Thanks, gs. like you, I wonder why they put filler plates in if it works fine without them. I think they've even changed the design of them once or twiceIJIJIJ And around here in corn and soy country, I have yet to see a machine without them. When I asked my dealer about taking them out they said they don't know of anyone running without, and they didn't advise it, but they really didn't know why.