Buddy heater problems

[Jim Almquist]

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.

I also have one of those black Buddy carriers from Cabela's that I keep mine in and maybe it makes a difference.

[Gunflint Guy]

Very important to use the fuel filter and to shut the unit off at the tank whenever using a hose with the buddy heaters... You can get new parts to fix them if they start acting up, but after $30 in parts plus shipping, it is almost worth getting a new one instead.

[SkunkedAgain]

Yeah, I always turn off the gas at the tank and let the flames putter out and then turn off the buddy heater. Maybe that makes a difference.

[JigginIsLife]

ColdoneSD, can you throw that info my way as well. sounds like the same problem with mine, except it will run for about 10 mins or so, and then kill, ventilation is good as well as it being warm and on a level surface. Thanks

[deadeye]

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

Lol On the contrary I am in my happy place when I'm ice fishing. I just got a little tired of coming home with frozen feet and the pain that goes with it after spending 100$ on a heater. Problem fixed.

It sounds like now if you run the right hose and use a proper big tank there isn't a problem. I did talk to the Mr heater Guy at the gander mountain show and he showed me that with the right hose (or a old one with the filter) it will run just fine.

[goose89]

"It sounds like now if you run the right hose and use a proper big tank there isn't a problem. "

Too many "ifs" for this simpleton. I like easy and reliable when it comes to heat. I'll tinker / fiddle with camera, gps,tip-ups,lures, but not the heat.

4 out of 5 "buddies" with "buddies" have cut fishing trips short / not started because of pilot lights blowing out, cracked ceramic, not being able to light, ect, ect. Way too many things to go wrong, keep going once going, and special add-ons / tanks sizes for me. The one the sticks with his Buddy swears by it though. To each his own, I guess. Good luck.

[curtistodd]

mines been perfect for 3 years. I swear by it. The only time it hasnt lit, was when it got buried in snow, and even then it worked after it dried. All ive ever had to do is blow on it to keep it lit. CO2 cures it.

[jwmiller33]

i have had a buddy heater for 3 years and man has that thing been thru some serious abuse... it has ventured out on many ice fishing trips, and it has been tossed around a lot. i'm actually surprised it is still in great condition... never had any problems with mine... never had problems lighting or staying lit. it has really worked great for me and has stood up to a lot of abuse

[cold one sd]

I have had my buddy heater for about 5 years with no problem other than the small tanks icing up and not emptying all the way. I have a 12' hose and a filter for when not using the small tanks. I have never used the hose without a filter.

[EBass]

Knock on wood, my Big Buddy heater has kept me warm on many occasions and not a single issue. Heck, just used it last weekend.

[Jim Uran]

My brother has had the same Buddy heater for 5 seasons and not a problem with it, I bought one last season and it's been great so far. I run the 20lb tank, low pressure hose, and a filter.

[creepworm]

Cold one SD, thanks for the info, I will have to fix it that way because the alcohol did not work. Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

[cold one sd]

Cold one SD, thanks for the info, I will have to fix it that way because the alcohol did not work. Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

creepworm, After you are done shoot me an email and let me know how it worked.

[tsande00]

Are the big buddies considered "safer" than the regular Mr. Heaters?

I like to sleep out in my flip over shack and that Mr. Heater always has me nervous of not waking up in the morning. I end up cracking so many windows and doors that it's not even warm inside anymore.

[Jim Almquist]

No matter what heater you would be a lot safer with a CO detector.

Is your life worth $20 ?

Pretty cheap insurance !

[tsande00]

I already plan on buying a CO detector. (Just bought 2 @ $50 each for the house, but they run on AC)

Good point though, A guy is probably better of just investing the $20 and not worrying about which heater emits more CO, especially when my current heater works great and is reliable. If the detector goes off, I'll just crack a window a bit farther.

[cold one sd]

The big buddies have a low oxygen sensor that is supposed to shut them off if the oxygen gets low. The question is, will it work or is it defective like so many new things are. CO is a different situation and I wouldn't sleep without a

co detector on the ice. My wheel house has a direct vent heater and a CO detector on the wall.

[Jim Almquist]

I think that I only paid right around $20 for one that ones off of AA batteries. I sleep in my Canvas Craft portable and I was not sure about my heater and did not really want to leave it to chance.

[stuckinthedesert]

for anyone with one of these portable buddy heaters that won't stay on, here's a quick and easy trick you can try without tearing it all apart that will force it to stay on. you'll only need to pop off the front wire guard to work on it:

what you do is wrap some kind of conductor around the tip of the thermocouple that will essentially extend it deeper into the pilot flame. in my case i took some copper electrical wire and stripped the insulation off, twisted the strands together, and looped it around the thermocouple tip. the tighter you can get it to grip the better, but you'll be working in a small space so it helps to use some needlenose pliers or something. then i left about a half inch tail of wire that i directed just above the pilot tube opening. it may take a bit of fiddling to get the conductor in the sweet spot where it keeps the heater on but doesn't interfere with the ignition. if you can't get the pilot to light after getting it in place try moving it off to the side of the pilot hole a bit.

keep in mind this is will override the low oxygen safety shutoff, and you may observe a bit of sparking and flaring when the pilot flame dies down and then returns. i am not claiming this is a safe way to run the heater, but if you are desperate to make it work this should do the trick. even if you don't want to leave it this way at least it can help troubleshoot the unit to see if that is the problem, and this doesn't permanently alter the heater.

these are well constructed and good looking heaters, but they can be very finicky when it comes to operation. from my own experience with them, it appears that the low oxygen shutoff is extremely sensitive and the pilot flame tends to burn on the weak side. the large gap between the pilot flame and thermocouple tip will cause the thermocouple to cool and switch off the heater. it looks like the thermocouple can be adjusted closer to the flame if you take the heater apart to get at it, but i just run mine with the wire conductor on it. YMMV.

i think mr. heater ought to offer an "outdoor only" version without the low oxygen shutoff, because that seems to be the source of most of the problems. i imagine that would defeat the purpose for a lot of people that choose to buy them, but i've seen too many people give up on them and go back to using a sunflower heater which has no safety shutoff either, soooo...

it's just nice to have options. i hope this post helps somebody out.

[bobbymalone]

Welcome to FM/HSO and thanks for the tip.... You do a lot of ice fishing in the desert?