I would like to know if anyone else has had any problems with the plastic parts on the door and the underneath piece cracking with age/weathering?
I have always used a cover but it doesn't seem to help. I have had my unit about 2 years now and all of the plastic pieces have become brittle and are cracking. This caused the bottom hinge to fail as it is only seated in the door in the plastic strip across the bottom. To me this is a design flaw. Plastic trim pieces ar ok and add to the looks, but to use them as function pieces is just plain wrong.
Yes, but I used a two part epoxy to put back together. No biggie. No problems ever since. I was at fault. Carrying it and placed it down on corner first >:(
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I have replaced the door, hinge pin, and face plate...Twice! >:( Bradley was great about it and sent out new parts both times at their cost. But I still think the plastic parts aren't formulated to withstand the heat. I haven't done any mods, except the front feet, to my smoker so I know it doesn't run too hot. Never dropped it or abused it in any way. It stays covered when not in use. So I'm pretty sure it's not anything I'm doing. I wish the critical parts were made of aluminum or something else that can stand up to the heat.
What modification did you do to the front feet?
I agree that the plastic is a bad choice of material. Bradley also sent replacements for my door and bottom trim as well at their expense, but if it was my business I would be looking hard at why these are failing. I noticed that one of the problems is caused by the screws for the front feet are too long and cause the trim piece to crack.
This is a thread for digital models, and I don't know what model you have. Here is a link to the feet mod that Smoke em was referring to, but it is a mod for the old OBS to prevent the face plate from cracking.
Feet Mod (http://www.susanminor.org/forums/showthread.php?488-Answers-To-Bradley-Smoker-FAQ-s&p=769#post769)
I have had two door failures and two or three heating element failures (I have lost track). I agree that the plastic will not last.
I have also experienced this issue. The first time, they said it was probably because the door had opened too far, but no, it did it again at the end of last year - I decided to ignore it for now.
Welcome aboard erink65, glad to have you here.