lincmercguy
Silver Member
This happened Friday after brush hogging the larger areas that I keep mowed. I mowed about an hour, ate a quick dinner, and finished another 45 minutes. I parked it here and went to spray thistle on the 4 wheeler and my wife and kids yell "fire" at me. Must have been electrical, but the only work done in the past couple of years has been maintenance and a couple of cosmetic things.
Things I did right and lessons for others:
1. I parked it outside after mowing. I usually do this to let the mower cool off before detaching it.
2. I parked it on the rocks. I do this for the same reason. It wouldn't have been an issue today.
3. I had two large fire extinguishers in the shop (behind me in the picture). I used the entirety of one and had the second ready in case it flared back up. One of my neighbors ran over with his, but we didn't need them. I will now have three, and larger ones.
I had it extinguished when the FD arrived. They sprayed it with one of their water/foam extinguishers and checked the temperature of everything.
4. I was able to disconnect the battery without tools. The fire was out, but it shorted something to cause the starter to engage. It didn't start since it needs power to open the fuel solenoid. The fuel lines had burned through already.
5. After the FD got done, I hosed off all of the stuff from the extinguishers.
6. I had bolts and clamps to plug the fuel lines. Don't want $100 worth of diesel to drain out.
7. It's insured. I was very specific about it when I changed carriers last year.
I don't think it's a total loss. Even if they say it is, I think it's worth fixing.
I'm still pissed, but it could have been a lot worse.
Things I did right and lessons for others:
1. I parked it outside after mowing. I usually do this to let the mower cool off before detaching it.
2. I parked it on the rocks. I do this for the same reason. It wouldn't have been an issue today.
3. I had two large fire extinguishers in the shop (behind me in the picture). I used the entirety of one and had the second ready in case it flared back up. One of my neighbors ran over with his, but we didn't need them. I will now have three, and larger ones.
I had it extinguished when the FD arrived. They sprayed it with one of their water/foam extinguishers and checked the temperature of everything.
4. I was able to disconnect the battery without tools. The fire was out, but it shorted something to cause the starter to engage. It didn't start since it needs power to open the fuel solenoid. The fuel lines had burned through already.
5. After the FD got done, I hosed off all of the stuff from the extinguishers.
6. I had bolts and clamps to plug the fuel lines. Don't want $100 worth of diesel to drain out.
7. It's insured. I was very specific about it when I changed carriers last year.
I don't think it's a total loss. Even if they say it is, I think it's worth fixing.
I'm still pissed, but it could have been a lot worse.