OAK installed and homemade auger plate (covering 1/2 of the exposed opening) installed. Because of the lack of cold, I can't say that I feel any change in drafty floors or uneven room temps or whatever, that some people have mentioned. As far as the OAK and the auger cover plate together as a whole, I have noticed a huge differance. First, No more high heat temp reset fails...and I am running only VT (hot) pellets. The most noticable change is that dramatic drop off in ash in the M55's ash tray. Prior to the changes, I had to run in standard or multi fuel mode in order to push x amount of ash and even partially and unburned pellets out of the burn pot because otherwise the temp would get too hot. Now, I am back to the premium mode and getting much less ash than past times when I was able to run in the premium setting! I am running in Feed 1 and heat 3 and still playing around with the combustion air. This spring when I pull the stove out for its spring cleaning I am going to make a new cover (or use the real cover plate and close off probably 1/2 of the remaining opening. Currently, slightly less pellets are dropping but I think I would like to see feed 2 or 3 be the more normal setting for cold weather, withe the ability to drop the feed rate down (as well as the fan) in the milder weather that we are having now. I am a very happy camper now! Love the stove, the HEAT, and appreciate all the folks who help contribute to the board. Bill
