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fire prevention

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:44 pm
by bugman742002
the guys over on the bus barn have a few good suggestions that also could work on bugs as well. if anyone has any more ideas please post them.
1. replace all fuel lines.
2. make sure all hoses are secured with clamps.
3. reroute the live that goes from the pump to the carb.

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:43 pm
by Bugfuel
on stock engines, the fuel line fitting on the carb gets loose sometimes and pops out, spraying fuel all over. You can use a narrow headed punch or a dull chisel and a hammer to peen the surrounding casting tighter against the pipe fitting to secure it in place. Also you can tie down the fuel line so it can't back out even if the fitting did get loose. Only minor leakage would result.

And never put a filter between the pump and the carb. The added weight of a filter full of fuel, floppingt around as you drive, sends tugs and jerks up the line, to the carb top fitting.

Jan

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:02 pm
by bugman742002
if you use a filter inbetween the pump and the carb get one that you can mount on the bulk head or the fan shroud which would serve 2 purposes one filtering the fuel and 2 moving the fule line from over the distributor.

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:02 pm
by bugman742002
can we get this set up as a sticky?

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:43 pm
by steve253
You can also JBWELD the tube that goes into the carb. Thats exactly what I did after a heart-stopping moment I had when the engine bay got sprayed with raw gas.
:wink:

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:17 pm
by Kenny2428
Good suggestions guys. Also, always carry a fire extinguisher! Another wise suggestion would be to inspect, and replace your fuel line every so often. Also, check under your back seats and see if the battery is in danger of shorting out on the springs on your back seat. Had this happen to me once, but luckily I caught it before it caught fire. Another thing to check is the rubber grommet on your fan shroud. Check to make sure it isn't cracked. If it is cracked, over time your fuel line will rub back and forth on the shroud, causing leaks. Btw, I will make this a sticky.

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:23 pm
by bugman742002
i was thinking of setting up a something like a halon fire supression system or even an co2 system. i don't know how i am going to set it up yet as i am still working it out in my head. who know maybe i should patent the idea now

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 11:42 am
by MNAirHead
About 1/4 of the bugs I tear down have rubber lines going all the way from the tunnel outlet to the fuel pump..

Where it passes through metal, there is metal tube.. not rubber... check it out.

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 11:43 am
by MNAirHead
Good suggestion on this one..

This would be a good thread to have pix included... fire shots and what we're discussing.

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:40 pm
by bugman742002
i can't take all the credit on this topic i got the idea from the bus barn forum. and i decided to start one here because how many of us would think about looking in other aeras on this site fot solutions on this problem.

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 8:58 pm
by vw-in-neptune
Image

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:08 pm
by MNAirHead
ooops

Neptune.. was/is this your bug?

What happened

Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 6:48 pm
by bugman742002
that had to suck big time.

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:01 am
by bciesq
MNAirHead wrote:About 1/4 of the bugs I tear down have rubber lines going all the way from the tunnel outlet to the fuel pump..

Where it passes through metal, there is metal tube.. not rubber... check it out.
I installed a metal line to go through the front firewall:

Image

http://www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewpr ... d2=THH0008

and added a grommet for the hole:

http://www.aircooled.net/new-bin/viewpr ... d2=THG0001

Total cost ... about five bucks.

Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:52 pm
by vw-in-neptune
MNAirHead wrote:ooops

Neptune.. was/is this your bug?

What happened

no my engine fires dont burn down the surrounding buildings. in fact i dont have those.