Yesterday afternoon I welded a large (for 3/8 screw) coped bung to my frame backbone, to use as the rear mount for my gas tank. Welding went very well. Nice looking welds all around except for the very front portion - which I will redo tonight.
Anyway, I was careful to cover the lower portion of the bike with a leather welding apron hung over the frame, from the area I was welding on towards the back.
So I'm putting everything away, unplugging, closing gas bottle, etc and I turn around and am seeing smoke, along with this general "glow" coming from under the leather. I pull it off and low and behold one of my foam Uni filters is just calmly burning away, with a gentle flame.
I guess a spark, or a flying bit of molten wire must have bounced off something else and kind of ricocheted under there and caught the foam on fire.
But it was such a mellow little fire - what if I hadn't noticed it?
These carbs haven't had gas in them for several years now - but what if? ya know? I'm just imagining there being gas in the bowls, (and if the bike had been running recently) fumes in that area.
Whew.
I've had a shop rag catch fire before, when I was not careful. But what gets me is I WAS careful this time, and it happened anyway.
Note to self: be MORE careful - and after EACH bead, check to see nothing is burning.
The filters are no big deal - I was going to get new ones anyway, as these are too long and AQUA in color. lol, not the color of my dreams.
Still very disconcerting. Just wanted to tell about this for the purpose of reminding everyone - especially fairly inexperienced welders (like me) to be careful and take nothing for granted.
Anyway, I'm pretty geeked about my new "bung" and look forward to moving forward! Cooler weather ROCKS for getting this done - only thing is soon it will be very dark very early out in my workplace, so then THAT will be the limiting factor.
ok, enuf from me - have a good one!
Anyway, I was careful to cover the lower portion of the bike with a leather welding apron hung over the frame, from the area I was welding on towards the back.
So I'm putting everything away, unplugging, closing gas bottle, etc and I turn around and am seeing smoke, along with this general "glow" coming from under the leather. I pull it off and low and behold one of my foam Uni filters is just calmly burning away, with a gentle flame.
I guess a spark, or a flying bit of molten wire must have bounced off something else and kind of ricocheted under there and caught the foam on fire.
But it was such a mellow little fire - what if I hadn't noticed it?
These carbs haven't had gas in them for several years now - but what if? ya know? I'm just imagining there being gas in the bowls, (and if the bike had been running recently) fumes in that area.
Whew.
I've had a shop rag catch fire before, when I was not careful. But what gets me is I WAS careful this time, and it happened anyway.
Note to self: be MORE careful - and after EACH bead, check to see nothing is burning.
The filters are no big deal - I was going to get new ones anyway, as these are too long and AQUA in color. lol, not the color of my dreams.
Still very disconcerting. Just wanted to tell about this for the purpose of reminding everyone - especially fairly inexperienced welders (like me) to be careful and take nothing for granted.
Anyway, I'm pretty geeked about my new "bung" and look forward to moving forward! Cooler weather ROCKS for getting this done - only thing is soon it will be very dark very early out in my workplace, so then THAT will be the limiting factor.
ok, enuf from me - have a good one!