Buddy Heaters ??????

[MapSD]

I have followed a few posts here and on other forums, about the Little Buddy and Big Buddy Heaters. It seems a lot of you that have them, are having problems right out of the box.

Or is it the case where more people are satisfied with the product and are not talking. What do you think? Would you recommend them?

Thanks

Mike

[tomfromblaine]

mine works great, I think the filter they recommend is key, also I went with a differnt supply line then the recommended part # and then got a quick disconnect for the tank end and the throw away bottle threads for the other end. seems to me that the suggested supply line may be creating problems as it has a volume control device in the line itself shutting the heaters down (which it states it will do)just my thoughts on the whole deal.

[GudeMN]

I've had mine for two years now with no problems. It heats my Trap Guide perfectly, not so hot I have to peel down to a t-shirt. One gripe I guess would be how easily a draft can blow out the pilot. On really windy days make sure you have a good seal on the bottom of your house or keep the Buddy up off the ground to avoid the pilot from being blown out.

[icecold]

Tomfromblaine I see that you posted that there is some type of filter for the heater, what is that about and where can i get one. Thanks Icecold

[Guest]

Have had my little buddy for three years and the only problem I have had is the ceramic plate which is the burner, came loose from a bump, tapped upper corner where it was loose and end of problem. I have run it on 1-pound cans and 20 pounder with no problems. If pilot gets weak from draft I just put snow on outside flap. Good little heater.

[northman]

I like mine but when I bought it and brought it home the filter was not snaped in. It was also chiped and would not snap in. I turned around and went back and grabed a new box and opened it in the store before I went home. It's working fine now and keeping me warm. If the filter bugs out again. I sure hope replacements are available somewhere. On full heat with just the 1lb. bottle they run out quick. The attachment line and 20lb. tank would be the way to go but sometimes not convenient. - northman

[tomfromblaine]

Icecold I got it at fleet farm, it screwed in like a 1# bottle then the hose screwed into the the bottom of the filter which has threads for a 1# bottle also, I 'm not sure what type of filter northman is talking about, it seems to me that its a bit of putzin'around but for clean heat I can deal with it.

[hanson]

I actually love my little Buddy Heater. I'll be the first to admit it doesn't heat my little Otter Den to the temps I'd like but it takes the nip out of the air and is QUIET!!

With the arrival of my Otter Lodge, I've found a new use for it as supplemental heat. I have a 20lb tank with a splitter. A 12' hose runs to my heater/cooker which sits in the front on the ice and a 5' hose runs to the buddy which sits on a shelf at the back of the sled between the 2 seats. You get heat from the front AND back and it is awesome! On Lake of the Woods last weekend, it was around 0 degrees with a 15-20 mph wind and it was super comfy with both heaters running on low. The heat is nice and uniform all around you.

[spinach]

I have had my lil Buddy Heater for 2 1/2 years now and have never had any problems.

[Dan Thiem]

I have a Little Buddy that hangs on the wall in my permanent and I love it! Never had a problem with it inside. I also took it camping and ran it in the back of the truck with a topper. It worked really nice in there.

Trick is, just keep it out of the wind.

Does anybody know what the b.t.u.'s are for the Little Buddy? I do know that they won't bake you out like a sunflower type will.

[chudmon]

To keep the heater from blowing out I took a piece of tin foil and put it across the bottom of the cage that protects the heating element. YOu can atleast open the door and not worry about the flame going out.

[Captain Ken]

Mine works fine with the fish trap guide or to help heat up the cabin when we first get there- I turn everything on that I safely can to get the place warm. I have run it on 1 lbs and also on a 20 with the long extension line. The thing with the line is that you have to keep the button held down and run the air out before it'll light. This problem is avoided if you don't disconnect the line every time. The wind does blow it out at times, you just have to position it right in the portable and use snow etc if you have any. If I use that and my little portable coleman burner I get too hot in my Fish Trap Guide. I'd buy the jumbo size when I trade up to the big otter in the coming years.

Capt K

[fishingurl04]

I have had several problems with my buddy shutting down on me. So I called Mr. Heater and they directed me to move the thermocoupler. It was really easy and it works great for me now. A hurricane couldn't blow this flame out now. I hope this helps.

[Duck-o-holic]

Dan,

It kicks out 4,000 BTU's on low, and 9,000 on high. The big buddy kicks out 18,000 on its max setting! I went with the smaller model due to size, but there are days I'd love that 18,000 heating my house!

Does anyone use a small fan to circulate the hot air it's kicking out???

Duck-o-holic

[buzbunni]

That sounds pretty comfy hanson...makes me wanna take a nap with some rattle reels hooked up .

fishingurl: was that move or (re)move the thermocoupler? Being fixit challenged I'm curious about this fix. I might want to try it.

[MapSD]

Well I decided to get a little buddy heater. I had a $30 coupon burning a hole in my wallet. When I got to the store the heater was on sale $10 off. With my coupon and the sale I paid $50 for the heater. Now I have to find the time to get on the ICE !!! Thanks for all your input.

Mike

[bigeyeguy]

Could you explain to me how to adjust mine, I was on Mille Lacs yesterday and must have restarted it 150 times. Any breeze would blow it out or a bump and it was out. Ready to return it unless I can get that flame bigger. Thanks

[PERCHJR]

Hey Guys, hope ice fishing is going good for you all!!! I finally got to use my Buddy Heater the last couple days and I am really happy with it. I agree that a guy has to seal up his shack, because pretty much any breeze will blow it out, but at least it is easy to restart. Well enough B.S. fishing wasn't the best this weekend, maybe it will be next weekend!!

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD FISHING!!!!

[sdghsdgj]

hey i had a 1 pound can run out after about 4 hours. is that normal? should i carry 2 or 3 1 pound tanks or 1 20?

[fishingurl04]

All right guys, I'll try to explain this the best I can. Pull off the guard on the front for starters.There's only 1 screw holding it together really. The rest is clips. So, start out by unscrewing the screw on the bottom. That's what holds the ceramic plate on the front. It should just pull out now. With all of the "guts" exposed you can see the side that holds the bottle and how it's held together with clips. There's 2 on top and 2 on the bottom. With a very little elbow grease and a lot of patience you can get it all unsnapped. The handle on the top is held together by a push in "ball" with a little wiggle and a nail I was able to push the "ball" in and pull the whole side off. Now to get the metal front off. I used a screwdriver to lightly pry the bottom off of the bottom tray. Once I cleared the 2 clips holding it on the bottom it virtually fell off. Now you can see the thermocoupler. Unscrew the only screw holding both the coupler and the igniter in. Move the thermocoupler up in the bracket. Now reassemble. It sounds scary, but it's really easy. I took mine out again today and it NEVER went out. Definately worth my time. I hope this helps.

[muchowja]

Maybe consider a 5 or 10 lb tank. Much smaller and lighter than a 20 lb tank.

[arbuck]

fishingurl04,

That would sure be nice if that took care of all of the buddys problems blowing out. I might even concider buying a big buddy then (or a little one for that matter). Good job and I hope it works out for all the other buddy heaters out there.

Keep us up to date on the perfomance.

arbuck

[buzbunni]

Thanks fishingurl. I'm gonna give that a shot.

[Jeremy airjer W]

sdghsdgj, Ive been running my big buddy of a 11 lb pancake style. It's small Fairly light, and has a low center of gravity for stability. I've got about 12 hours on the tank and its about half empty. Should get at least twenty hours on it easily.

I was out during the storm saturday night. There was plenty of wind getting into the otter. Never had a problem with it blowing out! I did have a problem with a frozen auger

[tisch008]

The manual says 3 hours on high.