I MESSED UP.. Dont make the same mistake I made.

[Pachanga_rick]

I woke up around 6:00am this morning and ran out to the boat to pull the lower unit and have it freshened up. (STILL HALF ASLEEP)

This is off the same motor I pulled the injectors on and sent out, well 3 weeks ago when I pulled the injectors I plugged the fuel line with a bolt. I guess it's been leaking. :confused:

The battery's were dead so I hooked up the charger and the second I trimmed the motors up to pull the lower I hear a WHOOSH.. And look back and my motor is engulfed in flames.. I was lucky enough to have a couple fire extinguisher with in arms reach but they could not contain the fire. I quickly hooked the chains up to my van and drug the boat out from under the over hang and to a garden hose just outside the building. I was able to put the fire out with out any damage to the boat, building or myself.

I never smelled Any fuel when I was unbolting the lower, but I have a cold. Needless to say I need another cowl, some wiring and pan.

Could have been worse, but this is still a costly mistake and lesson learned.. :eek:

[Fast Shafts]

Sorry about your bad luck.:( I'm sure by posting this others will learn from it.

[hawk232]

wow! man that sucks!! prettty good reaction time to be able to hook up the van and yank it out with only that damage!!

[I Belong On The Water]

yeesh thats a bummer! atleast it didnt get to the boat, then you'd have a real mess

[Mr. Buss]

That could have been a lot worse!!:eek:

at least you got it out of the building.

[Tague]

Rick,
I am sure glad you are ok and it looks like you put it out fast. I had a problem with the throttle or shift cable rubbing up on the hot side of the trim pump and sent power to that side of the boat. I remember wrapping the cable with electical tape. Double check and make sure that it still isn't rubbing.

if you need any parts let me know, I have a couple of carbon fiber cowlings that are a little messed up I can sell you cheaper than buying a new 260 cowl.

Tague
954-648-1896

[specboatops]

WOW that really sucks, at least you can think fast on your feet and figured out a GOOD plan " B " it could have been WAY worse, glad that this is all you have to fix. Good luck. Takes balls to admit fault and post about it. I will remember this for future reference!!

Chris

[Pachanga_rick]

Rick,
I am sure glad you are ok and it looks like you put it out fast. I had a problem with the throttle or shift cable rubbing up on the hot side of the trim pump and sent power to that side of the boat. I remember wrapping the cable with electical tape. Double check and make sure that it still isn't rubbing.

if you need any parts let me know, I have a couple of carbon fiber cowlings that are a little messed up I can sell you cheaper than buying a new 260 cowl.

Tague
954-648-1896


PM sent..

[roadtriprhino]

Thanks for the heads up,hate learning the hard way!

[WATERWINGS]

I swapped out a fuel pump one time, and thought the hose to the fuel tank wasn't even dripping.

In the short amount of time it took me to get the other pump in there, enough fuel had leaked out of the hose to fill up the bilge of the boat, and run forward to where my feet would be in the drivers seat.

I had just put new carpet in the boat, and it ruined the carpet where my feet goes. (glue was melted away)

Luckly it didnt' get any more of the carpet, just the 2 x 2 piece under my feet.......it still hasn't been replaced.............:nonod:

Quick thinking on getting it away from the house/barn !:thumbsup:

[Liberator*21]

WOW, at least you caught it before it spread................:eek::eek::eek:

Real sorry to see that happen to anybody..........:(

[sho305]

Oh is that a kick myself moment, been there. Fire is serious business thanks for posting the reminder for all of us. Hope it is an easy fix.

[Pro300x24LD]

damn rick that sucks!

[paul folks]

good 2 hear ur ok.. i did kinda the same thing but mine was becuz of 2 much psi 2 my lil old carbs dumped gas out the front whoosh up in flames sittin on the trailer in the water @ the ramp....

[Pachanga_rick]

What happened, did the fuel pumps turn on and blow the bolt out (no clamp)?
Real glad to hear it's relatively minor. Where you planning to go next, MD ?


I honestly don't know.. I'm not sure if the fuel just dripped out and puddled up in the cowl, or maybe the return line allowed "vapors" to fill up under the cowl and when the spark hit.. boom.

All I know i I never smelled fuel and have trimmed my motor up and down thousands of times before so I'm not sure why this time it blew up..

But I should have been more careful with fuel and vapors, knowing I pulled the fuel lines and even with them being plugged. I should have pulled the cowl cover (and I will for now on) to make sure fuel or vapors did not gather under the cowl before I do any work.


I was going to race Point & Cambridge.....maybe not now.

[rdkvector]

At least it burnt things that can be replaced. I tried to put out a fire years ago and it exploded in my face. I have scars all over my chest and a nipple that burnt off and grew back but does'nt look like the original. Fire is nothing to play with.. it's serious s**t! I always have a hose running when there's any chance of fire. We live and we learn. You are lucky, it could of been alot worse.......trust me.

[Pachanga_rick]

We are constantly checking the bilge, one time we had 4 inches of
fuel; major f'ing heart attack! I'm still thinking of the fire system,
it's a few hundred bucks, for now we run 4 exting. 2 in the canopies
and 2 in the bilge. Never can have to many.

Thinking Cambridge too; hope you get up and running and we see you there.
Patchogue Sunday :), thought maybe you would be there. We missed
MI had some fuel issue's to deal w/, looked like you guys had a great time up
there. If you need any hard to find parts let me know. Take care.


Once I figure out what I need I may just be giving you a e-mail with a x-mass list.

[WATERWINGS]

good 2 hear ur ok.. i did kinda the same thing but mine was becuz of 2 much psi 2 my lil old carbs dumped gas out the front whoosh up in flames sittin on the trailer in the water @ the ramp....

What causes the spart to light up these puppies?

[WATERWINGS]

good 2 hear ur ok.. i did kinda the same thing but mine was becuz of 2 much psi 2 my lil old carbs dumped gas out the front whoosh up in flames sittin on the trailer in the water @ the ramp....

What causes the spark to light up these puppies?

[paul folks]

it hiccuped 1 time whoosh up she went...

[pyro]

What causes the spark to light up these puppies?

I suppose a spark from a non-sealed trim solenoid could do it...

[mr_velocity]

Wow sorry to hear. I can't count how many times I'm really careful with the boat (with car motors) but never think twice about gas with the outboards. Sure is a wakeup call for me.

[Forkin' Crazy]

That sucks, but as said, it surely could have been worse!!! Makes me glad I have full coverage insurance on mine!!!

[WATERWINGS]

I suppose a spark from a non-sealed trim solenoid could do it...

Sealed trim solenoid?

I guess that means that you can't go to the local parts store and just buy a Ford starter solenoid?

[pyro]

I've seen planty of motors with ordinary automotive relays running the trim pump.

I saw one where a solenoid had quit, so the guy just hooked the little wire from the dash right to the trim motor. :eek: Takes all types...

You can't reliably plug a hose with a bolt. Fuel seeps through very small spaces, including bolt threads.

[skydog]

WOW man that would be easy to do........ Sorry .... thank you for the headsup.

Skydog

[Vicious]

RICK, That really blows!!!!!:nonod:

[ChrisM]

Rick, You're a guy who thinks and works well under heavy pressure!! You saved your boat, engines, garage, house attached?, People and stuff inside!! Smooth Move Man!!

[18ftswitzer]

Just a FYI but you shouldnt use a bolt to plug a fuel line cause the threads might tear up the inside of the line and cause problems in the future. Not being a smartass.