Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

  • 0

Big Buddy Heater Junk!!


jltimm

Question

I recently used my Big Buddy heater on 2 seperate outings,and today the pilot light would go out ,then the unit would shut off!It did this about 10 times and it was REALLY ANNOYING!I have a 5ft hose from a 20lb tank and had it on high the whole time.Maybe I'll have to go back to the heater cooker,something I can trust!!Also I noticed the heat from this unit didn't have as much as the sunflower type heater?I used it in my Eskimo QF 3,and it wasn't as warm as when I've used the suflower heater!I had the house banked good to with no drafts coming in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Answers 112
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters For This Question

  • Surface Tension

    15

  • iffwalleyes

    8

  • jltimm

    8

  • Moose-Hunter

    6

Recommended Posts

  • 0

Thanks Tom! I guess that makes the decision easy - back to the store! Just hope I still have all the packaging...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Where did you find that anyway? I thought I'd take a print-out of that along to the store incase they have any concerns about taking the unit back...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Dan,

They issued it to us about 30 minutes ago. We've been trying to get the word out as best we can. It is possible that the store you bought it from has not heard about it yet since it is fairly new news. If they got em from us, have them call us and we'll fill em in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I wish I could take mine back,I bought it about 2 months ago at Fleet Farm in St. Cloud and I don't think they'll let me return it after 30 days! mad.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Tom, Thanks for the heads up.

I would imagine if you have a Big buddy either returning it or getting the new valves shouldn't be a problem now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I am sure if it is indeed a safety recall Fleet or any other retailer would honor the return.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I hope so cause the heater is just taking up room in the shed,and my MR.Heater Cooker is working great, other than the little more noise and getting a little warm on the brighter days on the ice. grin.gifBetter to warm than to cold on the lake though!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

So glad I took mine back already. I have the little buddy and love it, but doesnt sound like I would have liked the big one. Just have to get used to the sunflower on colder days is all.

Thanks everyone for the fantastic info on this post!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Thought the Big Buddy was a little excessive for my needs so I bought the littler buddy heater for my Fish Trap Yukon. Also, purchased a magnetic Coleman tent fan ($10) that I attached to the tent just above the heater. Circulates the heat around just enough. Perfect combination and can be folded up in the tent when not in use or just remove without damage to the tent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Well that it great because I just got the quick connect hose now and used it for the first time this weekend and the unit was complete junk as previously stated. I sure hope the refund my money. It wouldn't stay running and the minute you put it on high is started to sputter and puked out. Glad they have admitted a problem.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Howdy Folks...

I hate to be the odd-man-out, but I gotta tell you... My BB works like a champ. I've been running it off an 11lb tank using a simple 5' hose (no filter) with the "disposable" fitting connected to one side of the BB... Heats my 8x8 perm up to trpical temps and my Otter Lodge to near tee-shirt weather... I still suffer the wind problem in the Lodge, but other than that... No complaints... YET...

I don't use the 1lb tanks and have yet to receive my quick connect hose/reg kit. So the jury is still out for those parts...

Due to the safety issues, I discontinued use of the BB and have switched back to my smaller buddy. Boy, I really miss the fan option of the BB...

Could it be I have the only fully operational BB in existence?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

MH, have you used the BB and bulk tank in -0 temps?

Could be these heaters used valves from more then one manufacturer or certain lots were defective. I guess we'll know more in a few weeks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I have only used mine a couple times now, and only used the 1#'s so far, but mine has been working good. I had it in my permanent, and it kept it nice and warm, and this was last monday when it was VERY cold out.

The only time it started to spit and sputter out is when the tanks were going empty.

I got mine at Scheels in Moorhead, and they claim they had a whole pallet go back to their distributor about a month ago.

I got mine about 2 weeks ago, so dont know if its a fixed version or not.

Guy at scheels said he wasn't sure how I could tell , and that they get theirs from a distributor and haven't heard anything else.

I wonder if there is a way you can tell if you have one with the bad valve?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Scheels in St. Cloud said all of their Big Buddies had been "recalled", but I didn't find out why. I don't think this was an actual recall, but the mfg pulled all units back. I assumed this was for the many problems people are having starting them and keeping them burning. Perhaps it was the valve issue instead.

Maybe people should return them and get an updated model later in the year (or next year). Many of us want the extra heat when the temps drop below zero.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Bought mine a few months ago. Told my wife it was for emergencies (power outage etc.) Right before x-mas, the power in town was out for almost 12 hours and the heater worker great! 2 weeks ago on LOW, it kept going out every few minutes!

I have left 2 voicemail messages with the company and they have not responded. I hope this is not indicative of how they are going to handle the recall!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Hi Frank....

We've had temps in the single digits, but not in the minus range. At least not when I've been out. This weekend mom Nature will provide me that -0 temp range, with wind. I'll try to run all the "popular" combinations and see what happens. Can you think of any others?

1: (2) 1# tanks

2: 11# tank, 5' buddy heater hose

3: 20# tank, 5' buddy heater hose

4: 11# tank, 12' quick connect hose w/ reg

5: 20# tank, 12' quick connect hose w/ reg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

could be the thermocoupler adjusted too far away. Take a look at this link.

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=466446&page=2&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

Mine goes out every so often too, especially when its on high with the fan on.

I thought of doing the adjustment, but now that they will probably want them all returned, I'll wait for that, and also leave a note in the box to fix it so it quits going out all the time.

Oh, and I guess they really dont recomend this adjustment either, hmmmm, so what the heck is a guy supposed to do.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Hi Dano2...

By trying to adjust the thermocouple on the Buddie heaters you are also altering one of the safety devices built into the unit. By bringing the thermocouple closer to the pilot, you are basically "over-riding" the low oxygen shut off. And from what I hear this modification also raises the CO emissions considerably. shocked.gif

Although it may be a "quick fix", in my opinion this mod makes the Buddy heaters unsafe. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Dan, If your tanks are stored outside this weekend will be a good test. Speaking from experience bring a back heater just in case.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Both bulk tanks are outside as we speak. I usually store them in my garage (heated) but for testing, I want them as cold as Mom Nature can provide. I'll be picking up a couple 1lber's sometime today and "treat" them as I would on any ice outing.

For back up, a small buddy heater and a heater cooker. wink.gif sounds like it may get a bit nippy on saturday...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

i just returned mine they gave me my money back at fleet farm. i didnt have the box or anything and they took it back,they said they just pulled them from the shelves the little ones and the big ones.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

That's great news cause I bought mine from Fleet also and was wondering if they would take it back without a box and such!Looks like a trip to Fleet for me soon!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Just have your receipt if you go to fleet. I tried returning mine that I paid 130 for. They said they could only return it for the lowest sale price they had sold them for. Which was 90 back one week in Dec. Wished I'd have known about that sale. It was so mad when I left I kept it and will take things up with MR Heater.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

You had your receipt and they still tried that on you at Fleet?

Man...that is so BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGUS!

Sounds like Fleet is practicing GM's double your money back...in reverse. smirk.gif

I would have had a whole herd of cows on the spot!!

Print off the recall notice and take it in to them at Fleet. Then if they try that again say give me my full cash back or sign this recall saying I can use it safely. If it blows up Fleet Farm is liable for it then.

See what they say then Eh. wink.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Thanks for telling me about the receipt.I do have mine,and I think I paid 119.00 on sale.Then there's the hose for around $15,then the 6 volt plug in for around $20,the batteries...What a piece of %$^&! mad.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

If you are going to buy a new heater, look at the Hot Spot by Reddy Heater, I love mine. Got it at Menards with hose and all for under a hundred, and it really cooks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Boy I would question that the Big Buddy was ever on sale for 90 dollars, make them show you the add.

I think they are using some kind of formula to come up with that number. These heaters were brand new this year and I have not ever seen the "BIG Buddy" on sale anywhere.

Has anyone seen them on sale for 90 dollars ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

i bought mine for 119 and thats what i got back. i got a sunflower there on sale right now for 34 it puts out a lot more heat and alot cheaper i had it in my hand before and then i saw the buddy heater what a mistake that was.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Gander Mountain in Bemidji had them for around $90 but it could have been $95. Anyway it got recalled because of the valve on one of the sides is too sensitive or something and it doesn't get a good connection so it shuts off all the time. A couple of my friends have them and they have had different types of luck. One had it work fine untill it shut off once after a week of use then it always shut off. The other had problems with one side so he hooked the hose up to the other side and has had no problems. Please fix them this year because they are a nice heater if they work.

bf

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • leech~~
      Nope not me.  May want to go nextdoor and ask around?  
    • smurfy
      Looks to me like Leech brought his chair home!!😅😆
    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.