Smokey Fireview; SS cat gasket

I was having some problems keeping the slow burn temps up with my Fireview and getting a pretty smokey burn too. At first I thought it was my rained and snowed on Black Locust, then I blamed it on the warmer weather. Finally I called woodstock and after some discussion, it was recommended that I replace the gasket that goes around the cat in the holder. the cat felt a little loose in there and we figured there may be too much smoke sneaking around it. the new gasket material came in the mail yesterday and I installed it last night after work at about 11 pm. When I took the holder apart, the old gasket material fell apart. Once I got it back together and installed, I reloaded the stove. After about 20 minutes, I engaged the cat and set the air at around 3/4. An hour later the stove was cruising along at about 550° with a couple lazy flames and no smoke out the stack. Before I was lucky to get a 400° stove top in the same conditions. I'm sure that the increased draft due to outside temps in the teens didn't hurt either. I may have messed up the gasket by knocking the cat around too much when cleaning it. I'll be more gentle next in the future. Either that or I work the stove too hard to make up for the draftiness and lack of insulation in my house.
Once again Woodstock stands behind their product, even when I am in my third season with the stove.

The only problem was that I didn't get home from work until after 10:30 and had asked my wife to post pone reloading until I got home so I could work on the stove. Even though it was cruising nicely at around 500°F, last night was not a good night to go into without a running start! It was cold in the house this morning! We should be fine now with a day to get caught up.

That's what mine was doing. No sag, but some movement. Call them today.

Ron at Woodstock told me that they come with a gasket that is supposed to expand when heated. It seems mine didn't expand enough, or I messed it up by banging ash out of the cat. the gaket just crumpled when I took it out of the holder.

I was instructed to use masking tape.

I have been pleasantly surprised by their parts prices so far. They have been quite reasonable.

I shut mine down on what has been the coldest night so far. We suffered a bit, but it was worth it. I let the stove go down to a smaller bed of coals and opened the bypass, this allowed the cat to cool somewhat. There was still enough draft that I could open the top without smoking out the house. I grabbed the cat holder with my welding gloves and ran outside with it. I set it down on a rock. I could work on it bare handed out in my shop in about 15 minutes.