Whoops

I was alerted to black smoke billowing from the engine compartment (rear) of the bus I was driving, but was parked at the time. I raced to the rear with a 5kg dry powder extinguisher.
The bus was towed away and I was given a replacement vehicle.
The following day I was summoned to the workshop. I was asked, where, precisely the fire was. I replied that i didn't know, the entire area was obscured in thick, black smoke, so I sprayed the entire area.
"We noticed." was the exasperated reply. [bigrolf]

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Originally Posted by austastar

Hi,
I'm curious as to what sort of fuse would be used for a winch cable.
Cheers

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A big one. On the boat we have a 200A HRC cartridge. Sized to protect the cable, but that’s a relatively small 24V winch.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tote

When we did the Hay River track we carried water sprayers in the case of a build up of spinifex grass igniting. Spinifex gum will build up underneath the vehicle and if it catches fire is difficult to put out as it will reignite if hot enough. We didn't have any worries but as stated above has been a problem for many years. I'd wager that was what happened with the mentioned vehicle .

Regards,
Tote

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I took one of those old brass garden sprayers (with the green wooden handle) on a fish survey in West Vic about 12 years ago, in Feb.

Already knew how good it was dealing with grass type fires...........surprisingly good.

Was mainly for one site where we had to drive a km through dry grass to get the boat to the river. Got lucky with a heavy dew one night so we went for it early and had no probs.

Those things take up next to no space and can be modded to get water out of any type of bottle / jerry / etc.

cheers, DL

Quote:

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Originally Posted by austastar

Hi,
I'm curious as to what sort of fuse would be used for a winch cable.
Cheers

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400a Class T-fuse. They aren’t cheap, and I carry spares!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tombie

400a Class T-fuse. They aren’t cheap, and I carry spares!

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So, Tombie, are you suggesting it would be prudent to get my auto sparky to install a winch fuse in my 'tilly?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tombie

400a Class T-fuse. They aren’t cheap, and I carry spares!

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I've seen your tin of spares ........... [bigwhistle]

Attachment 180748

This is from another site,these people came across the wreck of that LC,that recently burnt.


“Finally Stuart came across the recently burnt out 300 Series that we’d read about in the news a few days before leaving home. As soon as he mentioned where the car was, the signs were evident. At first a few patches of burnt spinifex in between the wheel tracks, becoming more frequent until finally the whole of the track was charred. The vehicle had obviously been on fire for a kilometre or so before the couple driving stopped, escaped with their emergency gear and flames engulfed the car. There was very little of it left at all. The doors and roof were just lumps of molten aluminium. There were a couple of fridge baskets, still with cans of beer inside, along with the usual gas bottles, tent poles and tools scattered around. The couple were commended by emergency services for being properly equipped and doing the right thing (with the possible exception of travelling arguably the most remote track in Australia unaccompanied) - their silver space blanket was still fluttering in a nearby tree. A very sad and scary way for someone’s big adventure to come to an end. “

I suspect the DPFS are down low. I would be very wary of taking any modern diesel into that country unless the DPF was in the engine bay. Otherwise you would need to be stopping very regularly to clear grasses out. Cheers

Spinifex is very flammable even when green and as has been said once hot enough can reignite. Many years ago on one of our early trips in a 1970 FJ40 Tojo (we had a Landy in the group too) we had several scares when the spinifex built up against the front tailshaft as the belly plate was acting like a scythe. Just the friction of the shaft against the spinifex packed around it would create enough heat for it to ignite. The solution was to remove the belly plate.
Another source of ignition is in some vehicles with overactive traction control in soft sand the brakes can get hot enough to ignite spinifex trapped near them.
DPF's and Catalytic converters are a menace in such country and you need a good source of water and drive with the window down so you can get the first whiff of smoke to avoid the vehicle going up in flames. Garden sprayers are good as the water needs to be usually sprayed upwards under the vehicle and we keep several large PET soft drink bottles full of water handy on the floor. Lids for the bottles with about a 3mm hole in them are kept in the door pocket to be fitted in a time of need. When fitted with the holey lids they can dispense a large amount of water quickly.
When buying garden sprayers spend the money and buy the good ones with metal nozzles and wands, the plastic ones melt!
Never ever stop a vehicle with DPF or cat converter over any sort of grass , they will ignite and burn very quickly, just ask the NSW Highway Patrol how well the diesel BMW's burn ;-))

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Originally Posted by ozscott

I suspect the DPFS are down low. I would be very wary of taking any modern diesel into that country unless the DPF was in the engine bay. Otherwise you would need to be stopping very regularly to clear grasses out. Cheers

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They are on that model,one large one down low just after where the exhaust headers join,in the middle of the vehicle,so does point to this being the issue.
The last model has two,just before where the headers join, with very solid open guards protecting them,havent seen an issue.

The BT50 work ute we have has a huge plate under the DPF area,which,in my opinion will help grass,and other debris get caught around the DPF,not the greatest idea.
It was added as an afterthought at its first service by the manufacturer.
I must check the Ranger we have as well.