Does anybody have recommendations for alternatives to My Little Buddy heaters? I have one and it never works properly. I've cleaned the contacts and pilot tube, and still no go. If you got something better, let me know.

Nothing better. You got a lemon. Get another one. The one the bottle swings out.

Thats the one I have. Looks like the thermocouple needs to be replaced.

This. I got a lemon once before and returned it for another that has worked flawlessly now for years.

Do you have to have ventilation with those heaters?

How many of you older guys (I am 76) remember the old metal coffee can, alcohol, and a roll of TP. I no longer hunt but if I am in a blind, I light one up if it's cold. It keeps me warm.

Frio

I never used one myself, but I first saw one in a blind in Brackettville in the mid 70's.

X3

On the new ones it says there safe indoors but I would crack a window, better safe than sorry.

I remember that TP roll Frio.

Re the propane ones, a friend of mine died in a blind from one of those. I tossed mine.

I have found that taking a metal paint screen and attaching it to the grill of the Buddy Heater with a metal cookie sheet over it really helps spread out the heat if your model doesn’t have the blower fan.

^^^And you can warm your tortillas.

I would not trust anything that is made in China that needs an oxygen sensor. I have two Mr. Buddy heaters and always have some type of vent or window cracked.

I always have a window open when using a propane heater in the blind. The largest blind has a Mr Buddy heater. Where the smaller blinds have catalytic heaters.

You got a turd heater, go buy another one, we use a Mr Buddy in a small box and a Big Buddy in a larger stand hooked up to 20 pound bottles outside. Make sure you have plenty ventilation and add your cooking grates for reheating the taquitos you made the night before. No hunting without a warm breakfast..

If I push and hold the start button down for a few seconds (to begin releasing gas) before pressing it down completely to engage the spark igniter, the pilot flame lights every time. If I press the start button completely down in one stroke, it seldom lights.

I have good one and a dud. I'm gonna go try that.

Dan, I tried that still no bueno. Mine will light but even holding down for up to 2 minutes it won't stay lit. Any thoughts guys ?

Your thermocouple is bad, replace it. $6 fix

Is this the one I need? I suck at this kind of stuff and it goes on the little buddy.

https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F2...+mr+heater&qid=1669059713&sr=8-2

My only issues have been the thermocouple but if you go here for $22 you can replace the complete assembly and be guaranteed to fix the problem. Without being able to test it it’s possible the oxygen sensor could be bad but I’ve never had that issue before. The model you need for just the thermocouple is for model number MH9BX but here’s a link to the complete assembly

https://www.mrheater.com/pilot-assembly-for-portable-buddy.html

Thanks Thumper, you the man.

Academy has put the Heat Hog, 9000 BTU on sale for $79 normally $99. I just bought one a week ago and used in my trailer this past weekend during the 20 degree temps. Worked perfectly. What I like about the hog is that it is tiltable up to 30 degrees and self contained which helps with cannister icing allowing for 20% more cannister use than competitors according to their merchandising promotions. The rear cover clips off and on for cannister addition and removal and supposedly allows the cannister to stay warm and ice free at bottom. Also they say the curved porcelain allows for 15% larger heating directional space. Not certain of all their claims, do know mine started inside of 5-10 seconds and ran for about 5-5.5 hrs on 1 LB. propane tank on low setting and tilted 20 degrees or so keeping me quite warm. Also like the Halloween pumpkin orange and black color of it.

Haven't seen any as quiet as the Buddy. Can't beat it for deer blinds.

I also have to tank top heaters. One Coleman and one Mr. Heater. They roar. We use those for duck hunting because they put out much more heat, can be reconfigured to cook on and are easier to deal with.

I would suggest watching this video first to get an idea of what's what and what it's supposed to do. Doing so will likely save you time and money.