the door hindge was on that plastic also. i believe the cracking is the swing in temps from cold to hot since i have been smoking in below freezing temps. anybody else have this issue? i spent 369.00 for it and its broken after 5 smokes. wow. bradley has told me that they will send out replacement parts but my concern is the exact same thing happening again next winter after the thing is out of warranty.
I've been around here for a few years and there have been very few door issues with the DBS that I'm aware of. I think I remember one other them but I can't remember who it may have been. I would have Bradley make things right and carry on from there.
Mike
As for the heat and cold issue, I live in northern Ontario where the winter is 40 below one day and 30 above the next. I only got my bradley in early Jan. but use it almost twice a week. I have seen no signs of wear or cracks of any kind. Like Mr Walleye said let Bradley make it right.
I've had my BDS 4 rack for 2 winters in central Ontario and smoke winter and summer with no problem,so I don't think it's the temps.
Like Walleye said,Bradley will make it right !
Jim O
If I recall correctly, most broken doors that were reported, the damage occured during shipment.
Bradley really does stand behind their product. Last week I noticed some cracks in the plastic piece on the bottom of the door. I called Bradley to order the replacement part but they said they would replace the whole door at no charge. A few days later I was installing my new door. Awesome service!!!
Also they had just received some of the "new" heat elements so I went ahead and got one as a backup, or I might do the dual element mod.
i got my new door today and i am happy with the service. the new doors seal doesnt attach to my smoker though. that is a concern now.
jdomep
I remember someone indicating that once they ran the smoker for a while over 200 degrees the door gasket kinda heats up and adapts to it's new home. Give that a shot & see how it works. You don't need to waste any pucks, just run the main heat element.
Mike
yes, the seal gets compressed during shipping/storage. Running it a while at 200 or so should "pop" it back into shape.
Quote from: jdomep on April 28, 2011, 04:40:07 PM
i got my new door today and i am happy with the service. the new doors seal doesnt attach to my smoker though. that is a concern now.
Mine was the same way but after running it a while it softened up and made a good seal.
200? i have trouble getting this thing up to 140. i read something about elements. i wonder if i got a bad one.
Quote from: jdomep on April 29, 2011, 01:09:42 PM
200? i have trouble getting this thing up to 140. i read something about elements. i wonder if i got a bad one.
Here are some troubleshooting tips that will help you narrow down the problem and hopefully find a solutions:
Bradley FAQ's (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?481-Bradley-Smoker-FAQ-s&p=748#post748)
if i call i my serial number will they be able to tell me if i have one of the bad heating elements?
Quote from: jdomep on April 30, 2011, 04:54:04 AM
if i call i my serial number will they be able to tell me if i have one of the bad heating elements?
I'm thinking they would know but and easier way to tell is take a multimeter and check to see if you have any resistance across the element. No resistance and its toast.
I did a cold smoke yesterday. It was very warm out and I was surprised at the temp the puck burner by itself produced which was around 135* by the time I was done so maybe your element is gone.
Quote from: jdomep on April 30, 2011, 04:54:04 AM
if i call i my serial number will they be able to tell me if i have one of the bad heating elements?
They could tell you if your smoker was built when they were using the elements from the former manufacture they purchased the heat elements, but not all of those elements failed.
There could be several reasons why the element is not working. If you have a multimeter to test it, that would be the best way. If not Bradley will ask you several questions, if you look at the FAQ section and do some trouble shooting in advance, it will save you some time on the phone when they ask you questions, or you may find the solution to your problem.