Tarm Solo 40 Can't keep it Gasifying

"you should not have to tend your fire every 20 minutes to keep it in gasifying mode correct?? " Correct.

I don't have a Tarm Solo, but my guess is that your primary air intake is open too far, causing the upper chamber to burn too fast. If this is your first seson, it took me a couple of weeks to get my settings right. My Paxo is like a Eko so I used those sticky notes to help me. You migt give that a try if your unit is similar. Also try searching the site for your model. Good luck - you'll get there.

How long a burn are you getting overall and what is normally expected for your model. How dry is your wood and what kind it is? Have you checked the moisture content with a moisture meter? These are questions others will want to know.

When was the wood cut and split? Do you have a way to test moisture?

Is your wood bridged every time you lose gasification? I packed the wood in mine to tightley when I first started using it, now I leave a small space on one side all the way up when loading and have no more problems.

also, the primary air adjustment as mentioned above is located just ahead of your fan.

Welcome to the forum. Great site. Try smaller splits especially if wood is only 9 mo seasoned. Gassers do burn better with longer seasoned wood.

You have a great boiler. I'm in my 4th season with my Solo 40. A few tips or ideas: 1) dry wood, I don't think 9 mos is enough to properly dry any wood as a planned practice. IMO wood needs to dry at least 1 full year, and some like oaks I think need 2 years; all wood needs to be split before stacking to dry. 2) small splits, keep them 4-5" or less in diameter, and load moderatly loosely, back to front, nothing crossing, do not pack in the wood. 3) splits not longer than 18" so none hang up against the front/back walls of the firebox. 4) draft fan adjustment damper under cover on front top of boiler wide open until you find a need to reduce that. 5) secondary air adjustment, put it in the middle and forget it (assuming dry wood), experment with this setting only if you have nothing else to do. 6) need good chimney draft, is your run straight and in the height range of 15' plus, longer is better? good clearance around your chimney to trees and buildings to reduce weird wind conditions?

Early on I got bridging to the point that I considered it a problem. Now rarely. Solution is not filling the firebox too full and small splits. Total burn time on a load will be reduced, but this Solo 40 baby can really roar and produce the btu's.

3 seasons with the Tarm?

Good to hear it's going better.

My 1st yr i was burning semi-dry wood(22%). about the same drying time. Once I got dailed in, it worked well. Now I'm into 18months drying(15-17%) working great. Notice a little less wood to push storage to where i want it.

Don't forget to call Tarm if you need info on tuning. Always been very helpful. Patient people, trust me.

I would be cracking 5" in half unless the bark was falling off from being so dry but that's just me.....