Author Topic: Little Buddy Heater (Read 11654 times)

Greg2ha · « **Reply #30 on:** Nov 11, 2012, 12:56 PM »

Tore it apart and plate that holds pilot, thermocouple and flame sensor wasn't all the way down so the three weren't lined up where they needed
to be, at least I think that was what the problem was. Fires off fine now, only thing I was wondering if the pilot stayed on after firing. I think that
is normal cause I got my other buddy heater and it stays on after firing. Thanks for the suggestions guys, one less thing I need to worry about
when I'm out on the ice.
Greg

jethro · « **Reply #31 on:** Nov 12, 2012, 01:05 PM »

I love my buddy heater. I have a small, older minuteman style Clam suitcase shelter, and once I get it up to temp I just turn it to pilot and the pilot keeps it pretty warm in there.

Rebelss · « **Reply #32 on:** Nov 12, 2012, 01:07 PM »

Quote from: Greg2ha on Nov 11, 2012, 12:56 PM

Tore it apart and plate that holds pilot, thermocouple and flame sensor wasn't all the way down so the three weren't lined up where they needed
to be, at least I think that was what the problem was. Fires off fine now, only thing I was wondering if the pilot stayed on after firing. I think that
is normal cause I got my other buddy heater and it stays on after firing. Thanks for the suggestions guys, one less thing I need to worry about
when I'm out on the ice.

Greg

Pilot does stay on while running...it has to.

just_a_beer_man · « **Reply #33 on:** Nov 15, 2012, 01:42 PM »

Anyone know a place to get a portable buddy cheap? Been lookin but cant seem to find any on sale at all.

ice dawg · « **Reply #34 on:** Nov 15, 2012, 01:52 PM »

What do you consider as cheap? I found some online for $56.69, but they are out of stock right now. There are bargains out there if you search for them.

Gordo · « **Reply #35 on:** Nov 15, 2012, 06:34 PM »

Quote from: just_a_beer_man on Nov 15, 2012, 01:42 PM

Anyone know a place to get a portable buddy cheap? Been lookin but cant seem to find any on sale at all.

You probably won't find them super cheap this time of year.

Keep an eye on them at Lowes in early spring. I got my Portable Buddy for $30 I think, and the Big Buddy for $70 three years ago in March or April. They clearance them out in the spring.

IDbasser · « **Reply #36 on:** Nov 15, 2012, 07:14 PM »

I walked into walmart this past winter and they had them for $47. My dad and I each bought one. They did not last on the shelf. I have a big buddy and it is too much for inside the popup, I wanted the smaller one, and for that price could not pass it up. Love it, heats the popup fine, and takes up less room in the sled.

Mike47 · « **Reply #37 on:** Nov 15, 2012, 07:20 PM »

Mine works great in my Frabill Excusion 3 man.

DR.SPECKLER · « **Reply #38 on:** Nov 16, 2012, 06:06 AM »

i picked up 2 little buddy heaters for 45 bucks a piece at meijers last week.only had one left.they were on clearance for 25% off.

just_a_beer_man · « **Reply #39 on:** Nov 16, 2012, 06:25 AM »

I just didnt want to pay the 80 - 90 dollar usual price tag Ive been seeing, guess I just have to keep looking harder...

ice dawg · « **Reply #40 on:** Nov 16, 2012, 10:15 AM »

Quote from: just_a_beer_man on Nov 16, 2012, 06:25 AM

I just didnt want to pay the 80 - 90 dollar usual price tag Ive been seeing, guess I just have to keep looking harder...

I looked online yesterday and they sell for as low as about $55. I think I paid $62 for my little buddy.

Rebelss · « **Reply #41 on:** Nov 16, 2012, 10:25 AM »

TIP: Lowe's always blows them out at the season end...I've bought three there for $35 each...just last year.

Woodguy · « **Reply #42 on:** Nov 16, 2012, 04:20 PM »

I have had the 9HMB Buddy for many years. I haven't used it it several though. I just went to run it and as far as I can get, is the pilot light. That will stay lit as long as I keep the pilot knob depressed. As soon as I release, the pilot goes out? I use the 1lb. tanks. Maybe crud or dust?

Woodguy · « **Reply #43 on:** Nov 16, 2012, 05:20 PM »

I can get it light wow, but only if I tilt the heater so the pilot light flame is hitting/heating up the thermocouple. It will then stay lit a few minutes after I set the heater back to its normal resting position. I then hear a click and it shuts off. I guess it is bad thermocouple?

Rebelss · « **Reply #44 on:** Nov 16, 2012, 05:34 PM »

Quote from: Woodguy on Nov 16, 2012, 05:20 PM

I can get it light wow, but only if I tilt the heater so the pilot light flame is hitting/heating up the thermocouple. It will then stay lit a few minutes after I set the heater back to its normal resting position. I then hear a click and it shuts off. I guess it is bad thermocouple?

Do this....

Also, blow out the ceramic element with an air compressor on lower pressure...they collect a lot of dust, and you can use some emery paper , (NOT sandpaper) to clean the end of the thermocouple and flame sensor. That should get ya up and running. My two are on their 7th years, never had a problem yet. It all comes down to how ya take care of your stuff.

Woodguy · « **Reply #45 on:** Nov 16, 2012, 07:59 PM »

I tried the method above. I ended up taking my compressor and taped a spray can straw to the end. That allowed me to get it down the tube to really blow it out. I also took a welding tip cleaner/wire to the other end(propane fitting). Now I have a very blue pilot flame! Works like a charm

. Now we need some ice

Rebelss · « **Reply #46 on:** Nov 16, 2012, 08:01 PM »

Glad to hear it.

Greg2ha · « **Reply #47 on:** Nov 17, 2012, 10:21 AM »

Quote from: Rebelss on Nov 16, 2012, 10:25 AM

TIP: Lowe's always blows them out at the season end...I've bought three there for $35 each...just last year.

I bought three of them that way and sold to friends who ice fish. I didn't get mine that cheap though. I think they were $43 each. Still better
than full price though. Glad to hear others are taking advantage of these deals!

jethro · « **Reply #48 on:** Nov 19, 2012, 12:28 PM »

Tractor Supply seems to have the middle sized buddy all the time for $79 which seems an average deal.

DLB · « **Reply #49 on:** Nov 24, 2012, 02:36 PM »

Do a little modificaton and it will double as a cooking stove.

]

just_a_beer_man · « **Reply #50 on:** Nov 25, 2012, 05:49 PM »

Figured out my best plan of action... Mom asked what I would like for Christmas and of course I had to tell her a Mr. Buddy portable.... Gander even had a Black Friday deal that had them for 60 after a 20 dollar rebate if bought between the 21 and 25.. Pretty sure that's where she went. Would have done it myself if I didn't have to get the wife an iPhone 5 for her wedding/birthday present this weekend...

NortsNskis · « **Reply #51 on:** Jan 22, 2013, 08:49 PM »

Are the posted lenght of use accurate? Meaning do they last as long as they say on a 1 pound tank? I fish 8+ hours a day and am sick of lugging a 20lb tank and sunflower head. Was thinking the little buddy would work great in my clam 2000 and save space/weight.

jethro · « **Reply #52 on:** Jan 23, 2013, 07:17 AM »

I have the middle sized Buddy heater and if I am fishing sunrise to sunset I will bring 2 cartridges and just about go through them both. If it happens to be stupid cold I will bring another cartridge. I have a Clam Bigfoot 4000, so it's a pretty big shelter.

NortsNskis · « **Reply #53 on:** Jan 23, 2013, 07:02 PM »

Thanks for.the info. The middle buddy actually has less life on low than the little buddy does. I wear. A nice suit so I'm looking to save weight and be able.to take just enough of the nip out of the air inside the shanty to wear a hoodie. The sunflower just is overkill as I'm always turning it off even this week with -15 temps its to much . It two 1lber is still lighter....anyone have any accurate info on tank usage for.little buddy?

psturdevant · « **Reply #54 on:** Jan 24, 2013, 11:33 AM »

I have a little buddy heater with a Clam 2000 and I would say it runs pretty close to the advertised run time of 5.5 hours. It heats up the shanty pretty good but I have not had real cold weather yet. If you are in negative weather, I would think you would want the next size up which puts out the same or up to double what the little buddy heater does and roughly half the run time....

Riffle · « **Reply #55 on:** Jan 24, 2013, 01:48 PM »

Quote from: flywatersmallie on Nov 18, 2011, 10:12 PM

Anyone use one of these heaters? I picked one up today for like $40 during one of the deer hunting opener sales. Just running it in my basement (have to play with the new toys) it seems to throw a fair amount of heat out. It states 3800 BTU/hr on the box. I should think it will heat my Clam Kenai nicely without taking up a ton of room. Any thoughts?

I have a Clam Scout TC and I picked up a Mr.Buddy to use in it, but man, even on low that thing puts out serious heat--in under 3 minutes I had it up to 91 degress in the flip over.

I definitely need to scale down to the Little Buddy, so I'm curious how this works out.

I used the Mr. Buddy behind the seat pointing toward the back of the Scout and used some 3M velcro to keep it attached to the bottom of the sled and this worked great, as you don't have to worry about the door getting scorched or burning your pants as you exit the shelter.

Lobes · « **Reply #56 on:** Jan 26, 2013, 05:38 PM »

I'm sold on the Little Buddy. Used mine for a good three years now and unless it's below zero and windy it's too much heat for my Shappell DX3000.

NBG

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Author Topic: Little Buddy Heater (Read 11654 times)