Fire !!

G

grouchyandugly

Member
so, I am 78, be lucky at this to reach 79!!
mechanics learn to disconnect the Battery first.
so. my 1941 Mercury's carb was leaking
so. ordered a rebuild kit.
so. got my rebuild kit.
so. did not disconnect Battery.
so. Alternator on top of engine.
so. used wrench (because my fingers aren't strong) to remove the 3
nuts on the carb (with me being the 4th NUT)
so. Wrench touched the HOT wire on my alternator.
so. BIG FLASH, and arc across my wrench to bottom of dumb carb.
so. FIRE !!
so. I am glad I had a STRONG HEART !!
SO. no damage. THEN I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND FINISHED REMOVING THAT DIRTYWORD CARB.
WHEEEEEEEEEE
stay safe
thanks
 
Fire and NO damage "SO" what's the problem youngster?
Let me tell Ya' bout'--


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Thanks for sharing your story, it may prompt someone to think when doing a similar job.

Mart.
 
Also I always remove Jewelry such as rings or wristwatch, there has been many people burned by shorting out accessories with wrenches and Jewelry. Glad you and the car are OK.
 
Those Holley "O"rings were nothing but trouble for me. I used to get the vaseline out to install them but never trusted their sealing ability. I have seen too many leaks from them.
 
Things like that can happen quick... glad to hear it turned out okay. I have a battery kill switch located under front seat, drivers side, BUT I guess since it's outa sight, outa mind, I often forget whether it's turned on or off. Sometimes I'll see a faint spark when I'm working on something in engine compartment, and I usually say to myself...Oh sh_t, I forgot to hit the kill switch. Or, I get into my car, turn on the ignition switch, step on the starter switch/button, and get nothing. Then another oh sh_t, and try to reach under the seat to flip that kill switch "on". I'm not too limber at my age, so that becomes a chore getting to that switch. It is tough getting old, and I'm not too far behind you :)
 
Fordestes said:
Also I always remove Jewelry such as rings or wristwatch, there has been many people burned by shorting out accessories with wrenches and Jewelry. Glad you and the car are OK.
Click to expand...

So true. One time I was rushing to fix a mover deck with a MIG. No gloves or helmet.

Anyway, a piece of slag few off and landed on my wedding band. I learned why gold is considered an excellent conductor. It got red hot instantly and I couldn't get it off due to the blister that formed on the finger.

So stupid and lesson learned.
 
Sounds like you were lucky. I burned down my barn(and lost a car and a ton of parts) a few years ago whilst doing some angle grinding. Knew someone whom lost an XKE Jag and an early Hupmobile when a halogen light contacted some gasoline! I am always extra careful now.
 
I have a good friend who is badly scarred from being burned while changing a fuel pump. Gas came out of the fuel line and hit the light bulb, it blew up and caught fire. It took him a few tries to get out from under the car while the gas from the line was feeding the fire.
 
JM 35 Sedan said:
Things like that can happen quick... glad to hear it turned out okay. I have a battery kill switch located under front seat, drivers side, BUT I guess since it's outa sight, outa mind, I often forget whether it's turned on or off.

I installed a switch in the same place on my 34. Every time I shut the ignition off, even to go into a store for five minutes, I shut the battery kill switch off. Just a habit I developed, similar to putting on a seat belt in our other cars. I just have not installed seat belts yet in the 34. Maybe they will put that on my obituary!
Click to expand...
 
Whoa. Thanks for the reminders, we can't say too much about safety.
It takes bravery admit a mistake. Good going, glad are okay, and talking about it. I hate, hate, hate fire.

"Safety is no accident" Said a poster I've seen in my travels.

As a youth growing up in the auto trade, I was thoughtless and reckless.
Sparing the horror stories, I shall say just this...

I always use wheel chocks, jackstands, when going under.

I know where my extinguishers are ( and charged ).
I have cut the cords off those old fashioned drop lights, and tossed them.

I unhook, or cover the battery when wrenching around it.
Disconnect when charging and guard against arcing or sparking

If working inside, I look back toward the exit to see if there is anything that I've left in the path to the door, should the lights fail, or some other emergency.
Also if I see something in my shop that I don't like, I stop my present chore and tend to the problem. Very Important!

Before diving into a procedure, I STOP, and ask myself, 'How could this turn bad?'.
Very important step.

I can hear some object but,,,, if you had 'a few' beers, sit down in front of the TV!
I had to quit 'a few' beers forty some years ago. Today its just Tylenol and such for me.

Despite all this I keep fully stocked with first aid supplies.
By the way ask your pharmacist where the 'Wound Seal' is. This stuff will stop a bad cut from bleeding.

Thanks for listening. Happy shop days! (and nights)

Whoops. Just remembered. Comfortable safety goggles and dust masks, for a happy life.
 
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Disconnect battery any time you're under any car with a manual transmission. IF starter starts cranking by itself (I've witnessed it on a Ford truck in a parking lot) while trans is in gear, the situation will end-up BADLY! DD
 
grouchyandugly said:
so, I am 78, be lucky at this to reach 79!!
mechanics learn to disconnect the Battery first.
so. my 1941 Mercury's carb was leaking
so. ordered a rebuild kit.
so. got my rebuild kit.
so. did not disconnect Battery.
so. Alternator on top of engine.
so. used wrench (because my fingers aren't strong) to remove the 3
nuts on the carb (with me being the 4th NUT)
so. Wrench touched the HOT wire on my alternator.
so. BIG FLASH, and arc across my wrench to bottom of dumb carb.
so. FIRE !!
so. I am glad I had a STRONG HEART !!
SO. no damage. THEN I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND FINISHED REMOVING THAT DIRTYWORD CARB.
WHEEEEEEEEEE
stay safe
thanks
Click to expand...

WOW scary stuff. Glad you are ok. A guy could get killed out there!
 
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