Big Buddy

[Fillet]

I was out today and really needed the heat from my big buddy. It was tough to keep the heater going and when its -14....i really needed it! It seemed like I was constantly messing with the heater which cost em fish. It would keep shutting off and then I would have to hold the ignite forever just to get the pilot flame to stay burning. It would then light real hard on the low setting so I would turn it to medium and it would light right up for 5 to 25 min before going out again. I did a lot of old post reading and couldn't come up with a solution. Is it the small tanks freezing, a problem with the o2 sensor, tip sensor, or user error?

I am already thinking of switching to a 5# or an 11# tank when I get the funds to upgrade.

[Chode2235]

I think your tank may have been empty or frozen up. I had the same issue and it was the 1lb tanks. Try another if you have one with you when it happens.

[JesRee]

high heat in a small shack equals low oxygen. Keep a window(zipper) cracked a little. My dad and I ran into this with a small radiant LP heater in a canvas portable. Scarry stuff. Tip: If you light a lighter and the flame dances above the lighter a bit...there is a low oxygen level. That's how we found this out.

[Fillet]

I have a hard time believing its low oxygen... 15mph wind in a quick flip II = decent amount of air moving around. I did have a vent open and it still happened. Could it still be low oxygen? I also tried brand new tanks I had with me with the same results.

[JesRee]

just a thought...can never be too safe out there I guess.

[jwhjr]

If you have the 1# tanks I think they have issues when it's really cold because they freeze up.

[7outof10]

i know that mine worked better with a bigger tank on it i never had all of things happen that you did but it runs hotter and pilot lit is a little bigger and stronger with a big tank

[stifler51]

its prolly ur tanks like most have said, i have a big buddy and use a bulk tank on it and never have problems. Last weekend it well below zero and major gusts sending cars off the road and my big buddy kept going like it was nothing

[Stickjiggler]

I tried running mine to heat the garage this weekend with the same results as you. After the second time it went out I looked at the 1lb tanks and they were froze. I let them thaw for a couple minutes gave them a good shake, fired right up and was good to go.

[fishon68]

I bought a big buddy, used it when it was 10 below and was not impressed, sold it the next week and went back to the sunflower, but i think i would check you 1 lb tanks.

[Jim Almquist]

Unless your 1 pound tanks were warm when you started they would have caused your problems cause they could not generate enough pressure to run the buddy when they start out frozen. Next time keep them in your truck in a warm cooler and see if it makes any difference.

[HaRdWaTeR jUnKy]

not a problem with mine so far,(knock on wood) have had it out a dozen or so times hooked to the big tank and love it, bring a few 1#ers with just in case she runs low. i picked up a refurbished one at cabelas for pretty cheap so hopefully everything got looked over twice! Do you use the fan on them at all? I guess i really havent messed with that, does it work ok?

[nater]

I had this same problem last season with the 1lb tanks. They would freeze up after I had it on high for awhile. If I only need medium heat, they would do alright.

This season, especially with the colder temps I have been using my 20lb tank and can have it on high for hours on end with no problems. A lot less frustration!

[jerkbait]

I was out today and really needed the heat from my big buddy. It was tough to keep the heater going and when its -14....i really needed it! It seemed like I was constantly messing with the heater which cost em fish. It would keep shutting off and then I would have to hold the ignite forever just to get the pilot flame to stay burning. It would then light real hard on the low setting so I would turn it to medium and it would light right up for 5 to 25 min before going out again. I did a lot of old post reading and couldn't come up with a solution. Is it the small tanks freezing, a problem with the o2 sensor, tip sensor, or user error?

I am already thinking of switching to a 5# or an 11# tank when I get the funds to upgrade.

I had this exact same problem with my regular buddy heater this past deer season and I run off a 20# tank. The problem still existed even when i was trying to run the heater in my heated garage, which is set at 68 deg. I took the heater apart and cleaned it and still don't work. From everything that I have read on here and on Mr. Heater's trouble shooting it is either the control or the regulator. I just have not got around to buying the parts to fix it yet. If I get it fixed I will definitely being running the filter on the hose. Have you ever ran your heater on a big tank with a hose and no filter? Could be pluged up.

[huntnfish]

I have a Big Buddy and had the same problems with the 1 pounders when it was really cold out. I had my 20 with so I switched it out and worked fine after that. Like jimalm said, they can't get enough pressure when its that cold out.

[MuskieJunkie]

I tried running mine to heat the garage this weekend with the same results as you. After the second time it went out I looked at the 1lb tanks and they were froze. I let them thaw for a couple minutes gave them a good shake, fired right up and was good to go.

I ran mine to heat my garage last weekend but with a 1/4 full 20 lbs tank, no issues at all. Sounds like the issues everyone is having are related to the 1 lbs tanks.

[EBass]

Yup those 1lb tanks don't work well when it's really cold. I now carry a 20lb and it sucks draggin it, but it sure is nice not having issues of it going out when it's -20 wind chill.

[JIGGIN']

You are experiencing a frozen tank problem. A half full 20 pounder is better than a full one because your surface area in the tank is more open to draw the LP gas. The smaller tanks, like the 1 pounders will be more apt to freeze up as well because there is a smaller area to draw the gas from. this was explained to me by a gas supplier. Not sure if I explained it well.

[Fillet]

I have never hooked it up to a big tank. If I remember right, I had small problems with it last year too when it would just shut of randomly...and that was even on the decent weather days. I am going to start looking for a 5-11 lb tank. until then, I need to somehow get by on those 1 lbers. If the temps would ever get back up again....

[huntnfish]

Maybe try leaving it in a warm vehicle if possible until you get the house set up and ready to have some heat. If you are walking out maybe take them from a warm vehicle and put them in a cooler to try to keep them warm until you get the house set up.