I loaded the stove up with a solid load of apple about 5 years old big splits around 6- 8 inches square, I got sidetracked with a project and didn't kick the stove down after closing the bypass on the King parlor. anyway my cat needle was pegged at 1600 degrees and a stovetop reading in stoves center was at 840 degrees. No pinging , cracking, nothing , I turned the blower on high and the stove dropped in a couple minutes into the high 600 degree mark and cat probe went to 1000 degrees. I think no harm done. The stove usually cruises in the low 600 degree mark for hours.