Now the good and some differences

SnowRidge · May 9, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( With the engine off there is no open flame or spark to ignite the gasoline! A hot PT muffler is not hot enough to ignite it. )</font>

Our hot PT muffler ignites dry grass clippings at shutdown all the time. We've learned to deal with it.

We DO NOT refuel until the machine has had a few minutes to cool off with the hood up, and any smoldering grass clippings have been dealt with.

SnowRidge

toy · May 10, 2004

Some of these days after you have been working your pt and it is getting late in the evening, park your pt on a level spot and place a lawn chair next to it where you can look inside that muffler. You will find that there is a fiery inferno inside the muffler and the insulation on the muffler has the heat disguised. You are correct about it being the fumes that burn. If by chance you should spill just a few drops of gas just enough to run down the side that small amount of gas still gives off fumes and a fire would track that few drops right up to the gas tank that would respond just as you said but that partially empty can that you are holding is full of fumes , and giving all of the excitment and looking for that something flat to put over the tank and the gas can burning at the same time and you needing to do something about that also. For myself I like to caution on the side of safety, but to each his own singed eyebrows and all.

toy · May 10, 2004

I was thinking of what you said about the large confining chamber, were you talking about the space above the gas spout on the gas tank as the confining chamber. as your example of a milk jug if it were lying on its side there would be space above the opening of the milk jug? Talking about the hood being raised.

jol1269 · May 11, 2004

well all this being said . i still think i will install the extinghiser and try not to fill too full . im not a fireman or a physist but i do know that gas torch my beast . thanks inpart to that ole saying anything that can go wrong will go wrong and we all know expect the unexpected /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

toy · May 12, 2004

I think that a fire extinguisher is a must. If you have one of the newer 425s that has a gas tank built in the hood, you know that fluid flows down hill. Take a level put it in center of the exhaust outlet and level it up verticale. Measure from the level to the cap in the tank. Now open the hood and measure the distance between the gas cap and the plumb level. With it down it is 4 inches back to the cap opening , with it opened it is 36 inches. With the hood raised you cannot fill the tank any fuller than the lower part of the opening which when you let it down it will lack some being totally full which will help you gauge that to a degree to not overfill it. On my tank the gas opening has no space above the opening with the hood raised. With it down it is possible to fill it all the way to the top, and some think that 4 inches back from the muffler is saffer that 36 inches but when it comes to safety don't fill it up at all when it is hot not even if your machine is in a comprimising position or place, because of danger. The last part of that safety tip is probably the least followed tip of all as most would tell you if truth be told. I have been curious as to what is hot close to the cap when the hood is opened. I like that old saying it will keep you out of trouble a lot of times because it keeps you thinking ahead befor a problem occures.

MossRoad · May 12, 2004

I almost always top it off before I start it for the first time. Nice and cool then. Good time to check the oil, kick the tires and inspect for drips, too. It'll usually run about 4+ hours on 4+ gallons of gas, so it is far past break time at 4 hours on the PT. I also take the opportunity to enjoy a cool beverage when the tractor needs re-filling. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Let it cool off while I cool off, then give it a look over, fill it up and off again. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

toy · May 12, 2004

That is a good way to do it I fill mine up qat the first also but some jobs takes longer than 4 hrs. With the insulation around the exhaust [which is necessary I beleive on my model] will hold the heat in longer than one that doesn't have the insulation. You can not only drink that cold soda but also eat a big juicy hamburger and the muffler will still be hot inside. I like the sharing of ideas on this forum it is educational shows what can be acomplished with these machines, shows some safety concerns new ways to do things, shows ideas that you have but are a little reluctant to try until you see someone that has tried it and it works for them,. I also like to know troubles that others are having and how they solve their problems. It is a good place to learn.