A fire extinguisher is a good thing to have in the shop

Just read Rich's post to the XJ list - I think it's an appropriate time to remind people to have a fire extinguisher in their shed, or at least take one to the shed when they're working on their bike.

Rich recounted his fire story in a humerous way... even though he just about torched an X, the xv500 he's rebuilding, his shed, himself and his friend Brian... judicious use of blankets and quick feet saved the day.

Good old Rich - have to ride out to see him again...

 

safty first, eye protecton, ventalation gloves when possible

 

XJ List??

Do tell

 

http://www.micapeak.com/mailman/listinfo/xj-owners

It is the XJ mailing list... it's much older than XJbikes/XJOwners - nice group of guys. Did you hear of the XJ World Relay?

The email list has a very distinct culture - so listen for a bit before jumping in with both feet.

http://www.mts.net/%7Emwiniar1/xjrelay.htm

 

It's on Micapeak's servers. http://www.micapeak.com/mailman/listinfo/xj-owners
Nice little mailing list too.

Ya beat me to the draw!
I'm not on the list anymore, any chance for a copy/paste?

 

Cheers Woot... Been looking for a link to the subscribe page that works for a couple of weeks now

 

CROSSPOST:

 

holy crap, that's amazing, kinda reminds me of the time we had a foot and a half flame coming out of our kerosene lantern, and you panic, not knowing if you should try to put it out or start running, scary feeling.

 

Yup - I know that feeling.

I was driving a tractor pushing up a manure pile... I was working it flat and putting more on top to make room. Anyhow, the pile subsided and the front end slid down - putting the tractor at a pretty precarious angle. I had room to drive off the pile so I cut the wheels down the pile and started inching forward. At which point the rear end slid down the pile - I'm now mostly parallel to the pile, and at a worse angle. I lowered the bucket somemore, and decided the best approproach was now backwards. So I started backing - it slid a bit more but now I was on firm ground... I swear I heard the front end pinging on the axel stoppers.

I managed to get it off the pile and not have to explain what I had done. I made sure to be a bit more careful of the edge. I remember at the time trying to decide if jumping was the best option. It was precarious enough that I felt that going to the downhill side of the tractor might be enough to roll it and that if it did I'd be below it.

 

Fortunaly by not jumping off you didn't have to explane why your coverd with manure.

 

Here's a good reason to make sure you and those who work with you use the right equipment. A fellow employee decided he wanted to trade trouble lights with me and put an old unshielded light in the place of mine and when a fuel line I was working on ruptured the fuel hit the hot glass bulb and exploded. Look at the pics I've added to my gallery

 

Holy Crap!!! I'm glad those aren't my hands. How long did that take to heal?

 

I was using a forklift to remove some forklift batteries from a semi. I have a palette with 3 1200 lbs. batteries on it when as I lower it a slight roughness in the decent of the forks pushes the weight of the batteries via g force just enough so I wind up looking down at the street on the now inverted and sideways batteries which are spilling sulfuric acid everywhere. I swear I am looking straight down! So I let the forks down which lowers my seat and gets me back level. I sheepishly drive the fork lift to the back of the shop , get the "heavier" forklift and pick up the batteries via a chain. Once they are upright , but still in the street I spread an acid neutralizer over the spill and then report to the boss.
Up side to this is that the EPA never found out and my boss was also a riding buddy of mine who rode a Suzuki GS1100E. His advice? Next time just use the heaviest forklift!

 

It was a year before the Dr. released me to go to work but said that I should retire from automotive work. I had nightmares for a long time after. The scar tissue prevents my hands from sweating so they dry up and crack real easy. Sorry if this sounds gross its just a reminder to me and others to take every availible precaution when working. On the bright side I did a great imitation of the candle charator from beauty and the beast when I was on fire.

 

Gad! What a load of experiences! Each is a lesson in it's own right.
Woot, your message could not be more timely (and timeless if you ask me, I've got 4 of them posted in the garage, cheap insurance). The $35 you spend on that ABC type extinguisher could be the difference between a light singe and charbyque with the works. As is evident from the array of experiences, there is no such thing as too careful when working around fuel, it cannot be overstated. I have had the distinct (and rather unplesant) experience of using my handy extinguishers 5 times and it saved a vehicle (mine twice) each time. I am aware that some countries require them in vehicles by law. Not a bad investment or gift if you care about someone.

 

Dang you guys!

Woot I'm glad your ok and the rest of you guys too.

Sounds like we all have some pretty dangerous lives out there.

We gotta think safety 1st.

 

Because of this thread I bought a 10lb fire extingusher for my garage.. I've been meaning to get one for about year now after using up two small household ones on a fire a couple of years back.. I couldn't justify the premium price for the little household ones at wal-mart so I sprung for the real deal online.

 

I have a good fire story though it isn't mine. Last summer, my buddy was working on his xj750. It wasn't running good at the time. Real sluggish, poor idle, etc. Anyways, summer get a little warm here in Arizona so he was barefoot, no shirt. Just a pair of shorts. He gets the bike running and goes for a little test ride thru the neighborhood. Still no shoes or shirt. He's cruising along and starts feeling his legs getting really hot. He looks down and flames are coming out around the seat. He pulls over real quick, shuts it down and rips the seat off. Gets most of the flames patted down but just a white cloud of smoke still pouring off the bike. Meanwhile countless cars just rolling by, nobody offering to help or see if he is ok. He lets it cool down then coasts it back home completely devistated. Fortunately, I knew somebody selling an old virago real cheap so he got a bike he can ride and I keep feeding him ideas of resurrecting the xj and he keeps feeding me ideas of having a spare bike for parts. The electrical and air box are toast but the rest is still good. Its funny now cuz he didn't get hurt. Well, it was funny then to everbody but him.

 

This happened to me last year. I work with a torch which I use to melt alloy down and cast it into a mold using centrifugal force. So I spin the caster and some of the molten alloy slings out. I grab a spray bottle and dowse the flames that hit the bottom of the casting box. Just then is when I notice that the back of my right leg is warm. Soooo I glance down and spot flames licking up my leg! I spray the flames which go out and then proceed to the operatory and dowse them further with the air/water syringe just to make sure they don't flame up again. I have kept those scrub pants since then just to remind me how flammable they are!

 

Hey Stinky, You guys get somesnow up that way?

Not too much here, east side of state.
St. Johns

 

Not really. Maybe 2 inches. Definitely not as much as the weather man said.

 

Yeah, what's he know.
Have a nice winter and maybe I'll see ya out riding next season.

 

It snowed a few more inches after I posted that last one. Then the sun came out and started melting it all.

I am planning a trip down to las cruces this summer so I'll probably backroads it as much as possible and I'll be coming right thru st. johns. I like that drive towards springerville.