British BBQ Society Forums

Hi, have just been given a maverick ET-733 for christmas but have noticed that the probes can't be pulled through the dedicated holes in the Excel as they are crimped at the base. I can leave one in the hole to give me BBQ temp but if I want to use the probes on meat I have to run cable between the stackers (causing an air-leak). Anyone else had this problem? Any ideas on how to solve it? I could remove the gland on the probe-hole making the hole bigger but would this leave sharp edges (possibly damaging cables). Has anyone managed to find a replacement (bigger) gland and fitted it? If so how?! Questions questions!

I had the same problem, but decided to "GENTLY" squeeze the crimps with a pair of pliers rather than trying to expand the holes in the Excel. This worked a treat and have had no problems with the probes misreading or not working.

Great thanks Keith - will give it a go. Did you just fold them over so they lay flat along the probe?

I took a needle file to the holes and made them slightly bigger. I figured it was safer then trying to make the probes smaller with my luck I'd squeeze them a little too hard.

That might be a better plan - tried squishing mine but I don't appear to be man enough! Got a brisket and a rack of ribs on at the moment and noticed that I was leaking from the joint where the cable goes through so I need to do something! Needle fe it is then. How many mil did you take out? Did you break through the side of the gland at all?

I'm seriously no technical wiz so excuse me using layman's terms here.
I noticed the probes at their widest point were more elliptical. I took a needle file to each side and just had at it, silver ring and all still in place. Didn't take long at all, took a bit out of the silver bit but not much. Just kept filing till it fit.

Sounds simple enough - will give it a go when I have recovered from my meat-over! Cheers.

They really don't need much pressure, as noted they are kind of oval, I just rounded them over/up made the round and they fitted.

This is handy as I was eyeing up the mavericks but noticed this issue when I tried too use my mates mavericks with my ProQ when we did a charity cook at work last summer. Bit of a design flaw in the eyelets if you ask me as just about everyone with anything to say on the subject seems to recommend the maverick as the thermometer of choice?

You are right about it being a design flaw, maverick seem to be the weapon of choice in BBQ land, you would think the eyelets on a popular BBQ should take their probes !!!!! If you search this forum you will find the subject repeatedly, I did the squeeze the probe route and it worked! don't try drilling out the eyelet a little! I did and had a loose eyelet and a broken dril bit