Fire in the hole!

[Major Woody]

So, I decided to install a "rebuilt by PO" carb to see if my starting and hesitation probs would go away. I primed the "new" one with a splash of gas, cranked for a bit and it sputtered. Tried again and it backfired and started on fire! Not just your average bowl fire however. I couldn't smother it out with an old shirt, so had to wave an extinguisher at it.
So now what? Should I go through it again since it was "extinguished" or will a carb cleaner bath do? Can the engine be harmed from the chemical? I plan on changing oil immediately when I fire it up again.

[jeepthing]

It's good to know someone else is having a worse time with their GW than me. :eek:

I just keep burning my fingers on the exhaust manifold.. :(

[AM Woody]

Check the float level. I had this happen on a Mustang with a Motorcrap carb. Bowl was overflowing. Engine and carb were fine, it just crispied up the vacuum lines and CTOs.

[Rent-A-Cop]

from my own expeirence with something like this the fire extinguisher cuased problems with my car, it ran like Great Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley MoogleyGreat Googley Moogley even after i got the carb cleaned, ultimately i was gonna need a rebuild to fix the problem, so i decided to trade the old car off for a newer POS and havent stoped kicking myself since. but i would say get the carb cleaned and a good system flushingf and see where it stands from there

[andy d]

carb back fire is fuel starvation or messed up timing. prolly blew out the power valve

[Don S]

Originally posted by Major Woody:
I couldn't smother it out with an old shirt, so had to wave an extinguisher at it.
So now what? Should I go through it again since it was "extinguished" or will a carb cleaner bath do? Can the engine be harmed from the chemical? I plan on changing oil immediately when I fire it up again...
Major Woody:...
..."Can the engine be harmed from the chemical? "... YES according to NASCAR and a thread we had here at IFSJA. Some types of the dry chemical can weaken metal parts and cause them to fail. Several Nascar wrecks were attributed to this condition and cleanning it off does not seem to help very much. :( under the dash fires are a big no no. Sorry but I lost the link). I carry halon and am trying to get some co2 fire extinguishers.

This spring I'm going to see how well soda pop works as a small gasoline fire extinguisher... :confused:
Good Luck and CUL ;) … ds..
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1976 Wagoneer 406 MC4300 TH400 QT TruTrac 2" lift 31x10.50s duel Optimas
It’s taken us over 261 Colorado Mountain Passes since 1985-
link> 2003 OURAY FSJ Invasion Info and High Altitude Tips (http://groups.msn.com/ATexasOklahomaJeepClub/ouraycotopic.msnw)
link> Acronym and Abbreviations for 4X4 Gearheads (http://groups.msn.com/NISSAN4X4TRAILS/acronymlist.msnw)

[Tad]

Originally posted by Don S:
...This spring I'm going to see how well soda pop works as a small gasoline fire extinguisher...Not being rude Don but what is the logic behind this technique?

[kyjman]

I remember the first time I rebuilt a carb. It was 1965, I was 16, and it was a two barrel from 1957 Chevy with the 283. It started right up and I headed out for a test run. Did ok until I stopped at a red light. As I was sitting at the light I happened to look at the hood. I thought it was strange that the paint in the center of the hood was bubbling. Then the light came on that "maybe" my carb was on fire. A quick exit and after popping the hood I was met with flames shooting out of the carb. I ran to the trunk and got a blanket to smother it out. Then I fired it up and drove back home, and did the carb again. It worked fine after that. I was luck that time.

[mountaincrusher]

had that happen to me with a Holley 2100 on my 81 Waggy, put it out with baking soda , (yup it actually worked.) Unfourtunatley the carb was toasted, would just dump fuel and flood the engine, so had to change back to the motorcrap carb. started engine ad cleaned intake with carb clean, still runs good cosiderig the motorcrap carb.

[Lindel]

soda pop will act just like a foam extinguisher, and it's easy to clean, with minimal damage to the engine parts.

[ January 28, 2003, 07:30 PM: Message edited by: Lindel ]

[Don S]

Originally posted by Lindel:
soda pop will act just like a foam extinguisher..
Lindel:... :cool:
... But I've always heard the claim that Croak-a-Cola was a mean steak tenderizer and very good penetrating oil and could etch metal. So maybe it would be just as bad as Dry chemical. So I thought
I would practice some pryomania. <lust lust>
Good Luck and CUL ;) … ds..

..ps ... Glad you got your goodies back....
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1976 Wagoneer 406 MC4300 TH400 QT TruTrac 2" lift 31x10.50s duel Optimas
It’s taken us over 261 Colorado Mountain Passes since 1985-
link> 2003 OURAY FSJ Invasion Info and High Altitude Tips (http://groups.msn.com/ATexasOklahomaJeepClub/ouraycotopic.msnw)
link> Acronym and Abbreviations for 4X4 Gearheads (http://groups.msn.com/NISSAN4X4TRAILS/acronymlist.msnw)

[turtle jim]

Sometimes carb fires can be sucked out by attempting restart.Depends on the situtation.

Bottled soda works best.Remove the cap,place thumb over opening and shake the bottle.Aim at fire.Beer works too,but use your kids soda first.

[Rusty Wag]

Dry chem should never be used on anything mech or elec. I will corrode and can't be completely cleaned off...halon or co2 are the only way to go...