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Mr. Heater won't stay lit.

DonBo

By DonBo
in Ice Fishing

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DonBo Grand Master

DonBo

Posted
Posted

I've have a Mr. Heater/Cooker for several years with no issues. Now it fires up just fine, but shuts off after about a minute. Anyone else ever have this problem? Any ideas?

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tsande00 Experienced

tsande00

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Replace the thermocouple.

This. A thermocouple will probably cost you $10 and can be swapped out using a small crescent wrench in about 2 minutes. Mine is getting flaky and I'm keeping the spare handy in my fishing pale for the day it won't stay lit.

I had to replace one a couple years ago because it got snagged on something and broke off. The heater will not stay running without it.

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tsande00 Experienced

tsande00

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Can someone tell me where, how?

The thermo coupler is the brass colored piece that sticks into the sunflower part of the heater and runs down to the neck of the heater. It is the part that looks like a metal hose. You basically just unscrew it and put in a new one. It is very easy to do if you know how to use a wrench. wink

The thermocouplers can be bought at many hardware stores and sporting good stores. I have bought them at Ace Hardware. I know Amazon sells them online and I think Sears carries them too. They are all over. Very common to fail after several years of use. Quick/cheap fix though.

That or go buy a buddy heater and pray that it stays lit on you every time you try to use it. ALso a great buddy heater tip I've learned is to not look at it too funny or it will surely go out and quit working on you. grin

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The Hex Explorer

The Hex

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I had a very similar problem and thought it was the thermocoupler also. If I use 1lb tanks it works fine, but if I use my 10lber I have to open the valve on the tank as slow as possible. Sometimes it takes me a half a dozen times. If I here a tick when opening have to shut it until I don't hear it.

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CaptainMusky Grand Master

CaptainMusky

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I had a very similar problem and thought it was the thermocoupler also. If I use 1lb tanks it works fine, but if I use my 10lber I have to open the valve on the tank as slow as possible. Sometimes it takes me a half a dozen times. If I here a tick when opening have to shut it until I don't hear it.
That clicking you are hearing is most likely the OPD valve on the tank doing its job. Make sure the heater is turned OFF before you turn the tank on.
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tsande00 Experienced

tsande00

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Got that wrench thing figured out. grin So, this is all there is too it?

DSC02714.jpg

Looks like you nailed it, lol. grin IF those get creased or bent they won't function properly.

No guarantee that this is the problem but it's an easy cheap thing to try and the most likely culprit.

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tsande00 Experienced

tsande00

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Thanks for the help guys, now if only I can figure out how to get it back together again.... crazygrin

So many parts and pieces right? Sometimes when I'm swapping out a thermocoupler I'll take a photograph before I start so that I can remember how everything goes back together. grin

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jBohmer Community Regular

jBohmer

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someone correct me if I am wrong but here is what that thermo-cuppler-thingy does: It is primarily a safty device. It is what keeps the valve open when the heater is lit. As it warms up it will keep the valve open to fuel the fire. This is why you have to hold the button down when you first turn on the heater and the probe is so close to the heat. The button forces open the valve while the thermocoupler has a chance to warm so it can do its job and keep the valve open on its own.

At least this is how I understand it. I find it easier to make reapirs when I understand why I am repairing something. Good luck and let us know if it works when you get it back togeher.

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jBohmer Community Regular

jBohmer

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Thanks for the for the info Merkman, looks like I was on the right track but I had no idea that the thermocoupler was acually generating electricity. I guess I kinda thought that it was some type of expansion of metal inside that would somehow trigger the valve to open. Very interesting. Now I can put that information in my box of facts that nobody cares about when I tell them, too bad for them. You never know when knowledge like that will get you out of a bind.

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Surface Tension Grand Master

Surface Tension

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Sometimes the thermocoupler isn't close enough to the heat source as well. I thought mine was busted once but I just bent the tab so the tip was almost touching the heat and it solved the problem. Has to be close enough to warm up and open the valve.

Correct. If the heater stayed lit but shut off a while later, the probe on the thermocouple is too far away from the heat. Just bend the mount so the tip is closer to the sunflower.

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