!... well my fan is stable when it blows for about 3 seconds, and then off for maybe 4 or 5, if not exactly that, then real close. But at the time its "happy" or the guru feels the temp is "stable" I sit there and kind of count, just to see. my seconds may be slightly off is what i'm saying but at the time when im looking at it I can tell when it goes into the mode where it just cruises. I put a ! because that sounds like much more then yours, whatever setup that would be. But 90% of the time i've had top vent at 75% closed, or basicly the thermo. wires pinched. and 90% of the time I have my "natural draft" control thing set at halfway exactly. Although I must stress i've left it wide open before and it absolutely changed nothing. But.. after sleepin on it and thinkin for a while u may be right, may just call them. Although in the mean time im tempted to go try a dry run maybe I guess... hate to but, and tamper w/ it and try a clay pot base and etc. etc. I was just interested in what you were saying because really mine IS perfect after the first hour or hour and a half, thats the thing. I dont hate it, i just dont get it. you understand the problem that imposes w/ trying to go to bed. I've gotton to the point where i know it so well i think, "k goin to sleep now so im gonna set this at 225 and in a hour or hour and a half it will be at my target temp. 235" then when I wake up its ussually at 236 or 237. lol anyway thanks.