This has been the most helpful and thorough explanation and demonstration I have been able to find. You really need to completely take this heater apart. You only had 2 screws left at the end. I will have about 6 more my first try and have to watch this video 10x. Thank you very much!!
Thanks for the lucid explanation and demonstration. Think about doing a complete teardown explanation. Good video tutorials on the Big Buddy are rare. I've been using Buddy heaters for years. Currently, I have two, one with a broken tile. Thanks for the help.
Thanks for the great video and explanation. I broke the Low/Medium side ceramic panel in my Big Buddy heater today on a fishing trip. So when I lit it of course you’d have to run it on high but the low medium side was still supplied propane. Was pretty sure I was going to do a Part two of my exploding tent series. I toughed it out and froze most of the day until I got back to a bit of cell service and found your video. Although I didn’t have spare parts my goal was to just move the high ceramic panel over to the low medium side which I was able to do. It’s working great and tomorrow I’ll have at least some heat which is all I need now that the temperature is not as cold. Thanks! I must’ve followed along too closely though as I ended up with two screws left over as well… I’ll find a spot for them when I take the heater apart again once I have a replacement panel.
Now you can light your smokes easily haha. I would be careful about Carbon Monoxide levels. I can’t say for sure, but I have a hunch that the method of combustion with the plates has something to do with the claim that Buddy heaters are indoor safe. Keep your vent cracked and tight lines!
Nice repair, lots of screws to remove to get at the tiles, I think the manufacturer kept the ones holding the grill on from behind, so it looks pretty, I might try to reverse engineer that to make it easier to get to the tiles. Thanks for showing how to replace these tiles.
Good video. This is the only one that I have found that shows how to replace the tile on a Big Buddy heater. I have a busted tile on mine. Will be ordering a new one today now that I know how to replace it. Thank you!!!
Well, I just finished repairing our front load washing machine and we are down two screws, so there is balance in the universe once again! Thank you for the props. Glad it could be of use.
Thank you. I don’t actually know how the tile broke. I purchased a pair of big buddy heaters from a lady that was selling her husband’s ice fishing gear. One was complete and this one was missing a tile. I did not ask her what happened. Perhaps he came home with $400 worth of Mr Heaters and she hit him over the head with it, then proceeded to sell all his gear; or perhaps the ceramic tile absorbed water and cracked-we will never know. Other viewers that came to this video with a broken tile: Can you reply to this comment with your broken tile story?
I think the heater would be terribly inefficient without a tile. As for the exhaust concerns, I can only guess that forcing the flue gas through a super heated ceramic plate has the added bonus of a very “clean” burn of exhaust gases. Whether that increases or decreases the CO emissions-I couldn’t tell you. I would not run it without a tile. Hope that helps!
Careful with Canada replacement stuff. I ordered these from FIXYA in Canada, and the tiles they sent were for the wrong year model, but it wasn't stated at their site, only on the receipt. I tried repeatedly to get them to give me a RMA number and send me the info to send these back, but they repeatedly said the info's on the way, and it never arrived. After numerous attempts, I finally gave up. I buy NOTHING DIRECTLY from Canada anymore.
I am only speculating, but you will likely get an inefficient burn. That might lead to higher levels of Carbon Monoxide. Worse, the super-heated tile could fall out of the housing. It might make little difference and continue to function for a long time too.
I just noticed a line develop across one of my tiles. Thanks for walking through the disassembly. I will save this to my favorites until the proper amount of procrastination has elapsed and then begrudgingly pay Mr. Heater some more of Uncle Biden's relief dollars to buy the replacement parts.
really good video. i had an issue with the left tile flaming up instead of glowing, i almost had the heater apart just like you did and i found out that spiders had made webs in the plenum intake. that can be cured by just removing the bottom inside shield (two screws) and wiping out the webs. info that may save someone the unnecessary job of taking the heater apart. if you want to pass that along to people they may find it useful
turn the heater upside down and take off the bottom metal shield and you will see the gas intake tube, mine was full of spider webs , i cleaned them out and Bobs you uncle.@@jhlewis10
OP, you saved me a bunch of time and money. I had a sputtery flame on the left panel and thought for sure i had to either replace the panel or the whole buddy. then i scrolled across this comment, flipped mine over, and shined a flashlight down the bottom grill. lo and behold, a web clogging the left
This has been the most helpful and thorough explanation and demonstration I have been able to find. You really need to completely take this heater apart. You only had 2 screws left at the end. I will have about 6 more my first try and have to watch this video 10x. Thank you very much!!
Thanks for the lucid explanation and demonstration. Think about doing a complete teardown explanation. Good video tutorials on the Big Buddy are rare. I've been using Buddy heaters for years. Currently, I have two, one with a broken tile. Thanks for the help.
I always appreciate guy’s like you who take the time to videotape repairs and share with others. Great job and “Thank you”
You are welcome! I appreciate tutorials like these too when I am tackling something new.
Thanks for the great video and explanation. I broke the Low/Medium side ceramic panel in my Big Buddy heater today on a fishing trip. So when I lit it of course you’d have to run it on high but the low medium side was still supplied propane. Was pretty sure I was going to do a
Part two of my exploding tent series. I toughed it out and froze most of the day until I got back to a bit of cell service
and found your video. Although I didn’t have spare parts my goal was to just move the high ceramic panel over to the low medium side which I was able to do. It’s working great and tomorrow I’ll have at least some heat which is all I need now that the temperature is not as cold. Thanks! I must’ve followed along too closely though as I ended up with two screws left over as well… I’ll find a spot for them when I take the heater apart again once I have a replacement panel.
Now you can light your smokes easily haha. I would be careful about Carbon Monoxide levels. I can’t say for sure, but I have a hunch that the method of combustion with the plates has something to do with the claim that Buddy heaters are indoor safe. Keep your vent cracked and tight lines!
Your 2 screws comment cracked me up because that what I had left. Certainly wasn't going back in for that now that it is working.
Maybe this little community of heater repair dudes should pool our extra parts . Kinda like that Johnny Cash song, “One Part at a Time”.
Nice repair, lots of screws to remove to get at the tiles, I think the manufacturer kept the ones holding the grill on from behind, so it looks pretty, I might try to reverse engineer that to make it easier to get to the tiles. Thanks for showing how to replace these tiles.
You’re welcome. I wondered if they did that to shield the screws a bit from the heat-keep them from exhaust flange syndrome, so to speak.
Good video. This is the only one that I have found that shows how to replace the tile on a Big Buddy heater. I have a busted tile on mine. Will be ordering a new one today now that I know how to replace it. Thank you!!!
Glad to help!
Thanks for making this video. I just bought this product and it is nice to know that I have this as a resource.
You are welcome!
Perfect explanation.
Just got mine cracked! This video is 20 hrs old!!! Many thanks!!
I am glad it was helpful!
Thank you for the video! I ended up with two extra screws as well.. lol
Well, I just finished repairing our front load washing machine and we are down two screws, so there is balance in the universe once again! Thank you for the props. Glad it could be of use.
Did they break on their own after use or did it get bumped?
I am not sure. I bought two from a lady and it was already broken.
Good instruct vid, thanks. How did the old tile break?
Thank you. I don’t actually know how the tile broke. I purchased a pair of big buddy heaters from a lady that was selling her husband’s ice fishing gear. One was complete and this one was missing a tile. I did not ask her what happened. Perhaps he came home with $400 worth of Mr Heaters and she hit him over the head with it, then proceeded to sell all his gear; or perhaps the ceramic tile absorbed water and cracked-we will never know. Other viewers that came to this video with a broken tile: Can you reply to this comment with your broken tile story?
@@28fish hitting him over the head then selling his gear strikes me as the most plausible explanation :)
@@28fish mine cracked due to transportation and i had the grill cover off :(
@@seagoat666 at least you know who to blame! And you know how to fix it!
My tile broke. You think it would be alright to run it without? Worried about carbon monoxide.
I think the heater would be terribly inefficient without a tile. As for the exhaust concerns, I can only guess that forcing the flue gas through a super heated ceramic plate has the added bonus of a very “clean” burn of exhaust gases. Whether that increases or decreases the CO emissions-I couldn’t tell you. I would not run it without a tile. Hope that helps!
Is that a MH9B Tile? I have the same heater and broke mine
Not sure of the model number. I used the website to determine the correct component. Hope you got your repaired!
Careful with Canada replacement stuff. I ordered these from FIXYA in Canada, and the tiles they sent were for the wrong year model, but it wasn't stated at their site, only on the receipt. I tried repeatedly to get them to give me a RMA number and send me the info to send these back, but they repeatedly said the info's on the way, and it never arrived. After numerous attempts, I finally gave up. I buy NOTHING DIRECTLY from Canada anymore.
Good Video ...
Thank you!
My buddy heater tile cracked in half and I can’t find one for sale anywhere! 😩
Did you check the websites I mentioned in the video? Hope you can find one.
@@28fish yes I did. Everybody’s out of stock
What happens if you try to use the cracked tile?
I am only speculating, but you will likely get an inefficient burn. That might lead to higher levels of Carbon Monoxide. Worse, the super-heated tile could fall out of the housing. It might make little difference and continue to function for a long time too.
@@28fish I’ve looked everywhere and they’ve been sold out for months.
I just noticed a line develop across one of my tiles. Thanks for walking through the disassembly. I will save this to my favorites until the proper amount of procrastination has elapsed and then begrudgingly pay Mr. Heater some more of Uncle Biden's relief dollars to buy the replacement parts.
Haha! Nicely put. Guess you could say you are stimulating your economy by paying for a certain kind of crack.
really good video. i had an issue with the left tile flaming up instead of glowing, i almost had the heater apart just like you did and i found out that spiders had made webs in the plenum intake. that can be cured by just removing the bottom inside shield (two screws) and wiping out the webs. info that may save someone the unnecessary job of taking the heater apart. if you want to pass that along to people they may find it useful
Well, hopefully folks read the comments and they will learn from you too!
Sweet Jesus my right tile is doing that, gonna try to fix it that way now.
turn the heater upside down and take off the bottom metal shield and you will see the gas intake tube, mine was full of spider webs , i cleaned them out and Bobs you uncle.@@jhlewis10
4;08 of this video shows the bottom cover.
OP, you saved me a bunch of time and money. I had a sputtery flame on the left panel and thought for sure i had to either replace the panel or the whole buddy. then i scrolled across this comment, flipped mine over, and shined a flashlight down the bottom grill. lo and behold, a web clogging the left