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nemobuscaptain
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Joined: March 07, 2002
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mikedjames
Samba Member
Joined: July 02, 2012
Posts: 2745
Location: Hamble, Hampshire, UK
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 Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2022 8:33 am Post subject: Re: Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you! FAQ |
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A fuel shutoff solenoid triggered by the loss of pressure in something like a Blazecut may leave you with a small enough fire to put out.
I managed to set fire to my bus on the driveway, then I turned off the ignition which shut the fuel valve in my setup. Then used a 2lb dry powder extinguisher - half under the bus for the small pool of burning fuel, the remainder in the engine bay.
Messy but the bus was driving again 2 days later.
_________________
Ancient vehicles and vessels
1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.
1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy |
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nemobuscaptain
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Joined: March 07, 2002
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nemobuscaptain
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 3874
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2022 3:32 am Post subject: |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| mcdonaldneal wrote: |
| Wildthings wrote: |
Interesting that no flames or smoke are seen coming out of the pillar vents. |
I guess the engine is still running and the fan is drawing air in through the vents? Although the access hatch is also open! |
Yes but it blew the hatch open without sending flames or smoke out of the vents, this just seems odd. Obviously there was at least momentarily a fairly high pressure in the engine compartment. |
Pretty common for a fire to be burning under the vehicle where the gas pools, so maybe not using the vents for a chimney.
The first couple of times a gas tank blows, new firefighters always jump. It sounds like a small bomb and flashes a good deal of heat, like enough to melt your faceshield (at least the old equipment from the 80s and early 90s anyway, maybe todays equipment is far better).
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Ohio Valley Tribe, Full Moon Bus Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/294422277314227/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FullMoonBusClub
RIP Bob Hoover https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=427791
Hoover Sermons: https://www.vwsage.com/images/vwsage/Bob%20Hoovers%20Sermons.pdf |
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nemobuscaptain
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Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 3874
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| Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2022 3:03 am Post subject: |
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| Hoody wrote: |
| I am curious about Scott's customer's negative issue with Gates Barricade. I am leaning towards their product. It's tested with alcohol... Wondering why it failed? |
Well, my first guess is that the story was either exaggerated or even fabricated. My second guess a counterfeit product, likely from China. A friend of mine enforces import violations with US Customs this stuff and says it is rampant, from batteries, to baby food, to electronics. China is good at copying, and copy they do. US catches only the smallest fractions of violators. I won't buy things like fuel hose off Ebay or Amazon because of this. There is no policing going on by them.
You can google Gates Barricade and see how many similar failures you can find. I doubt you will find even one.
You can spend just a few minutes in an VW forum and find hundreds of premature failures of the "Good German stuff". VWs and Audis burn like Bob Marley for a reason. Audis in the 80s may have been worse than VW. The rubber is shit. You don't see this with old Toyotas, Hondas, or even Mericun cars. No one has to change their hoses every other year or so. The VW shops I frequented in the 80s always had burned VWs on the lot even then. The German fuel hoses were always shit.
And don't even get me started with VW's electrical safety and all the unfused hot wires running from bumper to bumper.
I still love vintage VWs though. It's a disease.
| Busbodger wrote: |
| None of the OEM (new) vehicles have been sold with glass or plastic fuel filters in what - fifty plus years? I'll second the metal filter. |
That's a clue, right?
How many companies are still using just good old German metal screens in the tank and fuel pump and no fuel filters at all?
| DougB wrote: |
| Turned out that I missed one of the 1.5" connection hose segments for the vapor lines...this one was on the left side of the engine bay, between the spare tire well and the outer body sheet metal (and pretty hard to see unless you're trying to) |
I don't think I've ever looked at a bus which was for sale that didn't need that replaced.
_________________
Ohio Valley Tribe, Full Moon Bus Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/294422277314227/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FullMoonBusClub
RIP Bob Hoover https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=427791
Hoover Sermons: https://www.vwsage.com/images/vwsage/Bob%20Hoovers%20Sermons.pdf
Last edited by nemobuscaptain on Sat Aug 27, 2022 3:42 am; edited 2 times in total |
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notchboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2002
Posts: 22463
Location: Escondido CA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2021 6:54 am Post subject: Re: Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you! FAQ |
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| WhirledTraveller wrote: |
My Bus *almost* went up in smoke about a month ago.
Started it up in the garage and was backing out, everything normal, when I decided to hop out and check to make sure I wasn't about to hit the garage door.
Something was dripping pretty steadily from under the engine! Thought it might be oil so I dipped a finger in it. Nope, GAS!
Shut the engine down right quick. The spray was directly out of several pinhole leaks in the FI fuel hose prior to the cold start valve and directed straight at the distributor. This hose had been replaced when I purchased the bus in 2008 with proper "German Metric High Pressure" (Contitech 7x3mm) fuel hose. I knew it was past due but thought the "replace every 8 years" crowd was a bunch of nervous nellies.
Now Replaced with Gates Barricade. |
Sometimes the VW Gods smile upon you. Sometimes.
Link
_________________
| t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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babysnakes
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Joined: August 19, 2008
Posts: 7108
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 12:44 pm Post subject: Re: Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you! FAQ |
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| Good catch,Gates is the best in my opinion. |
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WhirledTraveller
Samba Member
Joined: January 09, 2008
Posts: 1399
Location: Cambridge, MA
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| Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 12:23 pm Post subject: Re: Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you! FAQ |
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My Bus *almost* went up in smoke about a month ago.
Started it up in the garage and was backing out, everything normal, when I decided to hop out and check to make sure I wasn't about to hit the garage door.
Something was dripping pretty steadily from under the engine! Thought it might be oil so I dipped a finger in it. Nope, GAS!
Shut the engine down right quick. The spray was directly out of several pinhole leaks in the FI fuel hose prior to the cold start valve and directed straight at the distributor. This hose had been replaced when I purchased the bus in 2008 with proper "German Metric High Pressure" (Contitech 7x3mm) fuel hose. I knew it was past due but thought the "replace every 8 years" crowd was a bunch of nervous nellies.
Now Replaced with Gates Barricade.
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1977 Westy, Automatic. Big Valve heads, CS Cam. |
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nemobuscaptain
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Joined: March 07, 2002
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nemobuscaptain
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nemobuscaptain
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Joined: March 07, 2002
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| Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 9:10 pm Post subject: Re: Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you! |
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| Pinetops wrote: |
How long do you think this bus has left to live?
Link
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As a former FF, Im pretty suspicious that was set, for dramatic purposes. Odd and unlikely to have two separate fires like that.
Just reach down and grab sand, dirt, whatever while you wait for the extinguisher. And close the hatch. You are feeding the fire.
EDIT: OMG, now it still RUNS after the fire? Bulls#%@
| cmonSTART wrote: |
Ya, seems reasonable - probably a lot of odd wiring done in there.
Interesting the left rear corner got so hot - probably a lot of electronics in there for the solar system. |
That's actually to be expected. Chimneys on both sides of the bus, so burns up to the vents. Probalby the other side is burned like that too.
I agree that that solar makes me suspicious. It also looks stupid. No way they needed that. They were just trying to out #vanlife the others by carrying the most solar panels.
_________________
Ohio Valley Tribe, Full Moon Bus Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/294422277314227/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FullMoonBusClub
RIP Bob Hoover https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=427791
Hoover Sermons: https://www.vwsage.com/images/vwsage/Bob%20Hoovers%20Sermons.pdf |
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BUSBOSS
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Joined: January 21, 2009
Posts: 2161
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2019 12:03 pm Post subject: Re: Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you! FAQ |
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Got the answer from Blazecut directly. The hose is 19mm so 3/4" clamps will do it.
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All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
1976 Westfalia
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (sold - but not forgotten) |
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BUSBOSS
Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2009
Posts: 2161
Location: Northern California
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| Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2019 11:16 pm Post subject: Re: Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you! |
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| BayCreamPuff wrote: |
Posted my 6' blazecut in another thread, but might as well add it here as well.
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Did you use 3/4" rubber insulated clamps or 7/8"?
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All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
1976 Westfalia
1970 Karmann Ghia Convertible (sold - but not forgotten) |
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RoadHazard
Samba Member
Joined: May 05, 2019
Posts: 13
Location: Sebring, Florida, USA
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| Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 3:38 am Post subject: Re: Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you! FAQ |
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Geeze...the fire department is more interested in saving the asphalt! 
Remembering not to leave the engine compartment lid open... 
| Rubber Duck wrote: |
I've mentioned this in passing before, but never got a response...has anyone tried Cold Fire? I went to their website just now and read a little excerpt about a racer:
| Quote: |
Cold Fire helped save the life of Andy Hillenburg on April 3rd, 2000 at Texas Motor Speedway, when his Number 2 Luxaire J&J hit the berm and a brake rotor punctured the fuel cell, which started a fire.
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Is it worth looking into a fuel cell to install in an early Bay?
Would the capacity increase or decrease?
.
_________________
VW/Porsche History:
1960 Karmann-Ghia, 1962 Beetle, 1970 Porsche 914/6, 1971 Porsche 914/6, 1962 Porsche 356B,
1965 Porsche 356C, 1982 Vanagon Westphalia—Diesel, 1984 Vanagon Westphalia, 1971 VW Westphalia—green, 1971 VW Westphalia—white |
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GEEBEE
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Joined: October 29, 2006
Posts: 92
Location: 92270
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| Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2018 2:35 pm Post subject: 7mm fUEL LINE |
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If you want a special shape, I will mfg a steel mandrell and pre-shape it ?
Or
please advise me the length you want and I will send that ..
i WILL INCLUDE FIRESLEEVE AND IT WILL BE MATTE BLACK FABRIC FINISH.
[email protected]
I mfg all the vanagon and Sl300 Gull wing hoses and seals
GB
GEE-BEE RACING
GEE-BEE AERO PRODUCTS LLC
I ALSO REPRODUCE GASKETS USING ONLY SILICONE WITH FIBERGLASS, WE STOCK FIVE DIFFERENT THICKNESS |
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TomWesty
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Joined: November 23, 2007
Posts: 3482
Location: Wyoming,USA
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| Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you! FAQ |
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Nah, I saw a Beechcraft not a GeeBee.
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If you haven't bled on them, you haven't worked on them.
Visit: www.tomcoryell.com and check out my music! |
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ivwshane
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2011
Posts: 1920
Location: Sacramento ca
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| Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 5:14 pm Post subject: Re: Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you! FAQ |
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| GEEBEE wrote: |
I will be mfg flurosilicone 7 mm and I will include correct lined clamps
There will be black fire sleeve to slide on and two pieces of heat shrink to secure the sleeve in placeand keeps the sleeve from wicking.
The fire sleeve is aerospace spec
2500 burn test for 15 minutes
I will include his with the engine breather kit
The engine breather hoses are now flurosilicone ( fuel and oil resistant )
Gee-Bee Racing
85 % of my work is aircraft |
For those who have purchased all your bus products so far, like me, will they be able to purchase your new stuff only?
For those that aren't aware, gee-bee makes quality stuff! If you care more about quality and longevity over originality, there isn't anything out there that is better, imo.
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77 westy 2.0 FI
69 ghia coup 1600dp
70 single cab |
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Xevin 
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Joined: January 08, 2014
Posts: 7635
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| Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 10:20 am Post subject: Re: Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you! FAQ |
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Yes Steve. He does.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=87156
_________________
Keep on Busin'
| 67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
| Clatter wrote: |
| Damn that Xevin... |
| skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
I respect Xevin and he's a turd  |
| SGKent wrote: |
My God! Xevin and I 100% agree  |
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SGKent
Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007
Posts: 41031
Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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| Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 10:04 am Post subject: Re: Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you! FAQ |
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| KentPS wrote: |
I got to see GEEBEE's shop when I picked up my new S-boot. It's a great facility, and Guy is either a genius or very close to it, because I didn't understand about half of what he talked about. And I worked in aircraft maintenance for 15 years. I even knew what a Geebee was, and saw one fly once at a Yakima air show.
If GEEBEE goes into making 7mm fuel hoses, they are bound to be good. |
Does GEEBEE own and/or fly a GEEBEE? As I recall they were the speed racers of the mid-1930's. I've wondered about this because of his business name for sometime.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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KentABQ
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Joined: September 11, 2016
Posts: 2406
Location: Albuquerque NM
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| Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 9:10 am Post subject: Re: Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you! FAQ |
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I got to see GEEBEE's shop when I picked up my new S-boot. It's a great facility, and Guy is either a genius or very close to it, because I didn't understand about half of what he talked about. And I worked in aircraft maintenance for 15 years. I even knew what a Geebee was, and saw one fly once at a Yakima air show.
If GEEBEE goes into making 7mm fuel hoses, they are bound to be good.
_________________
-Kent-
1976 Riviera, 1.8l FI chrome yellow VAN - "Chloe"
"I must say, how can you be in a bad mood driving this vehicle full of vibrant color.
Cars of today are so bland in comparison. It's like driving a celebration!" ---WildIdea
Bus ownership via emoticons:
      ---williamM |
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