Hi All,I was wondering if what happened a few days ago was avoidable i.e something wrong with the bikes timing or carb setting etc.I was firing up the WM20 as usual,retard-fuel on-tickle-kick on valve lifter etc to go of to work last week,when she spat back after nearly starting,when i looked down as i do not start it on the stand,i saw flames coming out of the carb intake.Not to worried at this point but soon realised that the flooded float was fuelling the flames further,so of went the fuel cocks.I tried to lean the bike over to the left to try to stop it burning the petrol tank and cables etc.Anyway after a lot of patting with my gauntlet gloves(still managed to burn my hand,quite literally in the heat of the moment)It went out,but not before it scorched/burnt the petrol tank,ht lead,air/throttle cables,me.Obviously it was a bit scary for a while there,with visions of the bike going up in flames,but is there something wrong with the bike?.It is not going to be to hard to fix but i would not want it to happen again if it is avoidable.Any ideas?
Plus where can i get the cables from quickly?
Other than that after the gear box work at xmas she'd been going great guns,the odd back fire when throttling of in traffic.
Has this happened to anyone else?
Cheers to you all,Phil.

I use JJ Cables...01926 651470...Ian

I had that happen once, back when I had first resored my M20, and was still running with an open bellmouth carb. it not only caught fire like yours did, the flames ignited my beautiful Broad-Arrow marked tire pump, which had some highly inflammable rubbery coating on it-that thing burned to a crisp in a minute or so, leaving only the metal innards. By the time flames were licking up the sides of the gas tank, and a jet of flame was coming from the pinhole on the gas cap, i figured I had better abandon ship Fortunately, a neighbor came running with a fire extinguisher, and quickly put it out. Now, I run with an air cleaner, and keep a small FE in the pannier bag.

I never had it happen, but I'm petrified it will, I have a chemical fire extinguisher under the flap of the pannier bag which is accessible in about 5 seconds. It can happen. I've read an account of a Canadian DR, issued a brand new G3L, the first time he kicked it over, it caught fire and burnt to the ground, then he had to explain it to hi CO. The only difference would be you'd be explaining it to the insurance adjuster.

Sam, Royal Enfield seemed to be ahead of the game in this respect, by fitting a larger bell mouth with gauze filter to at least their models WDC and CO's. I think they were more to do with flame arresting than filtering the air. I have seen these on 16H's but can't find a refrence to them in either of my parts lists. Perhaps Rik might know if they are an option. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

i have attached a ammo pouch onto the side of my big pack panniers on the carb side it only takes a few seconds to get out

Evening All,
Just been doing some decorating and just caught up with my thread.Noam,i must admit i considered the kicking it over solution since the event,but because the fuel had caught on the float(flooded),i think that would have kept going anyway.But i think i shall treat myself to a fire ex to carry in the panniers,just in case,like you Roger.It sounds as though it is one of those things that can happen,small flame out of the carb intake not a prob,but it got a bit bigger than that very quickly.I've ordered up the control cables that got damaged,through JJ Cables(i did consider them,cheers Ian)they have said they'd get them to me by end of next week,as i'm of to(with the battle scared Beesa) Abingdon Air and Coutry Show on the 8th.The Vulcan bomber is going to do it's first show of the year there,anyone else going?
Cheers for your advice always gratefully received,
Phil

I think you guys with extinguishers should do weekly rehearsals, as in a panic, things go wrong!!I could be your drill sergeant!!

Hi Ron, sounds interesting the gauze filter, I'd love to find out more about it. Right now, I worry about the Vokes setup I have, if the carb was to catch fire, It would be hard to put out. Would the flames come up the tube? I guess if that was to happen it might contain the fire to the vokes housing, giving you a chance to get your bearings and try cranking the flames into cylinder. Who knows. The extinguisher is nice but the darn things make such a mess of everything.
As for the fire drill, well, I was caught in a burning machine once, by the time I got out my rubber boots and my nylon safety pants were on fire. The extinguisher which was strapped to the roll cage wasn't there. That gave me a whole new respect for chemical fires. They happen and they escalate fast!

I had a unrelated motorcycle catch fire in the carb. Not sure this will always work but I just slapped my hand over the carb intake and held tight. Went out. No oxygen no fire. Wouldn't try it if you cant get to it quick though.

This all reminds me of the part in "On Any Sunday" when the desert rider has a flat and tips his bike to drain some petrol out to light a signal fire. He lights the fire and the fire follows back to his bike and catches fire. I think it might have been staged for the movie but its still pretty funny watching him kick sand on it.

email (option): micran1234@yahoo.com

This type of filter appears on a wartime photo, unfortunately not in my files, but perhaps Henk has it?
Can still be had here in the Low Countries.

email (option): viaconsu # planet dot nl

Yes Hans. That is the standard issue flame checker that I have on the C and CO. I would hope that the Vokes on my M20 would do the same thing Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

I put a gauze metal filter assembly on my WM20 carb. for this very reason. You can buy them in UK from the folk who specialise in Amal carbs. (Hitchcocks comes to mind). They don't look exactly like the lovely 'clipped' ones in the photos, but with a spun metal body, they are not obtrusive or out of character. Better safe than sorry...
It's the same principle as the old acetylene miner's lamp I guess?