[thor]

What caues a range receptacle to burn out and or wires to melt?

[denman]

Not sure which receptacle you mean (appliance or element), but the cause is the same.

Poor or dirty connections and in some cases an underspecified part.

A dirty/poor connection introduces resistance to the current. This causes heat.
The heat promotes corrosion which adds more resistance which adds more heat etc. etc. etc. until the part fails.
Your elements work the same way except they are supposed to give off heat.

[thor]

Thanks for your help!!, I will wire brush/belt sand all the connections on the burners and buy 4 new receptacles. The burners checked out OK (continuity from wire to wire but not wire to outside of burner) Did I forget anything? Is there any special grease or coating you can spray on the connections to stiop corrosion?