Buddy Heater issues??

[fishin4fun85]

Never have had this problem before, but last night the wife and I took a short trip out and my buddy heater was making this funny whistling noise....It seemed to come and go and sometimes it would be louder than others...anyone have any ideas as to why this is? anyone think it's a leak in the line feeding the burner (although I didn't smell and gas)...I thought it may be water in the line that I have that feeds it since I use a 20lb LP tank with a hose...anyone with any input I will appreciate it!!

[eurolarva]

Do you have a filter on that hose. On a twenty pounder you need to have a filter. Refillable propane is pretty dirty stuff

[Jim Almquist]

If not a filter you should run the low pressure hose vs a high pressure. Something to do with a oil/grease that gets in a 20# tank and can mess with you Buddy. You might just want to bring it in and let it dry out and see if it dose it again. I have had my share of goofy things cause by snow getting into the heater when I was packing up.

[Ed Carlson]

I concure with Jim.

Dry it out, see if it snaps out of it. May be a bugger in the system too, that may pass.

As long as your not smelling propane, it should not be a fuel leak. Wet testing the lines may be wise precaution just in case there may be one.

[CaptainMusky]

Wondering if your valve on the tank was only partially open or if you were running low on propane.

If the tank is low, try a full tank because in cold temps funny things happen with those big tanks.

[fishin4fun85]

it's a full tank...I've heard of problems with bad lines and if you don't use the proper ones the hoses will actually deteriorate from the inside and shoot stuff into your heaters....I made sure I bought one that is for these buddy heaters...I'm guessing the filter may be the ticket....I'll let you guys know if I can come up with any solutions to help prevent someone else from having this problem....thanks for all the replies!!

[castmaster]

If you have the hose with a quick connect at one end and a regulator on the end that attaches to the tank you dont need a filter. The regulator takes it to low pressure to keep it from eating away at the inside of the line.

If your hose doesnt have a regulator you should be using a filter.

[fishin4fun85]

thanks!

[FishinFools]

My big buddy has issues re-starting after tank changes so I went to a 20lb remote last night. Got a filter and hose cheaper than Internet prices at Tractor Supply in Prior. Ran like a champ the whole time we were out...and she was a cold one last night on Spring! Didn't catch do-dah.

[fishin4fun85]

so I made a phone call to the company...they told me that if I wasn't using a filter then I probably ruined my regulator and my valve on the heater due to residual oils being left over in the fuel line from manufacturing it.....I took my heater apart and sure enough there was black stuff all over in the valve....put it back together and now it doesn't work....will only be like 30 bucks to get new parts but I just bought a new one for like 55 bucks....anyway....to anyone else reading this...if you use a hose to connect to a 20lb tank (or something similar) make sure you are using a filter not only for dirty gas, but because the hose itself can ruin your heater!!

[BronzeBrother]

Here is an idea. Maybe the industry should just make a heater that actually works (Like the sunflower) minus the CO. Mine is a pain in the butt when I have to change tanks. I have the little buddy and it takes me about ten to fifteen minutes to get the darn thing re-lit, holding that button down for that long is a bit ridiculous. Using one pound tanks... I seriously am thinking of going back to the sunflower heater. With enough ventilation in my protable it will be fine... Just not to happy with the buddy...

[TruthWalleyes]

Here is an idea. Maybe the industry should just make a heater that actually works (Like the sunflower) minus the CO. Mine is a pain in the butt when I have to change tanks. I have the little buddy and it takes me about ten to fifteen minutes to get the darn thing re-lit, holding that button down for that long is a bit ridiculous. Using one pound tanks... I seriously am thinking of going back to the sunflower heater. With enough ventilation in my protable it will be fine... Just not to happy with the buddy...

I just returned my big buddy...Ran no filter on the regulator hose to a 20 lb tank, and after 1 tank, the heater gave me problems...I returned it and got a sunflower. They need to make it more clear that a filter needs to be used! I read the whole instructions booklet for the big buddy and no mention of using a filter as well as the 12' quick disconnect hose/regulator. I have had a smaller buddy for a few years now that has ran flawlessly. and changing a 1lb tank only takes one minute (and a cold hand) and she light up right away.

Open a vent, get a sunflower!

[gonehunting]

THe instruction manual contains all applicable hose/filter/regulator combinations. It is also printed on the back of the heater as:

1. 1lb propane tanks

2. filter and unregulated hose for larger tanks

3. quick connect rv hose with regulator for larger tanks

This is not that hard. They even list the Mr. Heater part numbers for the hoses, filters, regulators etc. I have two big buddies and never had a problem with either. Great units. I will admit the sunflower is with just in case but all it does now is cook dinner.

[jwhjr]

Instructions on the options are clear as gonehunting has stated. Not one issue on my Big Buddy using the regulated hose with quick-connect. Never used a filter.

[fishin4fun85]

u got lucky without the filter....I love the buddy heaters....quiet, not a lot of CO, and keep my shack as warm as I need it....just disappointed that they make a hose that has the oil residue like that in it which can ruin the units......I guess I've learned now though....they do say your supposed to change the filter every year...anyone else with any thoughts on that?

[TruthWalleyes]

THe instruction manual contains all applicable hose/filter/regulator combinations. It is also printed on the back of the heater as:

1. 1lb propane tanks

2. filter and unregulated hose for larger tanks

3. quick connect rv hose with regulator for larger tanks

This is not that hard. They even list the Mr. Heater part numbers for the hoses, filters, regulators etc. I have two big buddies and never had a problem with either. Great units. I will admit the sunflower is with just in case but all it does now is cook dinner.

It is not clear that you need a filter with option 3....as the customer service rep told the person with the problem on this thread that he needed one even with a regulator.

[ozzie]

u got lucky without the filter....I love the buddy heaters....quiet, not a lot of CO, and keep my shack as warm as I need it....just disappointed that they make a hose that has the oil residue like that in it which can ruin the units......I guess I've learned now though....they do say your supposed to change the filter every year...anyone else with any thoughts on that?

I run a filter and it runs like 10-15 bucks.....I used one for 2 years and this year had toruble starting my big buddy so I bought a new filter and have not had an issue since.....

[McGurk]

I agree; change your filer as needed and not yearly as recommended. If you notice the pilot light getting smaller and smaller after running well for a a long time (months and months), try a new filter first.