Mr. Heater Big Buddy Wont Light - Dissemble to fix it.

[@rgarizonahomestead2729]

great information with winter coming on. thanks for taking through the break down and fix. stay safe and warm jeff

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

thanks. stay warm yourself. have a great day

[@danw6468]

This worked to fix my broken heater, could not believe how much oil was in the lines. I'm buying a filter after going through all this work. Thanks!

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

lol me too. regardless of hose brand i think a filter is a good idea

[@catherineostrom7575]

You will still get oil. I know.

[@lorrainecox1027]

Thanks for the video. We ripped ours apart when the Q too fix didn’t work. No oil in the lines but he sanded the end of the thermal couple with 400 grit as a “why not”. Reassembled with no screws left over and Big Buddy works like a charm again.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

sweet. nicely done.

[@kenc5156]

Absolutely excruciating to watch. And thank you so very much for not even showing how the heck to take it apart OR put it back together.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

i tried but it took a few days and many hours of video .

[@kenc5156]

@@ArizonaHotHomestead I don't make video's so what can I say. Except that at this point I've had mine apart a couple times and now know fairly well how it's done. YOU have done it probably a couple or more times by now too. Since you do video's, maybe you should do another. People need to see it done more accurately. And they need to see that just knowing a few things, it isn't that bad. Oh, and I've found a magnetic tip screw driver is kind of a must have. Oh, and those pesky "hidden screws. Prolly the reason some people end up with screws left over, ha. Once you know a couple of things, it's not a horrible job.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

@@kenc5156 lol making a better video would make great sense but i really dont want to take it apart again. lol.. i am sure i will make another one but oh my .... lol

[@philindeblanc]

He may as well watched Dr Joe do this exact thing, but with instructions on how to disassemble and such @@kenc5156

[@JamesTheAxeThrower]

The amount of work a $13 filter can save you from doing is amazing isn’t it?

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

lol you can say that again and again and again. lol...

[@royalspin]

Except for when it doesn't work. I always used the 1lb tanks which you can't put on and be able to shut the doors but I did use them and it made absolutely no difference .

[@BC-iz8gt]

If my heater is lines are clogged up with the oil once I put a new filter on does that fix the oily hose or I need to replace the hose too

[@catherineostrom7575]

Using Mr Heater special hose with their filter. My Buddy still clogged. So no, the filter hasn't saved any work.

[@richardvincent7764]

I use the Mr. Heater quit connect hose. But after three hundred and seventy gallons and four years it finally quit working. So I gotta take it apart and fix it like you did.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

good luck. i havent tried quick connects.

[@bpd231martinko9]

I laughed when you said you had two screws left over. I had the same amount, two little tiny black screws- no idea where they came from, oh well...

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

lol we must be professionals. lol

[@bpd231martinko9]

By the way, the two screws go on the inside of the handle frame on each side.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

@@bpd231martinko9 thanks

[@pavil58yt]

Just did mine yesterday. New Year's Eve day. Every line was contaminated with oil and I use a filter and a Mr Heater brand hose. I do use mine a lot though. The valve body will get oil-logged. That silver color cap on the bottom of the valve body will come off but you need to steady the valve body with a set of vice-grips. Remove the one electrical connection via the push on connector. Dont try and twist the silver cap before doing that or it might twist the wire in two. If mine is anything like others the oil will make quite a puddle as it drains from the valve body. To clean the lines and valve body I used the aerosol CRC electronics cleaner.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

electronics cleaner is a great idea.

[@stevec3872]

I discovered the easiest fix for a Buddy Portable that would not start. I bought it last year but never used it, out of the box on a shelf. I had a refilled Flame King 1 pounder that I screwed on that would spark but not light. Nada. Then I remember what someone else tried because I had put one of those brass caps on the refilled bottle. What happened to the refilled bottle is that it was stored with the cap on and when I removed the cap to screw it on the Buddy, the rubber washer stuck to the bottle and got screwed on along with it making it too wide to ignite the spark. Took the extra washer off and it stared on the first try. Great!

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

interesting you had to go through that. thanks for sharing. have a great day

[@Anthrit]

I have the recommended filter that goes on end of the hose going into the heater. You never mentioned using it. I been using the filter on mine for 5 years and no oil issues. Only issue I have is the spark to light it and have to use a lighter.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

i have yet to use a filter. lol... guess i should start using one . cleaning out the lines were a pain in the you know what. lol . have a great day

[@stevenlowe7941]

Great video !! Having the same problem with the pilot light not staying on. Cleaned it with both q tip and pipe cleaner to no avail. Taking apart now and will clean the tubes and try that, Again thanks for a great video.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

did it work?

[@jwrhynejr.6689]

Awesome training video! Thanks for sharing your EXPERIENCE ! THANKS FOR PIPE CLEANER HACK!

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

training video? more like i hope this works video. lol.... i am an expert at nothing so any of my videos are just a guy doing stuff.

[@BC-iz8gt]

I have a little buddy heater with a Mr heater hose 10 ft and my heater lines are clogged with oil I mean a lot so I bought a filter but the lines are still clogged up in the heaters so do I need to buy another gas line or use the original one and just clean it out

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

oil in the hose? yes buy another hose. if in the lines of the heater you have to do what i did and dissemble it to clean.

[@BC-iz8gt]

@@ArizonaHotHomestead i did disassemble massive amounts of oil in those metal lines, put back together works good but have this whistling sound for some reason, note hose is a mr heater hose so they're hoses much not be as good as they say for just 2 months old lol

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

seems like the best is to use a filter regardless of brand of hose. have a great day.

[@wauzdancer1556]

I have had to go through this PITA several times over the last five years. I use a filter and Mr. Heater hose marketed by them, however the gas lines still get plugged up with oil accumulation. Yes, it's a pain to take apart, and the plastic square fittings where the screws go through, often break. No matter if I use the disposable bottles, my 20 or 40 lb tanks. Oil builds up in the lines. Installing new filters every season makes not seem to prevent the issue. Getting ready to clean it again. I have the model MH18B. Puts out a good amount of heat. Yes it will go through some propane when on the high heat setting. Just ridiculous amount of maintenance to keep it working.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

you would think someone would make a cleaning kit or make them more easy to clean .

[@SharletsWeb]

How did you get the cotton from the q tip out?

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

took part of apart, used air compressor.

[@zacharypressnell6461]

Does the ignitor rin off a battery or no? Mine isn't clicking at all

[@randallyoung6647]

Pizeo crystal. Don't say that around a crackhead they will be stealing your heaters thinking it's useful to their pipe .have a great day buddy 😂😂😂

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

i dont know. there is no battery involved in my heaters

[@michaelmueller8428]

Yeah, there is one underneath the unit. Chrome cap that screws off. AAA I believe

[@Robnord1]

This was great...thank you! I repair quite a few gas RV appliances. If my BB heater clogs, I'll do like you, except pressurize and operate with cover removed to leak test every connection. Either bubble soap or electronic detector. I recommend the 271803 BB 12' hose with a regulator built onto tank end. They should not leach oil, since they are low pressure lines. It's the high pressure mostly causing leaching or re-condensation and oily gunk.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

interesting to know. thanks.

[@Robnord1]

@@ArizonaHotHomestead You're welcome. I got that information directly from the people who manufacture the hoses and fittings. They always get the bad rap, but their tests proved that high (tank) pressure could even cause oily contaminant to form in a metal pipe if the LP vapor inside went through big temperature swings over time.

[@itsa67]

Great repair - very helpful. Make sure you get the filter from Northern Tool - well worth it to keep this from happening again!

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

without a doubt. filter regardless of hose being used.

[@genghischuan4886]

yes folks All LP gases produce and condensate oil over time. Most motor oils are made from LP and fracking

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

propane is produced by bringing oil to a specific temperature. . your right.

[@jjohnson3600]

Propane is a byproduct of the crude oil refining process. Conventional motor oil comes from part of that same process.

[@genghischuan4886]

@@jjohnson3600 propane is a another type but not the same as natural gas

[@Robnord1]

​@@guitarman_3693 👍 The #271803 BB 12' hose with a regulator built onto tank end you mention is all I'll run on mine. It operates at low pressure as you mention and should never form oily contaminant. The QD feature is very nice to have also.

[@catherineostrom7575]

FYI: My Buddy heater is opened up. The only black screws I see are fastening the flat sheet metal pieces near the top to the sides. It's a Portable Buddy heater, not the Big Buddy.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

just a pain dissemble and assembled the heater.

[@drewbush6535]

Maybe just condensation. What are you using big tank

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

yes i use the 20#, 30#, 40# tanks. it was oily to the touch.

[@stevenfrazier8939]

Jeff, did you blow out the rubber hose also?

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

no i bought a mr heater hose and use that one instead. i was using another brand. i put it in the trash.

[@patriot1902]

Thanks for that info. Mine kept quitting on the cold and raining soccer field this weekend. The pilot flame would not reach the thermocouple on any settings so I remove the pilot assembly and raised it up to see good contact with the pilot flame even on the HIGH setting. Never saw any liquid such as oil come from the pilot tubing but I blew it out anyways. Been running in my garage on high for a good while now. Not sure if this was a factor mistake or I've just messed things up? Time will tell but the soccer mom's weren't so happy with my faulty heater. Thought I was hero of a day for a little bit. I agree with this being a pain in the A@# putting back together. I haven't got that far but im sure I'll have leftover screws also. I appreciate KZbin and all you friends putting up videos for us do it yourself guys.

[@patriot1902]

Sorry. Just read my post and I left something out. I raised the Thermocouple in its mounting position. Not the entire pilot assembly! AND, this is just what worked for me! I'm not suggesting you modify yours such as I did! Just an F.Y.I.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

good you find a way to make it work .

[@wg7644]

Always try the other SIDE of the heater. Should be obvious but if you don't have time to take it apart connect your tank to the opposite side it should work just fine especially if you are connecting this to a 20 pound tank. Then later clean out the other side. Blowing the pilot line is always good too. But even if you don't have the pilot working try the other side.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

great idea. i did try the other side . i had so much oil in this heater that multiple lines had oil.

[@wg7644]

@@ArizonaHotHomestead I had only used the one side of mine for the last 10 years so it was clean.

[@jimh4167]

Have a question please I met you walking your dog a few years ago I was kind of lost... My question Who are you using for internet access

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

i use my phone data plan. verizon . i have to use weboost signal booster and i tether my phone to my computer with pdanet. i did a video on the pdanet.

[@CharlesStock-h6b]

That is why they recommend installing their filter they sell.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

i am using the filter now and so far all is good

[@tomwolf4609]

Thanks for the video and info.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

your welcome. have a great day

[@Mcloudification]

Good video a little long and drawn out. I took mine apart and blew out all the lines. Replaced the pilot orifice with the kit, found the secondary bottle attachment had oil in it too, learned the hard way buy a filter.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

lol i use a filter now.

[@randallyoung6647]

I have filters on both my big buddy and buddy and I'm dealing with bb 1 season old and fixing to tear it apart. One would think the filter would keep oil out but nope .the asshole engineer could tell you why but I'm sure it's a trade secret. Just like the trade secrets I've had to figure out About cars I hate engineers such assholes

[@Mcloudification]

@@randallyoung6647 its the hose buddy heater sells to connect big tanks, are known to breakdown over time releasing oil. If it has got that bad you may need a new hose maybe ?

[@treckor9912]

if you use a propane tank. Always use not only their hose but also a filter. Also advised the nipple is fragile pipe cleaners will scratch the delicate surface and destroy it. When electrical went out for use we use battery operated fans a must to use!!

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

i like the battery fan idea. have a great day

[@chrissy6478]

If you would have done a step-by-step tear down and rebuild. That would have been a more useful video than just splicing in that you took the case off Good for you. Sorry, but it's mostly useless. But thanks for your effort.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

i agree. but i had no idea what i was doing. i didnt know how else to make it better.

[@donmoss2299]

Use the filter , I learned the hard way

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

lol i guess i too have learned the hard way.

[@donaldlowman593]

Thanks for the Video

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

you are welcome. have a great day

[@JasonCowling-j5v]

No q tip!! The cotton will come of in the pilot tube. Dissambling my heater now

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

that is so true

[@lesamartindale9315]

There for the safety rack that goes on the front of the heater

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

thanks.

[@waynedavis2505]

unless you're a certified LP gas technician I don't recommend anybody take their heater apart and work on it unless you have really good insurance. Use the low pressure quick connect hose and avoid all this hassle.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

good insurance? what good is the insurance when you blow yourself up. lol.

[@stormmountain2521]

good to know

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

thank. have a great day

[@mikedewitt5880]

It didn’t look like you had the bottom on

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

thanks have a great day

[@drewbush6535]

👍👋

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

thanks for watching.

[@BC-iz8gt]

Don't trust the Mr heater hoses because mine stopped up my little leader and it's only 3 months old

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

be sure to use a filter regardless of hose.

[@stevenA44]

They make a hose that doesn't leach oil into the lines and you don't need to use a filter with it.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

i still like the idea of using a filter just becus propane is made from oil

[@johnbaxter5451]

I bought one of those and it didn't last one season before the heater clogged up again. Went with another tpe of heater after 2 mr buddies were worn out from all the early am dismantling and cleaning I did over the span of three years. GRRRRRRRRRR!! Now that one trashed and have a 2 month old Big BUddy that pilot light going out this morning. Tried qtip, no oil found, still pilot flickers above tube and goes out. Going to watch this and go blow the lines out in this one. Hope to get a filter in a couple of weeks and see if that works. LOVE it otherwise, very fuel efficient in my off-grid container hut. Just lament it not having a thermostat. I am a paraplegic and it is rough when this crap happens.

[@catherineostrom7575]

@@ArizonaHotHomestead And the heater still clogs up with that hose and a filter. These heaters are great when they work. They just don't work too often.

[@rogercoffey3794]

I think the oil is present in the propane tank itself. Residual from the gas or filling process, it is a petrochem product.

[@stevenA44]

@@catherineostrom7575 Mine has worked for 3 years or more. The bulb for the pilot light had gotten a hole in it. The only thing I did was replace the pilot light assembly and it has been working fine for over a year.

[@atsstockburn]

Nothing like not using a line wrench. lol. Otherwise great video.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

lol i had to look up line wrench. i always called them box or open wrench. lol

[@anthonyumina8478]

I had the same problem, had to replace the batteries and put it in the mode that doesn’t use as much of the battery. Also learned that the crappy hose they give you was freezing and blocking the propane from the exterior tank (which was outside in the snow), brought the tank inside and that helped… also had water vapor and condensation issue on my ceiling. I do not recommend these, I suggest direct vent heaters.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

direct vent is nice. i havent had any problems with condensation. batteries? i have never used batteries in mine.

[@anthonyumina8478]

@@ArizonaHotHomestead Yeah, when propane burns it puts out H20 (water) which can build up and cause condensation if you use it inside. Yes my heater buddy takes D batteries and I noticed it would die if the batteries were dead, but also it has a low oxygen sensor and a tip sensor so there's multiple reasons these things have issues. Direct vent seems to be the most sensible longterm solution if you're going to do propane heat. The winnerwell woodlander woodstoves are also fantastic if you vent them out a a wall with a flashing kit (and consider wind direction).

[@JakePlisskin12]

Very important sugestion... WEAR GLOVES becuase that sh*t stinks, very pungent.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

good idea

[@paulvalentine1483]

"Dissemble"? Jesus...

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

it was a pain

[@sic-n-tiredtired4273]

🤣 you sound like me working on shit.

[@ArizonaHotHomestead]

gee thanks.