1. It is the holes in the bottom of the firepot that clog up and I would be at a loss as to what to do if I could not remove and then clean it out with a wire brush.
A close fitting drill bit held in hand & pushed through each hole does a good job of cleanup.
2. there does not appear to be a gasket of any kind. If there is not, could that be normal for my model?
All the firefoxes I've worked on have had a woven fiberglass donut shaped gasket on the plenum intake, it is compressed between the intake flange & the stove body.
Could be the main cause of your troubles.
If you are anywhere near Visalia then a brew or coffee is on me.
I'm 2 1/2 hours north on I-5 in Patterson. If you're driving we could meet.
If you're flying into Fresno I'll take a rain check.
DK
