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[Leon Novello]

Sorry , I didn`t mean a joke, just what entered my head after I pressed the Send button that you might be offended. Again, I apologise. Drinks are on me.

[Presto]

Very frightening! And thanks for the warning. What concerns me is are you OK Paul?

[Bullet Whisperer]

Thanks, Leon, no problem. 'Drinks on me' could be an expensive night out, though! Thanks, Presto, too - I am fine and the workshop and other bikes are fine, too, thanks. Actually, I now have a very genuine reason to turn Chinese bikes away. Every cloud ... Regards, Paul!

[PeteF]

It certainly makes you think. We do tend to get used to having several gallons of highly flammable liquid in the garage and it only takes a spark in the wrong place........
I just roughly added it up; I have about 6 gallons in the garage and about 5 gallons in the shed. That's in various bikes and engines plus some in cans. That would make quite a bonfire!

[Gwilly]

Certainly food for thought Paul, could so easily have gone the other way..

I wonder how many of us have an extinguisher sat on the wall gathering dust, not having been checked for charge in the last eight years..

Would the thing actually work if you pulled the pin in an emergency.

Does anybody know how long they last unoperated??
Then where best to site it/them? by the bench or beside the main door..

Made me think Paul, Glad you and yours are ok..

[pd110961]

many years ago I had a similar event.. my sisters in laws 2 stroke twist and go moped was flooding.. I drained the tank into a 5 litre petrol container, but forgot to put the top on. I had spilled a bit of petrol on the engine whilst doing this. I took the plug out to pump the vapour from the crank, and it sparked! whoosh! in my panic I jumped back and knocked over the 5 litre container! I had an old co2 powder extinguisher but it was not powerful enough flow.. all I enged up doing was chasing the flames round in circles. eventually the mrs, against all fire fihting principles, got the hose out and it was out in seconds! but not before the moped was a gonner.

[Jojje]

Horrible experience indeed!
Reminds me of an incidence few years ago. After having observed massive smoke development from my BMW (Sic!) wiring harness caused by connecting a new Bosch(!) headlamp relay (made in Hungary!) which grounded itself directly to the ground via its case (too much solder there) beside my leaky-tank Royal Enfield a fire extinguisher has been a permanent apparel in my garage. Now that I think of it, I may get another one.

[Bullet Whisperer]

Just an update, the burns on the back of my left hand are still stinging a bit and look worse now than they did at the time, but I know they are healing ok and have not really bothered me much, I have no hairs on the back of my hands any more! But it has really made me realise how horrible it would be to roast alive while soaked in petrol. Also, out of the debris after the fire, I found a part melted plastic carrier bag which had a couple of paint aerosols in it when all this happened, and an [empty as it happens] plastic petrol can had also been nearby, all things very easy to have lying around, but ready to make their own contribution to an already dangerous and frightening scene. I doubt I will ever become a health and safety nut, but it makes you think! Regards, Paul.

[papasmurf]

[Bullet Whisperer]

I have just noticed, going by the number of views, that whether to wave, nod or flash at other motorcyclists appears to be of much more concern than being able to put a fire out, should one occur. Oh, well ...