Big Buddy Heater Junk!!

[jltimm]

I recently used my Big Buddy heater on 2 seperate outings,and today the pilot light would go out ,then the unit would shut off!It did this about 10 times and it was REALLY ANNOYING!I have a 5ft hose from a 20lb tank and had it on high the whole time.Maybe I'll have to go back to the heater cooker,something I can trust!!Also I noticed the heat from this unit didn't have as much as the sunflower type heater?I used it in my Eskimo QF 3,and it wasn't as warm as when I've used the suflower heater!I had the house banked good to with no drafts coming in.

[Jaypo]

I'm tired of not rippin lips during the cold season and am going to load up on Ice Fishing gear including house and all the trimmings needed to stay toasty. I'm hearing that the Big Buddy isn't the greatest based on your experiences. What brand and make of heater would you recommend for a 3 person portable?

Jaypo

[Surface Tension]

Jaypo, I haven't given up on the BB heaters. I like them because they're quite and give off less carbon monoxide.

The alternative is putting up with that noise from the Mr Heater Cooker, which isn't all bad when its well below zero and the BB isn't working.

For your 3 man you'll need at least 18,000 BTUs when the temps get into - 0 temps.

[Moose-Hunter]

Hi Frank...

Thanks for the info on the hose set-up. I've been using the same hose from my Lil' Buddy without problems. INSIDE a garage... On the ice will probably be a different story. I'll be getting the new hose kit ordered up post haste in case I ever get rid of this head cold.... And the lakes re-freeze....

[ZapBranigan]

Jim C Let us know how that 12 volt works I really wouldn't do that with mine. 6 v system attached to a 12 v power supply can't be a good idea. You might want to check with Radio shack or someone as to a power inverter to change the 12 v out put Dc to 6 v output Dc before attaching this. I will try a bulk tank with the regulated hoe into the 3rd input spot. thanks for that idea gentleman. I hate to bail out on this heater this soon.

[iffwalleyes]

The quick connect hose is pretty slick. But it is so new not many places have it. So I had to order it from Mr Heater cost 50 bucks. So it is considerable more than the old hose that most of us have. I plan on using it for the first time this weekend I hope it works proper otherwise all the stuff it is going back to Mr Heater.

[jltimm]

So your telling us the hose costs $50?WOW,I thought the heater was expensive enough,not to mention that it has all the problems,and you have to buy the hose,batteries,and a 6 volt plug in as accesories!This is starting to look like a $200 heater that's a pain in the %^#$!

[cliffy]

That is why I took mine back..a person spends 120.00+ and it still needs more equipment to work in cold weather..??...I would call it JUNK.

[cloudfisher]

Lundduckboat,

Would it be the Hot Spot from Reddy Heater(aka "trash can" heater) 15/20/25k btu?

[Gus]

My big buddy worked flawlessly for the last 15 or so hours. Darn furnace in the house broke last night! I hope people are getting things sorted out with theirs. I was sure glad I had it last night.

[Guest]

This just in guys-

Mr. Heater has recently discovered a potential safety issue with the valve in the Big Buddy heaters. Under certain circumstances, the valve (manufactured by Chant Group Zhongshan Chant Gas-Appliances Co., Ltd.) may leak and may constitute a fire hazard.

Mr. Heater has reported the issue to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and will work with the Commission on an appropriate corrective action.

You should immediately stop sale and quarantine any of the units listed above.

Mr. Heater is in the process of obtaining improved valves, and producing replacement heaters not affected by this issue.

Please note: this “safety notice” does not effect any of the other quality products produced by Mr. Heater, including the “Portable Buddy.”

That pretty much answers all your questions.

[Dan Wood]

Thanks Tom! I guess that makes the decision easy - back to the store! Just hope I still have all the packaging...

[Dan Wood]

Where did you find that anyway? I thought I'd take a print-out of that along to the store incase they have any concerns about taking the unit back...

[Guest]

Dan,

They issued it to us about 30 minutes ago. We've been trying to get the word out as best we can. It is possible that the store you bought it from has not heard about it yet since it is fairly new news. If they got em from us, have them call us and we'll fill em in.

[Mykal]

Thanks for the information Tom! I am taking mine back as well.

[jltimm]

I wish I could take mine back,I bought it about 2 months ago at Fleet Farm in St. Cloud and I don't think they'll let me return it after 30 days!

[Surface Tension]

Tom, Thanks for the heads up.

I would imagine if you have a Big buddy either returning it or getting the new valves shouldn't be a problem now.

[Ed Carlson]

I am sure if it is indeed a safety recall Fleet or any other retailer would honor the return.

[jltimm]

I hope so cause the heater is just taking up room in the shed,and my MR.Heater Cooker is working great, other than the little more noise and getting a little warm on the brighter days on the ice. Better to warm than to cold on the lake though!

[Mankato-Ice-Man]

So glad I took mine back already. I have the little buddy and love it, but doesnt sound like I would have liked the big one. Just have to get used to the sunflower on colder days is all.

Thanks everyone for the fantastic info on this post!

[Bearfish]

Thought the Big Buddy was a little excessive for my needs so I bought the littler buddy heater for my Fish Trap Yukon. Also, purchased a magnetic Coleman tent fan ($10) that I attached to the tent just above the heater. Circulates the heat around just enough. Perfect combination and can be folded up in the tent when not in use or just remove without damage to the tent.

[iffwalleyes]

Well that it great because I just got the quick connect hose now and used it for the first time this weekend and the unit was complete junk as previously stated. I sure hope the refund my money. It wouldn't stay running and the minute you put it on high is started to sputter and puked out. Glad they have admitted a problem.

[Moose-Hunter]

Howdy Folks...

I hate to be the odd-man-out, but I gotta tell you... My BB works like a champ. I've been running it off an 11lb tank using a simple 5' hose (no filter) with the "disposable" fitting connected to one side of the BB... Heats my 8x8 perm up to trpical temps and my Otter Lodge to near tee-shirt weather... I still suffer the wind problem in the Lodge, but other than that... No complaints... YET...

I don't use the 1lb tanks and have yet to receive my quick connect hose/reg kit. So the jury is still out for those parts...

Due to the safety issues, I discontinued use of the BB and have switched back to my smaller buddy. Boy, I really miss the fan option of the BB...

Could it be I have the only fully operational BB in existence?

[Surface Tension]

MH, have you used the BB and bulk tank in -0 temps?

Could be these heaters used valves from more then one manufacturer or certain lots were defective. I guess we'll know more in a few weeks.

[Dano2]

I have only used mine a couple times now, and only used the 1#'s so far, but mine has been working good. I had it in my permanent, and it kept it nice and warm, and this was last monday when it was VERY cold out.

The only time it started to spit and sputter out is when the tanks were going empty.

I got mine at Scheels in Moorhead, and they claim they had a whole pallet go back to their distributor about a month ago.

I got mine about 2 weeks ago, so dont know if its a fixed version or not.

Guy at scheels said he wasn't sure how I could tell , and that they get theirs from a distributor and haven't heard anything else.

I wonder if there is a way you can tell if you have one with the bad valve?

[PolarBond]

Scheels in St. Cloud said all of their Big Buddies had been "recalled", but I didn't find out why. I don't think this was an actual recall, but the mfg pulled all units back. I assumed this was for the many problems people are having starting them and keeping them burning. Perhaps it was the valve issue instead.

Maybe people should return them and get an updated model later in the year (or next year). Many of us want the extra heat when the temps drop below zero.