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Posted

I pulled out my big buddy heater yesterday and couldn't get it to work with the 20 pound cylinder, but it worked with the 1 pounders. I have the hose with the regulator and quick connect hose. What seems off was when connected to the 20 pounder I could turn the regulator easily, just spins. To me that doesn't seem right, but I can't remember if it did that last year when it was working fine. Anyone know if that's the problem?

Posted

mine only works if i spin the regulator up or down don't remember right now.

Posted

My guess is that you probably still had air in the line and didn't bleed it out long enough. If you have the quick connect rv hose I use a screwdriver and push down on the push button inside the quick connect to bleed the air out. This is what I do and am not telling you to do this but it works for me. Don't be smoking a cigarette at the same time. Also hold down the red button on the heater for 60-90 seconds before lighting the pilot light. These are great heaters but you must be patient. Especially with the 12 ft hose. Takes time for the propane to get from the tank to the heater.

Posted

I don't have the quick connect but have a filter and when it doesn't work to begin the season I end up having to spend $10 and get a new filter and all is good again

Posted

What seems off was when connected to the 20 pounder I could turn the regulator easily, just spins.

Please clarify... the regulator should not have an adjustment that you can turn. are you referring to the hand wheel on top of the valve to turn on and off the flow of propane?

Posted

Kind of hard to explain. When connected I can turn the whole regulator and it doesn't unscrew from anything. From what I remeber when booked up it didn't move before. Seems like it isn't sealing up enough where it lets gas out of the tank. Wondering if I'm missing a small part or something. I know it's not that I'm not being patient enough letting gas get through the hose to the heater from pressing the pilot light down.

Posted

All right now I get it.

I am going to assume this has an ACME fitting (uses the threads on the outside instead of the threads on the inside of the tank outlet) If this is the case than they do where out. I had this happen last year and did a post on it. You can replace just the nut. It is available at your local home improvement store, hardware store, etc.

I'll see if I can find the post and get you a link.

Posted

Try this, hookup to your 20 pounder and open the valve.

Turn the knob on the heater to the pilot position and hold it down, take a lighter and hold it up to the thermocoupler (where the propane comes out). If the lighter flame goes out you have air in the line (you might also hear the air rushing out of the line).

Keep the pilot knob depressed until it lights. Might take a few minutes depending on how long your line is.

Posted

That's two threads on the front page of this forum with these heaters. I'm starting to feel like it's my cause in life to prevent anyone from ever buying these turd heaters.

Posted

That's two threads on the front page of this forum with these heaters. I'm starting to feel like it's my cause in life to prevent anyone from ever buying these turd heaters.

A bad acme nut makes the heater bad? That's like saying my car is junk because it won't move in the snow with summer tires!

Posted

These heaters are one of the best things to come along since vexilars. No more headaches and burned fishhouse canvases from the sunflower heater. My big buddy heater has been nothing but reliable. Proper care, maintenance, and operational knowledge are part of this. Every product may have a lemon once in awhile.

Posted

I had a similar issue. I spent money on the quick connect and haven't had an issue since. The quick connector is much more convenient as well.

Posted

Had this exact same thing happen two years ago. Mine was about eight years old, ended up replacing the hose. Read somewhere the regulater gets dirty no way to clean. $40 every eight years is not a bad price to pay. I use mine in a skid house and burn two hundred pounds a year.

Posted

If you use a filter and it seems plugged, I have had luck with shaking it or knocking it against something to get it cleared and get me by until I can get a new one.

Posted

All right now I get it.

I am going to assume this has an ACME fitting (uses the threads on the outside instead of the threads on the inside of the tank outlet) If this is the case than they do where out. I had this happen last year and did a post on it. You can replace just the nut. It is available at your local home improvement store, hardware store, etc.

I'll see if I can find the post and get you a link.

Thanks Jeremy, I'll try a new ACME nut seems like that's prolly the issue. Had it a while so it would make sense. First problem I've had with the heater and had it 5-6 years.

Posted

My guess is that you probably still had air in the line and didn't bleed it out long enough. ... These are great heaters but you must be patient. Especially with the 12 ft hose. Takes time for the propane to get from the tank to the heater.

Agree on common problem with air in the hose problem especially if haven't been out for a while. For Big Buddies, if I don't want to wait by holding the pilot position down for a long time (can be a real pain) - I just connect the quick connect on one side w/ big tank turned on, then put a 1 pounder tank on the other side. Should light up right away, after 5 minutes or so I pull of the one ponder and it should stay lit if you big tank & hose are working correctly.

If I know it is going to be cold out, I ALWAYS test my heaters before I head out. Always have the sunflower with as a backup because they are pretty bullet proof (but the noise, fumes, danger of burning stuff higher are a drawback).

Posted

Thanks Jeremy, I'll try a new ACME nut seems like that's prolly the issue. Had it a while so it would make sense. First problem I've had with the heater and had it 5-6 years.

I have one of the original big buddies. The acme nut is the only problem i have had over the last 10+ years

Posted

I had a friend that had one of these. I have used one of these in a rental fish house. I have never encountered one that is reliable or even functional. I cannot fathom why anyone would buy one of these when they are apparently the most discussed dysfunctional piece of equipment on the ice.

The common problem is that they don't light or stay lit. I've seen talk of getting different regulators, using filters, acme nuts, switching the size of the tank you use, or worrying about the temperature of your propane tank.

My fishing time is little and therefore very important to me. I don't want to be fidgeting with the heater to get it re-started during the 20 minute window of crazy at sundown. I just feel it's a disservice to forum participants, that are thinking of getting one, to not speak up when so much dysfunctional feedback has been shared here and other forums.

I am glad to hear that some folks that have these are getting good service out of them, but a lot are not, and it should be mentioned.

Posted

Picked up a new acme nut and it fired right up. Thanks for the tip Jeremy!

Posted

I had a friend that had one of these. I have used one of these in a rental fish house. I have never encountered one that is reliable or even functional. I cannot fathom why anyone would buy one of these when they are apparently the most discussed dysfunctional piece of equipment on the ice.

The common problem is that they don't light or stay lit. I've seen talk of getting different regulators, using filters, acme nuts, switching the size of the tank you use, or worrying about the temperature of your propane tank.

My fishing time is little and therefore very important to me. I don't want to be fidgeting with the heater to get it re-started during the 20 minute window of crazy at sundown. I just feel it's a disservice to forum participants, that are thinking of getting one, to not speak up when so much dysfunctional feedback has been shared here and other forums.

I am glad to hear that some folks that have these are getting good service out of them, but a lot are not, and it should be mentioned.

Geez, I hope you don't drive a Chevy, ford, or dodge. That's all they talk about over in that automotive forum. Some real unreliable dysfunctional pieces of equipment if you ask me. I hear some people get some good ones but it sure seems like there are a lot of problems with those cars and trucks......... shocked

Posted

Picked up a new acme nut and it fired right up. Thanks for the tip Jeremy!

Sweet!

Posted

I know these have a "oxygen sensor", but it seems like mine is a bit too touchy. It would be on the ice in my fatfish-i with the vents open and it would still shut off. Has anyone else had an issue with this triggering the heater to shut off. is there anything i can do?

Posted

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • monstermoose78
      Ok the ice was 15-16 inches and less than 2 inches of snow. It’s was -15 this morning and the weekend looks to be cold again. The fish were there but not biting with change in weather. 
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      I remember Jeno's boxed pizza years ago.  Mom made it every Saturday night while dad and I watched All Star Wrestling.  
    • smurfy
      Chef boyardee box pizza. Good stuff 
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    • leech~~
      Smurf, still trying to get his lure jigging down when using the camera!  🤭   https://www.facebook.com/reel/517510734635573
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore... Ice fishing is going great on the south shore of Lake of the Woods, with resorts and outfitters reporting thickening ice conditions with two feet of ice in some areas.  Many ice roads are now open to 1 ton vehicles pulling a wheelhouse.  Every road has different weight limits, check with each resort for details before traveling up and out on the ice.      Some good fishing this past week.  As a rule, fishing activity is happening in 28 - 32 feet of water.  Resorts do just about everything they can to get customers on fish and this past week, some resorts made some long runs, resetting fish houses in new areas miles off shore.  Most are reporting good fishing as a rule.     It is common to sort through some small walleyes and saugers to get your keepers on LOW.  Naturally, some big fish are showing up, especially in deeper water.  In addition, this has been a very good year for jumbo perch with good numbers being caught.  Other fish in the mix are eelpout (burbot), pike, tullibees and an occasional sturgeon.      Anglers are using the one-two punch of jigging in one hole and deadsticking the second hole. In the jigging hole, a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head or tail in gold / pink, gold / glow red, glow white / pink, or Wonder Bread have worked well.     Especially in the deeper water, some anglers are finding success on rippin raps or using jigging spoons with a rattle as well.     On the deadstick, a small jig with a live minnow hooked behind the dorsal fin set 6 inches - a foot off of the bottom is working well.  One day the jigging line catches most of the fish, the other day a deadstick is hot.     Electronics are very helpful to see suspended fish, know when fish are coming through and adjust your presentation to the mood of each fish.  Most resorts, outfitters and bait shops in the area rent electronics by the day.   On the Rainy River... The Rainy River is still producing some nice walleyes and saugers, primarily in the mornings and evenings.  A jig and minnow working well.   Catch-and-release sturgeon fishing continues to be good for those targeting them.  An oversized hole, or three holes drilled together, with nightcrawlers or frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig fished on the bottom are what anglers are using.     Ice conditions on the river can vary significantly due to the current. To stay safe and maximize success, always work with a local resort or outfitter familiar with river conditions.    Up at the NW Angle... Ice fishing continues to be very good up at the Northwest Angle. Resorts have fish houses set up on various pieces of structure as well as adjacent to structure in deep mud.  A consistent mix of walleyes, saugers, jumbo perch, pike and tullibees in the mix.     Shallow structure is best right away in the morning and as the sun starts going down in the late afternoon.  Mud is more of a slower bite but all day.   The ice road from Jerry's on the mainland (Angle Inlet, MN) to island resorts (as of this past week) was open to 1 ton vehicles.  Guests drive right to their island resort after picking up a road pass at Jerry's or Point North Services.  Venmo is also available at all resorts.  Work through your resort for specifics.   Ice fishing is in full swing across Lake of the Woods and there are openings for lodging, fish house rentals, sleeper fish house rentals and meal plans across the area.  Ice fishing is extended on LOW with fish houses allowed on the ice through March 31st, walleye / sauger season open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes.  
    • Brianf.
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    • leech~~
      The Vikings are the Vikings so it's nothing new.  It is kind of sad that Darnold's off season stock is now going to drop like a rock after these last two games. It kind of shows he's not a big game guy.  🤔
    • smurfy
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