Fire under the hood!!
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:26 am
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!
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!