Petrol is dangerous: UPDATED WITH LATEST PIC!
Turbo Mini Forums

So, I was helping a fellow brit try to start his TR6 on Sunday. Timing was something like right, but it didn't want to play at all...

We thought that the old fuel in the carbs might be the problem, so whipped the tops off the strombergs, and poured some fresh fuel into the throats. Cranked engine over, it spat the fuel back (over my hands - nothing to worry about, it's happened before) - so twisted the dizzy a little, cranked the engine and WHOOOOMPHHHH! Off the the burns clinic we go.

I've done this kinda thing a hundred times before - trickled fuel into carbs and the like - but have obviously got complacent.

One thing I always have in my garage/workshop though, is a fire extringuisher - my friend had nothing.

So, I nearly blew up my friends concours TR, torched his house, and have a hand that has 1st and partial 2nd degree burns on the back of it (luckilly no grafting needed as the palm and fronts of fingers are fine). Feeling very silly.



And we still didn't get the bugger started!

Edited by turbodave16v on 23rd May, 2005.

SH1T the bed


I have done this trick many times before as well, pouring some 'rol down the mouth of an SU on a Mini or MGB reluctant to start.. Makes you think.


Glad you are OK Dave.

Wow, could have been much worse. Hope you heal up OK.

glad ure ok, a lesson learn't thoe

I got my latest mini going on Sunday using the same trick I am warey especialy when the petrol hits the warm exhaust but I will always be a chancer.
Hope you heel up ok best of luck

http://www.rabdunn.co.uk/

Glad your ok...

Thats all that matters really

Alex

AlexF

sounds nasty mate. glad your ok though

If it breaks... build a much faster one

glad you got out alright

atleast you didnt burn off your eyebrows

Got any pics??

Feel stupid myself, was workin on engine fan at work and someone jumped in tha seat and flicked tha key. Luckily no lost limbs just a big scar and alot of swearing!!

i think the person who turned the key might be the stupid one for not paying attention to you having your hands in the engine bay

Edited by clubman_dan on 10th May, 2005.

just got caught out dave sorry to hear that

been there many times, not happent to me yet
hope not, never

any way your ok and thats what counts

what actually ignited the fuel????

You didn't burn your "Dale" shirt did you ?
Seriousley, glad your ok man.

WWW.TURBO-MINI.COM

At least if its the back of your hands you can still..... exercise *cough*

Glad you are ok tho

ouch, do you want me to post you some grapes dave? As your in the states did you have to pay togo to hospital?

Team Racing

Not had the bill yet Jim.

I'm on a 80/20 scheme - my insurance pays for 80%, I foot the rest.
A&E was $75 however, which i'll have to pay. All my visits to the burns clinic are also 80/20, along with the bandages, lotions and potions which I'm changing daily. Need to get a tetanus jab aswell, which will cost $25 just to see my doctor, and probably another $25 for the injection.
it does suck really - if you have private healthcare in England, all you pay for is parking at the hospital. I also paid less (even at the current exch rate) for my private healthcare (100% charge) in England than I do here (and it's only 80% charge)...

Pictures to follow~

email them to me if you need them hosting dave, get well soon bud

Team Racing

Yes definately, get well soon Dave.

Here we go guys.
Looks a lot better now than it did a week ago!

The burns on my index finger are 3rd degree - will probably lose feeling on the back of this finger (not too important really - at least it wasn't the palm side).
Little finger also suffered badly, but you can't see it clearly (just aswell).

Something else interesting - my fingernails (not the thumbnail mind) on the damaged hand have stopped growing! Almost like the body is concentrating on repairing, rather than growing!

Don't go clicking if you're sensitive! No-one go posting it and making peeps sick either please!

http://www.turbominis.co.uk/_iain/up/dc_hand.jpg




Thankyou for your wishes - should be out of the bandages (apart from index and lickle finger) on thursday...

Edited by turbodave16v on 18th Jul, 2020.

OUCH!

My words to myself when I opened that picture-

"Oooh you bastard!"

Nasty........

Think I will go buy an extinguisher or two this weekend.....

Make it three. One on each side of the garage, and one near the door. Plus any others for inside the vehicle...

A bucket of water will work wonders for most garage fires however, and much easier to clean than powder!!!

I generally keep an old windowlene bottle with water in handy as it is just the job for the small fires you start when doing a bit of welding. But a proper extinguisher would not go amiss, I think I will get a CO2 one as they also don't make a mess. (And I can get it filled at work if I use it)

Looks like shrimps :)

Hope you get OK Dave... No fingerin' with the missus for days now..