Sunflower heater

[gamefisher]

I've heated my shack with a sunflower heater for many years.  Yesterday it would not work correctly, won't go to red but would stay lit with a waffling blue flame.  No debris in tube I could see.  Thermocouple perhaps?  Don't even know worth bothering with, had for years, not even a Mr. Heater its a Reddy heater HD12, discontinued I believe.  Aftermarket parts maybe?  Not even worth bothering with?  I have other options for heat, just like putzing with things if worth it.  Thank you.

[Rancid crabtree]

Probably rust or cobweb in the venturi

[matzilla]

blow it all out with compressed air, try again

[bootstrap]

that looks like a salamander heater not a sunflower.

[esox_xtm]

that looks like a salamander heater not a sunflower.

A quick Google brings up a bunch of sally images but it's definitely a sunflower.

If you're getting gas it's not the thermocouple. Likely a bit of near invisible dust or cobweb in the orifice. Matzilla has the fix, give it a blow and try it again.

[Rancid crabtree]

If you don't have a compressor sometimes blowing through a straw will work

[gamefisher]

Will do as suggested when I get home from work guys, may not be ready for the junk pile quite yet then!   It has to 25-30 years old so either way it owes me nothing.  Thank you gentlemen.

[Unclegillhunter]

25 years of faithful service me thinks it is you sir whom owes it!  Just kidding I have stuff that I have used for years and years always try to fix them if they go down. Hope you can get it running.
Keep it safe! JDL

[gamefisher]

Did as suggested,  shook it around a little,  some rust particles inside unit must have dislodged,  back in business for another 25 years.    Thanks for the advice guys.

[esox_xtm]

Nice gamefisher! I love it when a plan comes together. Those darn sunflowers are almost bulletproof.

[gamefisher]

Nice gamefisher! I love it when a plan comes together. Those darn sunflowers are almost bulletproof.

It's funny you say that, I still have it in the original box it came in, price was $19.99 and the store has been out of business for atleast 20 years.

[Mattiemo]

Have you tryed a different propane tank? they can be bad too.

[gamefisher]

Have you tryed a different propane tank? they can be bad too.

That was my first thought and tried a different 20# cylinder, no difference but all good now once got the rust particles dislodged.