Loaded her full with mainly ash and a split or two of cherry at about 2:30pm. I normally load N/S, but I set aside splits too long to go N/S and do periodic loads of E/W. This was E/W. My normal E/W burns typically result in consistent lower stack temp - perhaps 100-150* that of N/S loads, but the stove top always reaches 550-600*, just like with N/S loads. The fire was producing excellent rolling secondaries, primary was completely shut down (as usual) and pipe damper at 1/2 closed. I was sitting in our livingroom with the family and just felt a little cold. Went to the stove and noticed that the stove top had not climbed above 450*. Waited another hour - still at 450*. This has never happened before. I decided to open up, rake the BIG coal bed to even things out, and through in one medium split of ash, and a small ash and cherry split. Took right off (obviously), and stove top eventually reached 500*, but no higher. Definitely an out of character burn for my stove, and not sure why. Same wood (1 year seasoned ash and cherry) and the wood is great - lights off quick, clean glass, no smoke from chimney, etc., etc. Anyone ever have a strange result with stove top temps that are quite different from the norm? Cheers!