Running an engine hooked up to a trickle charger

[rushes]

Dang!

So sorry to hear this. Your parents are such nice people.

I have no clue about the charger. I'm more inclined to think there may have been some fuel leaking from somewhere.

Stored vehicles get dried out crumbly fuel lines sometimes.

 

[gregory]

This happened in Tucson. Not much information in the story.

https://www.kvoa.com/story/28894169/fire-crews-respond-to-eastside-garage-fire

Poor pops hasn't even seen it yet. When I talked to him today, they were east of Topeka Kansas on the way back in the motorhome. They are going to have to push hard to meet the ins guys on Monday. Not an easy task for a 77 year old fart. Brother feels like **** to be sure, but he has done it before with no fire (as has pops). Don't know if they will ever get the true cause.

Thanks for all the support, I will pass it on to pops, who will need it when he finally gets home and sees the garage first hand. There was quite a bit of my deceased moms stuff and my dad's wife mothers stuff that cannot be replaced, but I guess you have no choice but to move on....

Stay safe out there!

Greg

 

[mcatrophy]

... I just went out and cut the power and figure for now on I'll turn it on for 5-6 hours once a month or so. Now I can sleep soundly again.

I strongly suggest you check the un-powered charger doesn't pull any current from the battery. My son had this happen, his bike was laid up for a year or so, he had it on a charger with a time switch, on for an hour once a week. The "off" discharge current eventually completely flattened the battery, which turned it into a lead-filled paper-weight.
Until you know for sure, disconnect it when not powered.

 

[Bugnatr]

We this just sucks but so glad to read no one was hurt and that's the real issue. I had a customer working on his old expensive car when it caught fire in his garage. He tried to put it out by himself and died in the fire. Could have been much worse.

 

[Wee Willy]

Odds are the fire started with something in the Vette unrelated to the trickle charger. An idea or two: Carbureted engines lose fuel in the bowls when the car is stored and the gaskets will dry out. Dry gaskets don't seal as well and when you fire it up (no pun intended) the fuel will begin to seep through. Ignition source could be almost any electrical spark like a distributor, loose wiring, etc. Another possibility is something coming into contact with the header pipes near the block like a bird's nest, paper, dead leaves, etc. The headers near the block can get get hot enough to light paper.

Modern trickle chargers have simple surge circuitry and fuses built into the system to preclude things like this.

Wee WIlly

 

[rushes]

Praying things go well with the insurance guy tomorrow...

 

[gregory]

Thanks Rushes,

They are in Holloman ABF (Dad is retired AF) for the night. Looks like Tuesday for the INS meeting. He thanks everyone for the well wishes, as do I.

Greg

 

[Mudslide Miller]

Also glad no one was hurt in the incident Greg. Sucks to lose all that precious cargo. Tell your pops we're all thinking about him and wish him the best. I'm sure it will suck the life out of him when he actually sees it.

 

[Jer]

We this just sucks but so glad to read no one was hurt and that's the real issue. I had a customer working on his old expensive car when it caught fire in his garage. He tried to put it out by himself and died in the fire. Could have been much worse.

I am a rather stupid guy, but I can't figure what could be worse than death by fire. Would you mind explaining that statement.

 

[MCRIDER007]

We this just sucks but so glad to read no one was hurt and that's the real issue. I had a customer working on his old expensive car when it caught fire in his garage. He tried to put it out by himself and died in the fire. Could have been much worse.

I am a rather stupid guy, but I can't figure what could be worse than death by fire. Would you mind explaining that statement.

I think he is referring to the fire that destroyed Gregory's father's garage when he said "could have been much worse".

 

[HotRodZilla]

Right. He's saying the OP's fire would have been worse if someone had gotten hurt.

He's Canadian, so his English isn't very good.

 

[exskibum]

Right. He's saying the OP's fire would have been worse if someone had gotten hurt. He's Canadian, so his English isn't very good.

Doug is Canadian? I knew he wasn't a native Californicator, but Canuckistani? The invasion is only 2 miles from my house, then?!?

 

[HotRodZilla]

Oh ****...I thought that was Bungie. Lol. I'm Mexican, so my reading is questionable. I can't believe I called Bug a Canadian. I bet the Canadians are all upset now, and I can't blame them.

 

[bluesdog]

Oh ****...I thought that was Bungie. Lol. I'm Mexican, so my reading is questionable. I can't believe I called Bug a Canadian. I bet the Canadians are all upset now, and I can't blame them.

Gonna go medieval on you. We're sending both Justin Bieber AND Celine Dion

OP, damn shame about the fire. Glad no one was injured.

 

[exskibum]

Bluesdog, that is a really ugly threat. Please reconsider and spare the innocents here. Zilla has admitted fault, so wouldn't it be enough if he agreed to listen to those two sonic weapons in 8 hour shifts as penance?

 

[HotRodZilla]

**** that. I'll just take the ass-kicking!

 

[Twigg]

Right. He's saying the OP's fire would have been worse if someone had gotten hurt.
He's Canadian, so his English isn't very good.

Did an American just say that?

:: whistles innocently ::

To the OP ... I too am sad to hear of the loss of what sounds like an old guy's prized items, but as bug so ambiguously said, "It could have been so much worse", and we are all thankful that it wasn't.

 

[Bugnatr]

We this just sucks but so glad to read no one was hurt and that's the real issue. I had a customer working on his old expensive car when it caught fire in his garage. He tried to put it out by himself and died in the fire. Could have been much worse

Thanks Zilla, at least you can speak merican but you are right- those Canadians are pissed now. Yes I did mean IT could have been much worse for Greg's brother.

Uffda Rich, don't you know a Minnesot'n when you you hear one?

 

[gregory]

Thanks all,

We will pump copius amounts of the beebs and celion into Zilla's helmet at SW FOG.

Pops made it home yesterday, and the full force of the event hit him pretty hard when he saw it in person. I have passed on everybodys good wishes and I think it has helped quite a bit, and I humbly that all for the support.

Greg