Big Buddy issue

[Sandmannd]

So I got one of these blasted things. I still use my heater cooker, but in my big house you need a little more so thought I would get this as it's a little safer for the kids.

Anyway, it will run fine and stay lit on medium or low, but if I go to high it will run for five minutes or so and then go out, pilot and all. Turn it on and same thing. As long as I go medium it works but can't go above that. Any ideas?

[PierBridge]

Are you using 1 lb tanks or the 11 or 20 pounders?

[BottomPounder]

What size tanks are you using and do you have the filter?

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

I got the same thing and have the same problem.

Doesn't it depend on the surface it is on and if it is not flat or has pockets it will go off?

I'm gonna carry a thin cedar board with me next time and see if it stays lit or not...

[Sandmannd]

I have been sitting mine on the trailer which is level. I used the 1 lb tanks (only on one side though) because I couldn't get it to work with my 20lb with a filter on the hose.

[Sandmannd]

Which side do you plug the hose into? The Left or Right side or doesn't it matter?

[BoxMN]

Sandman, I just fired up my new Big Buddy last night, using the hose and 20 pound. It took TONS of tries before it lit. Ironically I was at my buddies house, and he is excel gas guy. He took it off the tank, and made sure it had pressure, and he siad there was a lot of air in the hose on that first hook up, not sure why, maybe old tank, but he didn't know what that would affect it. We also held down the "pilot" knob while turning it a little bit, to try to get gas to flow a bit before the ignitor sparked.

I kinda like how the normal buddy heater ignitor is better than the big buddy. But after it went the first time, it seemed to work just fine. We tested a bunch of times, but since it was already hot, not sure if it was good "Test". Good luck.

[PierBridge]

If it's a new hose it will take some time to purge all the air out and get gas to the Buddy. Personally I don't use the filter and that may be hindering the gas flow. Are you sure you have things screwed in tightly that can be real pain to do at times.

I plug my hose into the right side "looking at it" of the heater.

Edit: I see Box beat me to it.

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Yea, I'm not too impressed with the big buddy.

The igniter doesn't work well, had to take my original one back as it was kinda of a recall situation.

[Sandmannd]

It's a hose I've had for two years. Connected to my heater/cooker and it worked just fine, fired right away. Do I need to have a 1 lb tank on the side that doesn't have the hose connected to it?

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

Nope, you shouldn't need a tank on the other side; the supply can be either side with nothing on the opposite side.

I noticed before that if I pick it up or move it slightly, it will go out.

Me and my Dad made our own fish house stoves in the 70's; maybe I'll get one of those babies out and run that! Nice flat top to set those old ready to eat "Great American Soup" Cans on top of...!

[Jim Almquist]

It's a hose I've had for two years. Connected to my heater/cooker and it worked just fine, fired right away. Do I need to have a 1 lb tank on the side that doesn't have the hose connected to it?

Shane it should not need a tank but if you have one on the other side it can't hurt. I would purge the hose of any air before I would connect it to my Big Buddy. Connect your hose to your 20 pounder and open the tank and in the center of the end that will connect to the buddy you will push in the valve with a small (1/4")piece of wood or something similar until gas starts coming out. I have a deadstick holder with a wooden dowel that works great. Then you can connect it to the buddy and it will have gas right away.

[Sandmannd]

Cool, thanks jim, that will help. Does the 1 lb have to be full or can I use an empty tank?

[Jim Almquist]

You should not need it but if it helps put on a empty but in reality it should not matter. I really believe your problem is air in the line and the filter is just slowing down the gas flow so bleed the air and see if it helps. I went to the slow flow hose that needs no filter and it has worked out great.

[Jeremy airjer W]

It does not matter what side the hose is hooked up to. You can have a tank on the other side or not, it does not matter. The quick connect hose with the regulator is the way to go. If you're using a non regulated hose that is a couple of years old than you will want to use a filter to prevent future problems that may or may not occur.

As far as the heater going out on high it is likely the use of a single one pounder. If you try two it will likely stay on high until the one pounders are around half empty. Unless it is considerably warmer out.

Here's a link to more info about the Big Buddy Hoses.

Big Buddy Hose Clarification

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

airjer,

My big buddy goes out running on the 20 pounder, not the single one pounder. Hopefully our experiments will help out.

[Maverick]

airjer,

My big buddy goes out running on the 20 pounder, not the single one pounder. Hopefully our experiments will help out.

I use a twenty pounder with the hose and we were having trouble with it working on Medium and High. I went outside to the tank and was able to give the connection a pretty good turn to make it tight. Once I did that, there was no problem. Because these ODP tanks have a safety shutoff in the valve you have to make sure it is very tight in order to get a full flow of gas.

[EBass]

Interesting, I run a 20lb tank and no filter for 3 yrs now and never have an issue.

[can-man]

I have a new one this year run 20lb tank and filter and it works great couldn't be happier with the heater