At least it didn't hurt the paint job much.
Lonnie
I do recall another bike fire now that I've thought for a while. I was at a so-called "Field Meet" in llinois many years ago. They were having a slow race and one of the bikes, a late 1940's 500cc Matchless single, stalled. The owner was tickling the amal carburetor to get the fuel level up and the gas was apparently overflowing from the bowl as was common on old British bikes.
In kicking it to get it starting again, it snorted back through the carburetor and caught fire. We were essentially out in the woods and, of course, no one had a fire extinguisher.
The bike fell over and was totally consumed. The fire got so hot, it melted the crankcase and the flywheels actually fell down through the frame. When the fire burned out, there was literally nothing left but a charred mess.
Fortunately with modern bikes, especially those with fuel injection, that sort of thing is much less likely. It sure made a great show, however.
Powder fire estinguishers damage the electric system and paint.
so in my shop I have as main estinguisher CO2 plus 2 minor powder estinguishers.
In the trunk of the rig the powder poored twice all over and caused rust.
I'll look for a handy outside holder when I'll repair my boat.
The only ocasion I needed one on a vehicle was on my 1960 Willies when a back blow lightened the carb (1. day on the street after a 1 year rebuild => next day I adapted a modern Chevrolet carb).
The poor man who wanted to help me with his powder estinguisher got a bad grunt and nearly a blow from me and I estinguished it with a natural wool blanket.
As a former Saint John's accident helper I see the need for good preparation always as a good nerve calmer!
Beeing prepared for the worst and hoping for the best is way better then staying beside observing and haveing nothing with what to help.
And thanks God the day you need and have it on hand in deed!
Best regards
Sven
I remembered another fire that my father and I had with his 1965 Ford. We were on a trip and were on the freeway north of Los Angeles. He had the car serviced the previous week with an oil change and a transmission flush.
Apparently the transmission was overfilled with oil since the engine caught fire on the right side near the transmission filler tube. When I managed to get the hood up, I could see that it was burning rather slowly as it was due to a couple of quarts of ATF havnig been blown out on the manifold on the passenger side.
We had no fire extinguisher but fortunately he was a real estate broker and always carried a shovel for putting up signs. I grabbed the shovel out of the trunk and after about five quick tosses of sand and dirt from the side of the road, the fire was out.
There was no permanent damage as it missed the wiring and I got it out quickly. If it had been gasoline rather than ATF, we would have lost the car.
We limped in to the next town and found a self--service car wash and after a few blasts all was well. After losing the excess oil, the transmission was still working OK, too. Another close one.
I also once saw a Harley Knucklehead burn up at a Shell Gas station in Chicago. The owner let 100 octane fuel drip onto the hot engine when he was refueling. It was a total loss. As I said, I think that would be the most common way that a bike could burn.
When I was a representative for an insurance company, I was frequently on the road in California. I saw several Recreational vehicles burn on the road. Apparently they have an issue with the wiring being strung through the metal framework so short circuits can occur when the wires fray. These can and do lead to fires that can't even be put out since they are inside of the frame.
In any case, a fire extinguisher is always a good idea since it will at least give you a chance.
Originally written by gnm109 on 1/6/2009 5:33 PM
When I was a representative for an insurance company, I was frequently on the road in California. I saw several Recreational vehicles burn on the road. Apparently they have an issue with the wiring being strung through the metal framework so short circuits can occur when the wires fray. These can and do lead to fires that can't even be put out since they are inside of the frame.
In any case, a fire extinguisher is always a good idea since it will at least give you a chance.
I worked for a time at a Winnebago Dealer. We frequently saw fires caused by idiot owners leaving a propane refrigerator running or trying to cook breakfast while driving down the highway. :0)
I am not sure of how to link to Youtube video clips and post them here without getting my own account there included. However, if you check YouTube and enter in the below listings into the search there, you can see a motorcycle fire that has many, many things to not do when encountering a fire. Basic stupidity on the part of the teens, but probably many people would do something as dumb and dangerous in a similar situation. Maybe someone else can actually link the clips here for view, but I couldn't make it work properly.
Russian Motorcycle Fire - PT 1
Russian Motorcycle Fire - Pt 2
The first Jawa Rig I ever met was brand new from the shop in 1984(85?). At 340km on the same weekend it went up in flames because of a leaking tank valve on top of the wiring. Carbs and tank valves are still not up to date and free of leaking, electricity isn't the best yet neither, but on mine I have now 19.000km, so I hope I will not need my estinguiusher.
Knock on wood (or my stubburn head)
Sven
Just a funny oddity, since the thread is on extinguishers. I was watching an episode of Mythbusters last night. The oddity was that they were trying to dispel a myth about a fire extinguisher bursting from the heat of a flame and thus, putting out the fire. They put a few into various fires and each did explode with great force. Although they confirmed that it could be plausable for a fire extinguisher to explode in a fire and put it out, their results actually showed the force of the explosion actually shooting debris and flaming or smouldering pieces out in all directions. This leade me to believe that the fire could just as easily be spread, as opposed to putting out the original fire, as in the myth.
(I don't recall if the extinguishers were of various types, dry-filled or liquid-filled).
It was sort of a funny or odd piece to view, as it brought back memories of this thread. I don't think I'd put my faith in a fire extinguisher bursting and putting out a hack fire though. But they did rule the myth plausable.
Originally written by Pat Huey on 1/15/2009 10:23 AM
Just a funny oddity, since the thread is on extinguishers. I was watching an episode of Mythbusters last night. The oddity was that they were trying to dispel a myth about a fire extinguisher bursting from the heat of a flame and thus, putting out the fire. They put a few into various fires and each did explode with great force. Although they confirmed that it could be plausable for a fire extinguisher to explode in a fire and put it out, their results actually showed the force of the explosion actually shooting debris and flaming or smouldering pieces out in all directions. This leade me to believe that the fire could just as easily be spread, as opposed to putting out the original fire, as in the myth.
(I don't recall if the extinguishers were of various types, dry-filled or liquid-filled).
It was sort of a funny or odd piece to view, as it brought back memories of this thread. I don't think I'd put my faith in a fire extinguisher bursting and putting out a hack fire though. But they did rule the myth plausable.
Wasn't that the theory behind the old Carbon Tetrachloride glass bulbs? I remember buying an old 1938 Cadillac that had a bracket under the hood, holding a red glass bulb about the size of a softball. It was encased in the bracket, not removeable, so I assumed it was meant to explode if the temp got too high.
Not sure if that was the theory on them or not, but I know that the CDC banned the use of such as it ruled the product contained as a possible carcinogen. You may be correct on the theory, but I don't know for sure.
Yes, carbon tetrachloride was banned for general sale many years ago. Besides formerly being used in fire extinghuishers, it made a great spot remover. You can still purchase it at a chemical warehouse, I believe.
For the most part, the "authorities" have taken away all of the "good stuff" and left us with ecologically "safe" items that don't work as well.
Remember asbestos? Yeah, I know, it's dangerous. It sure made nice gaskets and brake linings. It's also the most common mineral in the earth's crust. How about real high octane gasoline with tetraethyl lead. Yeah, I know, it's dangerous, too. It was sure nice for those high compression motorcycle engines though, wasn't it?
We now live in a world where everyone is protected both from themselves and from the environment. Progress. LOL,
The glass bulbs were to be thrown at the base of the fire. Ideally the thin bulb would break and spread the carbon tet to suffocate the fire.
The "environmentalists" efforts have caused the banning of very many useful products at great cost to humanity when a bit of common sense control would have them still available to benefit mankind.
For instance DDT: Overt prolonged widespread use caused a huge decimation of some species of wildlife so it was banned (like lead shot). Controlled usage of DDT today would save millions of human lives lost in Africa from malaria.
As with most things like asbestos, carbon tetrachloride, tetraethyl lead, 24D, etc, prudent usage and moderation would be a better answer than abolition.
Lonnie
Originally written by Hack'n on 1/16/2009 9:21 AM
The glass bulbs were to be thrown at the base of the fire. Ideally the thin bulb would break and spread the carbon tet to suffocate the fire.
The "environmentalists" efforts have caused the banning of very many useful products at great cost to humanity when a bit of common sense control would have them still available to benefit mankind.
For instance DDT: Overt prolonged widespread use caused a huge decimation of some species of wildlife so it was banned (like lead shot). Controlled usage of DDT today would save millions of human lives lost in Africa from malaria.
As with most things like asbestos, carbon tetrachloride, tetraethyl lead, 24D, etc, prudent usage and moderation would be a better answer than abolition.Lonnie
Wow ... good to see somebody with a pragmatic and like minded sense for the world. I agree with you 100%.
I have to say that your post struck a chord with me as I live in the land of environmental activism (Portland Oregon) and go to Lewis and Clark Law school who's big claim to fame is that it has ... wait for it ... the NUMBER ONE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PROGRAM in the country.
Ugh ... it's painful to watch.
Somebody I go to school with prides himself on telling folks that he "lives in a tree house."
To each his own I guess. Silly me. I just try to work hard and take care of my kids.
Ok, sorry about the rant.
Originally written by geek_law on 1/16/2009 10:47 AM
Originally written by Hack'n on 1/16/2009 9:21 AM
The glass bulbs were to be thrown at the base of the fire. Ideally the thin bulb would break and spread the carbon tet to suffocate the fire.
The "environmentalists" efforts have caused the banning of very many useful products at great cost to humanity when a bit of common sense control would have them still available to benefit mankind.
For instance DDT: Overt prolonged widespread use caused a huge decimation of some species of wildlife so it was banned (like lead shot). Controlled usage of DDT today would save millions of human lives lost in Africa from malaria.
As with most things like asbestos, carbon tetrachloride, tetraethyl lead, 24D, etc, prudent usage and moderation would be a better answer than abolition.Lonnie
Wow ... good to see somebody with a pragmatic and like minded sense for the world. I agree with you 100%.
I have to say that your post struck a chord with me as I live in the land of environmental activism (Portland Oregon) and go to Lewis and Clark Law school who's big claim to fame is that it has ... wait for it ... the NUMBER ONE ENVIRONMENTAL LAW PROGRAM in the country.
Ugh ... it's painful to watch.
Somebody I go to school with prides himself on telling folks that he "lives in a tree house."
To each his own I guess. Silly me. I just try to work hard and take care of my kids.
Ok, sorry about the rant.
Hopefully you won't have to pass a test on the level of your liberalism when you are finished with Law School. When I went to law school some 25 years ago, they didn't bother with such tests but nowadays, it's germanine to the teaching method.
Happy Trails.
We lived in Portland when Reed College was the epitomy of liberal and Governer Hatfield out Gored fat AL for fooling the public before moving east and further f****ng things up in general.
Lonnie
