Big buddy heater pilot light???

[chucknduck]

My buddy heater pilot won't stay lit unless I'm pushing down the knob. As soon as I release it it will go out. Gonna spray it out with air and probably clean the thermocoupler. Anyone have any other ideas I could do to get it going???

[Gills-only]

Might need a filter on it from the tank

[chucknduck]

Might need a filter on it from the tank

I have one that I use when using a bigger tank

[Gills-only]

could have a little moisture in the tank

[hardwater diehard]

did you try another tank ...

[Tbone9]

More than likely if you have a good blue fame then the thermocouple could be bad. If so it comes as a kit along with the low oxygen censor.

[prospector]

clean the thermocouple with 0000 steel wool.

[skunked79]

i had this happen and it was caused buy dirt, take a Q tip and clean pilot light bore with alchol.

[PerchPounderMT]

Disassemble and clean everything inside and out,mine needs it every other year at least.

[chucknduck]

Disassemble and clean everything inside and out,mine needs it every other year at least.

This is what I'm planning.  Guess there is a small washer type thing in the pilot line that gets gummed up.  Plus cleaning thermo and spraying everything out with compressed air

[sra61]

i had this happen and it was caused buy dirt, take a Q tip and clean pilot light bore with alchol.

I know for sure this works. I had to do it a couple of years ago on Nelson. A guy told me about it. I got it running again.

[hardwater diehard]

Spider webs and gunk ...just light a BBQ grill ...some on IS also mentioned a "float" in the tank getting stuck .

[Chili]

Here's the instructions I copied from a post a few years ago. Think it originated from a tech at big buddy repair:

With rubbing alcohol (drug store stuff), Q-tips and a one pound can of compressed air with the long nozzle extension in hand, remove the front grid.

Take a Q-tip and tug on the cotton to make sure it will not pull off the stick. Then dip this Q-tip in alcohol.

Insert this Q-tip all the way down to the bottom of the pilot tube ....
about 2". You will be resting against the crystal face with the tiny hole that the gas goes through for the pilot flame.

(if it is too tight going in, there is too much cotton on the Q-tip, so remove some cotton, re-dip in alcohol and proceed.)

Let the Q-tip rest on the face for about 1 minute. Rotate the Q-tip to clean the crystal face. As you continue to rotate the Q-tip, pull it out to clean the tube. Insects, especially spiders, are attracted to the smell of propane and will result in a poor pilot flame from properly heating the thermocouple.

Repeat this process with a second, identically prepared Q-tip.

For best results, use a one pound can off compressed air with the long nozzle extension. Place the nozzle extension into the pilot tube. When the extension is near the bottom of the pilot orifice, pull the trigger
3-4 to blow air out through the two small holes that draw air into the pilot tube. This will blow away anything that may be interfering with the air/fuel mixture.

Replace your safety grid give your heater a try at this point and give your heater a try.

[Golden Trout]

This problem will happen to you alot with this type of heater.  This is what I do, buy a long shaft Bar-B-Que style lighter, light up your pilot and turn it on.  Works everytime 

[cnelson]

Just kinda random. My big buddy heater is 6years old I believe now and I've completely submerged it in water once on accident,it fell out of the back of my razor going about 30and bounced down a dirt road andfinally came to a stop in a mud/snow berm and it still works great just like it did when it was new. Those heaters kick ass!

[mtmiller]

did you try another tank ...

thanks, that did the trick

[chilly-willy]

clean the thermocouple with 0000 steel wool.

bingo!! just scrape it with the edge of the pocket knife.. to get it working again... this is cause soot built up on the sensor... for sure don't use the knife to puncture it... you will have to replace the sensor if you puncture it...