Just tossed out my Buddy heater

[Mike #1]

Well I finally did it, today it went into the trash and I feel so much better. After so many times of this POS failing on me I got to see the garbage man crush it up and it felt good! After sending it back to the manufacture it returned working OK (still blowing out but not as often) I was using 1 lb cylinders and I asked them if I could use a larger tank, they then ended up selling me a special hose and filter and then things got worse, I cleaned it out like they suggested and still nothing so back it went over the summer. I got to try it this past weekend using a brand new 1 lb cylinder and it ran for about 10 minutes shutting off inside my shack no matter where I put it. I changed out cylinders, moved it, only to have it fail and fail again. Any suggestions on a reliable heater for an Eskimo Quickflip 2? I also have a sunflower but, it is too hot for that small of space.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Heater-Cooker. Crack the door/vent if it gets hot...

[JimBuck]

I've been through hell and back with my buddy heater as well. Just picked up a heater/cooker for my Kenai. It might be a bit of an overkill but I'd rather have something more reliable.

[Dry_Fly]

Hate to say this but the little buddy works better than the big IMO. Have had lots of problems with the big buddy myself now I just use the little one have two. I carry pipe cleaners to clean pilot spout but never had to use them. Good luck on something I always take my sunflower along just in cas also.

[Northlander]

I kept hearing "We improved them" so went through 5. NEVER AGAIN!

[jwhjr]

On my 3rd year with my big buddy now with zero issues. Have been running on an 11# tank with the regulated quick connect hose/no filter.

[Esox_Magnum]

I run a 3 man Eskimo and old faithfull heater/cooker is heater of choice. I did modify mine 25 years ago though to a fully variable valve allowing just barly burning to chestnuts roasting. Been a great heater, replaced screens and thermocouple once is all and it has seen lots of miles between ice shacks and elk camps. It would warm my 16'x20' outfitters tent to.

[blackleech]

Ive got the portable buddy heater and love the unit.I must be lucky caus eit never goes out in the portable and have had no issues with it outside. I must have got lucky.

Cheers!!

[hanson]

Mike #1-

You talking Big Buddy or the regular Buddy Heater??

My regular Buddy Heater has been dynamite for years. I run it off a bulk (11 or 20lb) with a hose and it works great! Now its not my primary heat source when its, lets say 10 or below, but it does work good. I have a heater/cooker and a heater buddy on separate hoses from a splitter valve on a 20lb tank in my Otter Lodge and it'll keep you toasty to -20 below.

[zamboni]

On my 3rd year with my big buddy now with zero issues. Have been running on an 11# tank with the regulated quick connect hose/no filter.

I am on winter #4 with my Big Buddy- no problems. My Little Buddy will be winter #2 so far no issues.

[bobbymalone]

I've got the portable buddy and don't have any complaints. Picked up another one last year on greg's list and don't have a problem with that one either.

[Tator2k]

I'm on forth winter with my Big Buddy w/o any issues.

[Cicada]

Mine stinks too. Jumped through all the hoops they suggested and it still does not work. I don't have the funds to try a do over. I just cannot trust the Big Buddy to do the job and I don't like cold.

[NoWiser]

I wish I had all the money that my friends and relatives have spent over the years on the buddy heaters that are now either in a landfill or collecting dust in the corner because they are junk. Everyone has switched over the the heater/cooker and are now happy. No doubt thats the way I would go if I were you. It might be a little much on the warm days, but on the cold ones they sure are nice.

[fishwater]

Just to break the trend, I'm going on 6 years with my big buddy. It annually has needed the orifice reamed a couple of times to get the pilot to work at the start of each season, but it has pretty much always worked reliably for me. I've always ran the quick connect, maybe that has helped?

[Sutty]

In my clam voyageur I used to run a sunflower. Never failed me. Switched to a smaller unit and it was too hot. I bought a big buddy 2 years ago and run it with an 11 pound tank. No issues so far. I think they are a horse a piece. With the sunflower or heater cooker you get reliability (and a cooker with the cooker)With the buddy heaters you get a safer heater and a lower temp on the cold but not frigid days.

[MNmikew]

My big buddy acted up during deer season in the stand. Screwed on a 1 lb'er and gas started spewing out from somwhere inside, a LOT of gas. unscrewed it, tried another (new) bottle, same thing. Ditched it back at camp and ran into town and picked up heater/cooker. Sucked down 1 lb bottles like a drunk during a brewery tour but worked great.

Got BBuddy home a week later, screwed on bottle, worked fine. Argggggg!!! And Yes, i verified I was not crossthreading the bottles, the leak was from somewhere inside, not at the bottle connection. Way to flakey to trust anymore. My lil buddy has always worked great.

[MuskieJunkie]

I've had the big buddy for 3 years with no issues, but I always run the filter and shut it off at the tank as to not let it sit pressurized. I guess I got a good one becuase you sure hear about a lot of bad ones.

[shizzy]

4th season on my buddy, bought it used from my old boss. still working fine. I do my best to always transport it standing upright, not sire if that makes a difference.

one thing I did notice is NOT to buy the "generic" 1 lb'ers. they dont thread in the same as the coleman brand ones. kind of a sloppy, going to cross thread something feeling.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I'd like to get my hands on the ones that get tossed just to see what one that "doesn't work"!

[Northlander]

Air call MR. Heater Im sure they have tens of thousands. I know they have 5 from just me. Multiply that by the huge # of people who tried them and you know what is there.

I realy really wanted a big buddy that would work and be dependable but I couldnt afford to play those games. Oh and they would do nothing for me. Good thing I have a very understanding local shop (MG) that took care of me.

[Bigsmitty]

I have at least 7 years on my small buddy heater and 4 on my big buddy. Use them both alot. I have never had a problem.

[S.D. Ice Angular]

Heater-Cooker. Crack the door/vent if it gets hot...

X2

[quijibo]

I am on my 2nd big buddy, same problems as the OP, it won't stay lit. Since moving to Colorado I have only used it in the garage,same problems. I've tried modifying the thermocouple by moving it further into the flame, didn't make a difference. I think that I am going to try bypassing the tipover cutoff switch if that doesn't work I'll try the same thing with the low oxygen cutoff. I won't leave either one bypassed I just want to know where the problem is.

Adam

[pulsar_nx]

Has anyone tried the tinfoil trick? Works like a charm on my older buddy heater.

[harvey lee]

On my 3rd year with my big buddy now with zero issues. Have been running on an 11# tank with the regulated quick connect hose/no filter.

I believe I may be on year 6 with my Little buddy and no filter. I use both the 1# cans and a 5 or 20# tank.

If it is cold out at all, I use my heater cooker as it heats so much more.