Buddy heater problems

[creepworm]

My buddy heater will not stay lit and makes a hissing noise before it shuts off. Just wondering if any of you have ran into this problem and if so, how to fix it.

[dairyman]

are you able to run it in the pilot position??

[creepworm]

No, the pilot light will just quit working at times and it is hard to get relit. It is almost like the gas is shutting off when.

[dairyman]

sounds like a thermocouple problem

[mr_jman]

mine likes to do that when the propane is about out, or its really cold outside...

See if you have the same problems after letting it warm up and checking the propane.

[Jim Almquist]

Are you running it off of 1lb or a 20lb tank ?

It the Buddy on level ground ?

[creepworm]

I have ran it off a 20 lb and 1 lb tank and it still does that. It is usually level and I have left it run in my shed and it still does it. I posted this in the deer hunting forum and someone else said it was probably a thermocoupler so it might be that.

[Chris Barlage]

i would guess thermocoupler i have had that problem with using a bulk tank and i dont get the hose tight enough to the tank but with a 1lb that should not be the problem.

[Rick Reisewitz]

Take a qtip with rubbing alcohol and clean your pilot light mine did the same thing and i thought thermocoupler and the guy at the lp places i was refered to told me he has never had to replace one and that it has been a dirty pilot 98% of the time.

[Surface Tension]

Try the Q-tip with alcohol. Get it saturated enough to run into the polite light. Let it soak then turn the heater upside down so it can drain and time for it to evaporate.

You can get an accumulation of oil/greasy substance from running of a 20 lber, especially if it was stored with pressure in the hose.

What your doing with the alcohol is using it as a solvent to mix with that oil and flush it out.

You can also use carb cleaner with the straw and shoot that into your pilot and then drain it upside down.

Give it plenty of time to evaporate before your try to light it and do so outside.

[jerkbait]

Are you using a filter with the 20# tank? If not the valvw assembly is probably plugged up. This is what my did. I replaced the valve assembly and regulator. Now it runs like brand new. This time I use the filter when running on the 20# tank. I don't know if I neede the regulator or not when I ordered the vavle, but it was cheap enough that I did not want to pay for shipping again if that needed replacing also. I can't say that I experienced the hissing though.

[creepworm]

Thanks, I will try the alcohol. If that does not work I will try to get someone that someone knows something to check it out.

[dairyman]

any heating shop should be able to figure out your problem

[creepworm]

Wow, I just reread my last post and it could make me sound like I am saying you guys don't know anything. That is not the case, I am saying I don't. Thanks again for all your help and hopefully I can figure it out, if I can't, I will buy another one. They are nice heaters.

[hoggs222]

Mine did the same thing. Clean it out with the Q-tip and alcohol. From what I was told, spiders sometimes like to crawl in there and clog it up.

[WTN4ICE]

This is how I "fixed" a problem buddy heater. Perhaps a little extreme but it felt good !!!!

[cold one sd]

creepworm, if you post your email address I can send you some information that should take care of the problem.

[creepworm]

My e-mail is [email protected]

[deadeye]

This is how I "fixed" a problem buddy heater. Perhaps a little extreme but it felt good !!!!

Lol this is just about the same as what I did to fix my buddy heater. Although I used a sledge vs the splitting maul, I got to admire your end results lol.

I really tried to get my friend to not buy one of these buddy heaters (he did anyway) and the first trip out it didnt work. He went in to ff that night after its first trip and traded it for a sunflower and hasn't been cold since. Its a shame that they got so many problems since on paper they are a nice idea.

[KG243]

Mine works great even in -40.

[jdog]

deadeye im thinking your one guy i dont wanna get stuck with in an ice shack man quit the anger

[goose89]

This is how I "fixed" a problem buddy heater. Perhaps a little extreme but it felt good !!!!

lol....I always loved that one...

My sentiments on Buddy Heaters as well....WAY TOO MUCH TLC needed to keep em going. My 10 yrs old Mr. Cooker never fails me, and I beat the #$%@ out of it (not intentionally, like I wished I'd done before tossing the "Buddy" in the garbage.

If you like tinkering, get a Buddy. If you like bullet-proof, get a Cooker. Just my experience and opinion. Good luck.

[Jim Almquist]

Most of my issues with the Big Buddy were all related to the 1 pound tanks. As soon as I started using the low pressure hose with the 20 pound tank I really don't think that I have had a problem.

[JimBuck]

I've been through 2 buddy heaters for the past few seasons. They really need to be pampered I think to avoid problems down the road. I don't beat on my equipment and still end up running into issues on the ice. Probably going to look at a heater/cooker this year. If I drop that kind of cash on something, I need some reliability.

[SkunkedAgain]

Going on my third season with a big buddy heater and no problems. I either use an 10lb or 20lb tank and it always works. I'm careful with it and don't let it get beat up when moving around my portable though.