Big Buddy Heater Problem

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Well, I bellied up and bought a Big Buddy heater at Northern (Hydrolics) - 99.99 on sale.

I brought it up to Rainy and the darn thing would not start - the Piezo-electric was not sparking.

I tried 150-200 times !!!

Finally, I took the cage off and lit a match.

So, when I got back I called Northern in Forest Lake to save gas see if they had another before I went there and he said Yea, I know, most all of them are bad.

I said do you have one and he said no, they won't order any in until late January.

The only I can maybe get a replacement is to contact Mr. Heater.

Make sure you consider these things before you buy one, FYI...

[18 inch Crappie]

Should have bought the heater/cooker...........

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Has anyone else had problems with their Piezo not igniting...?

Big Buddy turned into a Big Bummer.

[setterguy]

I got two of them from the same store and had problems, not the same problems but the heater would go out very easily. I got my money back and went to Gander which did a price match. Brought that one home and it did the same thing. I returned it and then apologized to my cooker for ever doubting her. Good idea, bad design.

[SUNNYD]

That and it's predecessor the Buddy may be the two largest pieces of !@#%!@ that were ever made...The concept...great...the delivery of the concept...poor at the very best. Do your research...I know every product has its 'bad apples', but when you get more than one bad apple time after time its time to kick that product to the curb. Some people have had some luck with them but the majority of the sportsman I know have had trouble with them.

Sorry, this guy is sticking with his little open flame heater for my small portable and the good ole sunflower for my Otter Lodge.

Take care.

[Northlander]

I also have had poor luck with them. Im on my 3rd small buddie. This one at least will stay lit. I will also stick with my dependable Mr.Heater Cooker. More heat and yes I cook on it. MMMMMM beer n Brauts on Winni.

[bigb56303]

well i have never bought one of these just because i have seen so many bad reports on here, i want to thank you all for your coments about these, they do look like a slick unit but with all the problems, ill stick with my sunflower heater, simple and alot cheaper, hopefully they will eventually fix these issues but its been a few seasons that i have read about these

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Maybe I should go back to Northern and demand my money back, then get one with the price match.

What a hassle.

[redtrucks]

I was in Gander the other day and they just received a new shipment of Big Buddies because they were having problems with the regulators. Turns out that the new shipment had the same regulator. I brought my big buddy with and returned it for a double burner Mr. Heater. I like the concept but have my doubts if it will heat my Large Resort when the temp drops below zero and its durability while riding in a sled.

[MNmikew]

Mines iffy. Sometimes is works, sometimes it dont. I usually carry a stick type butane lighter just in case. Other that the flakey sparker it works pretty well. Funny the sparker on my lil buddy works fine, you'd think there the same thing?

[Borch]

In all the times I've lit mine I've had trouble lighting it 3 times. Once was a bad valve on my propane tank. Switch tanks and it worked fine. The other times the unit had had snow all over it. If it doesn't light right away I reposition it. The buggers are finicky for level surface.

The electronic lighting device has always worked for me though.

My wife uses a Dynoglo unit which looks just like the Buddy Heater. That unit is bullet proof and I'd buy another in a heartbeat!

[kingr]

Mine starts just fine but it quits after about 20-30 minutes. I have to wait about 15 and then it'll stay lit again. I'm thinking it's the oxygen sensor cuting off the gas, so I'd like to remove it, but I'm not sure if it possible?

[PierBridge]

Quote:

---

In all the times I've lit mine I've had trouble lighting it 3 times. Once was a bad valve on my propane tank. Switch tanks and it worked fine. The other times the unit had had snow all over it. If it doesn't light right away I reposition it. The buggers are finicky for level surface.

The electronic lighting device has always worked for me though.

My wife uses a Dynoglo unit which looks just like the Buddy Heater. That unit is bullet proof and I'd buy another in a heartbeat!

---

Same here!

I've always wanted a DynoGlow.

[Augusta]

Geez, I must have the only two Big Buddies in the world that work just fine......sorry to hear about all the problems you guys have had...

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Get this - so I had all the problems with the Piezo not firing.

Sooo, I went into Warroad, bought a long Windproof Lighter, and that lighter only lit once.

Can you FRIGGIN' believe that...???

[Fishing Junky]

If it weren't for bad luck, you'd have no luck at all eh? I have a big buddy in my workshed and has worked flawlessly for me. I have the filter and run off a twenty pounder. Really heats up the shed nicely. I am going to use it in our tow behind trailer for camping this summer. I would definitly buy again, but then again haven't experienced any probs up to this point. I hope you get yours resolved. By the way, the sparker is kinda tricky to use. Are You sure you are doing it right? Just a thought. Good luck, Junky...

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Oh yea, doin' it right. It fires only 1 in about 200 times.

Called Mr. Heater and it is the same, HUGE problem.

Their bench testing all of them now.

[ozzie]

that stinks....i have a little buddy and the thing works great and i don't treat it very well but it sparks every time and it runs until i turn it off....guess i got lucky!!

[Guest]

All the big buddy hype scares me.. I really want to purchase one for an adequate indoor heater, but I think I would be foolish doing so with all the problems encountered with them. I have heard good and bad, it seems if they work, they work.. etc.

I have a paulin pup heater which is basicly the same thing as the regular buddy heater and I have no problems with it... but its only 1/2 the btu of a big buddy. I dont want to run 2 heaters or I would get another pup(paulin).

I might have to seach around for a better heater option.. I wont mess with sunflowers anymore.. I tossed them out a long time ago because they get me sick. I am heating a 5x8 suitcase portable.. so at least I have some floor room for heater options.

[CatManLee]

I have a Big Buddy Heater that I bought last year and haven't had any problems at all with it. I guess I'm a "lucky" one as well? I bet way more mork than don't, it's just the ones that have problems with the Big Buddy heaters are more apt to say something. I would buy another one, even with all the negative comments here.

As for the long lighter, I don't know if yours was cold, but if they get cold sometimes they don't work.

[candiru]

I got I a Little Buddy and the thing will only stay lit when it is warm out. Anybody have any experience fixing that problem? Thankfully I found another company that makes a heater that runs on the same principle except that when you turn on the valve the gas flows (no fancy switches or igniters). It is Heat Plus out of Angora, MN. I also saw these heaters on the Thorne Brothers web site.

[westrush]

Well I have one of these and it works great used up at LOW and stayed nice and warm Takes A while too get lit becase the hose is so long .