@reefersutherland - let's get your technique figured out.
Use the large basket and just fill it loosely to the top. I like to slightly overfill it and then tamp it down slightly. Then attach that to the flexicone (with the top screen you are using) and connect it to the underside of the lid. Then attach your mouthpiece. Then put the fully assembled lid on the core. Turn the unit on to red and let it heat up. Once it is up to temp, drop it down two settings (to the second temp) and let it stabilize to the temp. Once it has hit the temp, give it a slow, short pull to get some heat into the basket. Wait a second and give it a nice, slow, long drag. This hit should be really tasty and slightly visible. If you have good herbs, you should be able to get a good five to seven hits at this temp. If it's working properly, hit it until the vapor disappears and turn it up to red. Wait for stabilization and finish it off.
That's how I do it. There are a million ways to use this thing, but first let's get the basics down, and this is a pretty full proof method if it is a working unit. If at any point in the process it doesn't work, we may have a problem. But, the other thing to check is the seals. Check the point where the mouthpiece attaches to the flexicone, and make sure your lid is all the way on. If there is ambient air entering the air path anywhere it will dilute the hits.