Fire under the hood!!

[artc]

Yesterday i decided to mow a couple acres at the Zagray farm with my 240U.Got the tractor out of the shed and started hooking up the bush hog. Thought i smelled something like a campfire sort of smell once, but couldnt place it. I checked to see if the brake drums were hot, because one of them hangs up occasionally. They weren't. I have all the parts for replacement in a box, just haven't gotten a round-to-it.
Made one pass around the field and got another whiff of burning smell. Looked at the engine, and through the space between the hood and the air cleaner i could see flames. Well, it was key off and me off the tractor in an instant! Like as if i'd run over a yellow jacket nest or something! That fire being only a foot from the fuel tank and all.
Now, some smoke is coming out from under the hood of what is one of my favorite tractors, and a small flame on top of the exhaust manifold. I sneak a peek and blow out the flame.
Aha! Now i see the problem! a mouse had decided to build his home out of bits of dried grass and pine needles on the manifold between the exhaust pipe and the valve cover.
I had a pair of leather gloves with me, and with those on I was able to reach in and pull out the remaining smoking embers, but there wasn't much left to get out.
Satisfied that i've cured the problem, i went back to mowing. Disaster averted!

[ScottyD'sdad]

Art, danged mice caused me similar grief, this spring. A mouse nest, under the engine shroud of my wood splitter, caught fire. $100 worth of damage, due to a lot of plastic parts, and the coil, melting. I hates meeses to pieces!!! Ed

[Cub parts man]

Art

I am so glad you got the flames out before it got out of controll.

Norm

[KETCHAM]

MMMMMM Roasted mouse!!! I'm sure he was long gone.Not good anyways.Maybe heor she won't be back.Kevin

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

When I moved my tractors form the open shed at the farm to my new shed I noticed a birds nest on the manifold of the H (used to be a common find when one sat for a while in the summer). I cleaned it out (I thought), and took it to the new shed. While driving it in our local clubs tractor cruise last fall, I noticed flames showing between the exhaust pipe and hood. I had missed part of the nest. I stopped to clear it out, vut it was out before I could get to it.

[Pony Master]

Nice save! I look for things like that after a few minor incidences.

[VinceD]

Glad your story had a happy ending - it could have gone the other way

[NawlensGator]

That is a VERY common occurance around these parts. Wrens love to build nests on the manifolds and several people I know with A's, 140's, etc have had them catch fire, including me. Now I always clean the top of the manifold before starting and many times I'm removing birds nests in various stages of development. I've never met anyone who had their tractor burn up though.