Jotul F400 Secondary Flame question

[Grannyknot]

Above is a photo of my F400 with the secondary flames burning quite well last year. Over the summer I did a partial gasket kit and as part of that job I lifted the baffle assembly and put new gaskets underneath the left and right edges. I’ve not had many fires this year so far, but I’ve noticed that the secondary flames barely burn now. I used to be able to open the ash pan door for about 5 seconds, then close it and they’d burn like crazy. I’m concerned I’ve installed something incorrectly or damaged something during the gasket installation. Any insight?

 

[bigealta]

Hmm, i can't tell you what you may have done, but that pic looks like it was an ideal burn.

Assuming you are using the same wood as last year, I'd take it apart again and have a good look. Hopefully you left the shipping bolts off the top to make it a piece of cake to just lift the top off and have easy access.

Double check your wood. If you do have a new load of wood that would be the 1st thing i'd be testing.

Great dry seasoned wood in the f400 means Great secondary flames.
Not great wood means Not Great secondary flames
Poor wood means Poor or No secondary flames

 

[bigealta]

i just noticed your ash pan handle is not fully shut tight.

 

[Grannyknot]

That’s fully closed on the ash pan handle. I think the catch bolt turned just a bit at some point, because that’s the angle it sits at when fully closed

 

[bigealta]

I love how it sits all the way out in front of the fireplace.

 

[EbS-P]

I’m going to guess wet wood. There really isn’t any way to block the secondary burn unless you dropped the old side gaskets down behind the side burn plates.

Keep and eye on stove top temps. I’m guessing they just aren’t as high as last year.

 

[John Lehet]

With my 3 CB I also find that wood species makes a difference. Right now the wood I have access to is very dry black cherry. It seems to not throw off a lot of volatiles. It burns hot and clean right at the log, so I’m not seeing much in the way of secondaries at all.

 

[bigealta]

With my 3 CB I also find that wood species makes a difference. Right now the wood I have access to is very dry black cherry. It seems to not throw off a lot of volatiles. It burns hot and clean right at the log, so I’m not seeing much in the way of secondaries at all.

I just burned some 18%-19% locust. Similar results. Limited secondary burns but long lasting coals.
Mixing in other splits with the locust instantaneously kicked in the secondaries in the F400.