RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Well, I knew it was bound to happen eventually. I had just recently gotten everything done that Ive wanted to get done for a long time, like fixing the rear wiper, cleaning things, re-wiring, etc. I was just telling my friends how happy I was that I was getting so much done for my car. I had just ordered a new power antenna and some other stuff for it last night because I had run out of other projects and it was time to start new ones. So today I was driving home and about 2 blocks from my house my car started running extremely bad. I limped it home, poped the hood, and what do you know... The only thing left of my front air filter is a spring dripping of melted foam and rubber. Looking down into the velocity stacks I see that the melted gunk has convienantly been sucked down into the carb. Luckily the fire seems to have self extinguished, and nothing else was harmed other than some soot on the hood and spark plug wires. So, I guess its time to invest in a rebuild kit, air filters, and a fire extinguisher because next time, with my luck, I wont be as lucky and it wont put itself out.

~T.J.

PS - Im working on getting some pictures...

Rx7carl

Man, Im sorry That really sux. What caused the fire? And your not saying that you need an engine rebuild are you?

Sparky69

Hope theres not to much damage.. that really sucks.. if u need a carb rebuild kit I have an unopen one I could sell u...

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

As for the cause of the fire, thats undetermined. I had just noticed earlier today that if I stopped too quick, the car would hunt and want to die when it tried to idle after stopping (I had a jeep pull out in front of me ). I didnt really think too much about it until I did it in my driveway just a few minutes ago "experamenting", and about a tablespoon of gas comes out of the velocity stacks which would definatly soak into the filters making a nice "fire ready" environment. I dont know what wouldve ignited it other than maybe an arc from a sparkplug wire at the dizzy? Or maybe a spark from the rear output wire on the alternator arcing to the engine hoist bracket? I really dont know.

My plans for now are to just park it and wait for money. As I said in the original post, I just spent ALL my money (except about $1.13 in my PayPal account) on a new antenna and some other stuff. Im sure the engine is fine, and surprisingly enough, it still starts and runs decently. I just need a new filter of some sort, and I need to get in and clean it out somewhat. Im not sure how bad its really gonna be. Im thinking about just spraying the hell out of it with carb cleaner down the velocity stack and trying to clean it out that way. The only thing that Im worried about is having the jets the auxillary chokes or whatever they are covered causing it to run rough. Now that I think about it, I guess if I just clean it out good there I should be ok. Its not like all the gunk came in the fuel line and clogged all the jets, it came in the air intake so its a straight shot through the carb with minimal things to mess up...Right? Anyone have any advice?

~T.J

Rx7carl

Clean it up like you said and make a decision then. But you need to find out what caused it so it dont happen again. That fuel comming back up is veddy veddy bad. Better talk to Robert and find out why.

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Ok, I took the carb off, and started taking it apart. I took the velocity stack off, the auxillary choke is out (I think thats what its called), I took the pump jet out (it had rubber hanging from it, it was kinda cool), and I took the throttle butterfly out. I have the screw to take the main choke out (if thats what its called), but it wont come out? Its loose and moves around, but doesnt come out. Anyway, once I get that out, then its just a matter of wiping it all clean in there to get the soot off the inside and scraping each individual piece to get the rubber and crap off them. Its really easy actually, it peels right off in chunks once it sits in gas for a few seconds .

So, once thats done, at least I can drive my car (no air filters though ). Im thinking about getting one of those chrome canister type air cleaners with a K&N filter. Anyone have any reccomendations? Can I still use the velocity stacks with that style? The one Im thinking of I found at www.carbs.net for $27.99. Heres the description:
And heres a picture:



So, anyone have any thoughs on that bad boy? Its gonna cost about $30 for the pod foam filters again, or $30 for that...

~T.J.

Rx7carl

What about a cold air intake hose? Maybe save your motor from self ignition? At least keep the ignition source away from the fuel soaked filter? Im thinking a homemade box with a feed hose from the front of the engine bay. Like MikeyD's setup, just without a turbo.

Rex4Life

Sorry to hear about the fire TJ. Was wondering where you have been lately, haven't seen many posts by you lately. Glad you escaped this with minimal problems.

As far as the cause, sounds to me like you had a back fire. Think about it--unless you have some kind of gas line leak or carb gasket leak, it had to come from the stack. If the airflow starts going backwards out the motor then the gas/air will go back thru the carb and air filter--possibly with some fire from the combustion chamber. I know I have seen piston engines back fire flames from the carb so it's not too far fetched.

Perhaps something in the 12a system prevents this from occuring. I know there is a deceleration and coasting control system--may want to take a look at the FSM.

Good Luck,

Scott

Rx7carl

Or the fuel vapor got into the alternator and started the fire.

WackyRotary

Make sure your float level is correct, what kind of carb do you have? I had a weber, and it ran good, but would sometimes soak into the filter and drip onto the block. I found out later, the fuel pressure was too high and caused it to mildly flood over.

PS: I ALWAYS keep a fire extingisher in my car. Cheapest insurance you can get for fire projection on your pride and joy. Its not full proof, but it is more likely to give you a return on your investment then comp insurance. The insurance company doesn't care what "improvements" you spent money on, they only care about minimizing their own losses on claims! All that "like a good neighbor" crap goes right out the window when its time to pay up for a claim related to nature: hail damage and a deer hit me with in 3weeks of each other!! They really screwed me over..

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I plan to get a fire extinguisher ASAP. Anyone know where I can get one other than those lame *** ones at the rice shops? Ive heard stories of those not even working when needed .

As for the carb, its a Weber 45 DCOE, and as you said, I have observed ONCE that when it was hard to start the filter was indeed fuel soaked and dripping on the block. Im running my carb at 3 PSI right now...

Also, Carl, that was indeed one of my ideas. I was thinking of buying a turbo box and slapping it on there with a pipe to the front with a filter up there, but those boxes can be spendy...

~T.J.

EDIT: I took it all apart and got it cleaned. It seems to be running ok, I just need to get and air filter setup going. Anymore ideas?

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

Ok, I waited too long to edit, but I forgot to ask if anyone has any good sites on how to check the float level...And what it should be at?

~T.J.

KYPREO

The fuel causes the foam to melt - it doesn't even need to burn to do this....this is why foam filters are absolute rubbish.

Rotor13B

Have checked your fuel mixture? A weak mixture will cause spitting back through the carb.

MarkPerez

T,J, don't get a 'dry' fire extinguisher. get a halon unit.
much better then 'dry', doesn't go everywhere and get into everything, like that 'dry' crap seems too.

Rx7carl

You can get decent fire ext at a home deprt/ Lowes etc.

How can it be $$$? Its just a sheetmetal box?

Wankelguy

Hmm, that's funny, I've used gasoline to clean Filtron-type foam filters for 25 years and never had one melt yet. The only problem I ever had was with an Amsoil foam filter when the gas melted the glued seam on the side. Maybe Aussie gas is different, I don't know.

TJ, we're gonna have to start callin' you "Lucky"...

zookeeper

Well, "Lucky" odds are 9 out of 10 that you had a true backfire (ie through the carb) and that flamed ur foam. Belching raw gas out the carb occassionally is not a good thing. As far as the backfire, check your timing - I think if it's advanced too far it can cause backfiring through the intake. At least that's the way it is with pissed-on engines...

claytonjh1223

did you get pics of it all burnt up?!

RotorMotorDriver

iTrader: (1)

I can get pics of the filter later, but everything else is already cleaned.

~T.J.