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Even Blue Birds can burn :(

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Don Bradner

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Nov 6, 2009, 11:47:47 PM11/6/09
to

Bob Hatch

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Nov 7, 2009, 12:32:15 AM11/7/09
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Holy crap. That's impressive, as fires go.

Everyone safe?

What started it?

--
"To announce that there must be no criticism
of the President, or that we are to stand by
the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic
and servile, but is morally treasonable to the
American public."
Theodore Roosevelt
http://www.bobhatch.com
http://www.tdsrvresort.com

Don Bradner

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Nov 7, 2009, 1:43:14 AM11/7/09
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On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:32:15 -0700, Bob Hatch <bob....@ymail.com>
wrote:

Yes. They had returned the day before from four weeks on the road, so
hadn't unloaded - lost a lot of possessions, but nobody hurt.

>What started it?

Too soon to tell, but elecrical is the guess. The story is quite long,
as there were actually two fires in one day, with the first probably
doing enough to total the bus, but the best guess is the firemen
didn't get it totally out, and it went up fully later in the day.

richard

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Nov 7, 2009, 2:35:33 AM11/7/09
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That's typical of an engine fire that starts in the carb.
Where I used to live, the local fire department had a little policy.
If they got called back a third time, they'd dump sand in the carb.

Bob Hatch

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Nov 7, 2009, 7:40:55 AM11/7/09
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Really? What kind of "carb" does a diesel engine use?

Hunter Hampton

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Nov 7, 2009, 8:59:41 AM11/7/09
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On Sat, 7 Nov 2009 00:35:33 -0700, richard <mem...@newsguy.com> wrote:

>If they got called back a third time, they'd dump sand in the carb.


Um, it's a diesel.

Hunter

Mickey

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Nov 7, 2009, 11:00:43 AM11/7/09
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On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:40:55 -0800, Bob Hatch <bob....@ymail.com> wrote:
....

>>> Too soon to tell, but elecrical is the guess. The story is quite long,
>>> as there were actually two fires in one day, with the first probably
>>> doing enough to total the bus, but the best guess is the firemen
>>> didn't get it totally out, and it went up fully later in the day.
>> That's typical of an engine fire that starts in the carb.
>> Where I used to live, the local fire department had a little policy.
>> If they got called back a third time, they'd dump sand in the carb.
>
> Really? What kind of "carb" does a diesel engine use?
>
>

It's one of those special diesels that use spark plugs. :D

Mickey

Hunter Hampton

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Nov 7, 2009, 12:27:32 PM11/7/09
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On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:00:43 -0800, Mickey <Mic...@somewhere.com>
wrote:

>It's one of those special diesels that use spark plugs. :D
>
>Mickey

richard is still batting 1,000, that's better than Matsui... <g>

Hunter

Zandermax

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Nov 7, 2009, 12:30:38 PM11/7/09
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"richard" <mem...@newsguy.com> wrote in message
news:14bqgimuvk26v$.183igj525joqd$.dlg@40tude.net...
That's what you get when you don't change the spark plugs every fill up,
this damned carp's will just blow up, I just wish this diesel owner would
change out the air in the tires instead of letting it brew under pressure
and have all this gaseous high pressure mixture blow up.

Hunter Hampton

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Nov 7, 2009, 12:32:29 PM11/7/09
to
On Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:30:38 -0800, "Zandermax" <zand...@modena.net>
wrote:

>That's what you get when you don't change the spark plugs every fill up,
>this damned carp's will just blow up, I just wish this diesel owner would
>change out the air in the tires instead of letting it brew under pressure
>and have all this gaseous high pressure mixture blow up.

LOL! Here we go again <g>

richard

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Nov 7, 2009, 1:26:11 PM11/7/09
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The one I invented in my previous life.

Don Bradner

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Nov 7, 2009, 3:46:20 PM11/7/09
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It is amazing how well a steel floor protects everthing below it. With
heat rising, and nothing combustible between them, compartments,
contents, propane, diesel, tires all unscathed:

http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3203&d=1257611380

http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3202&d=1257611364

http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3205&d=1257611437

http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3201&d=1257611350


On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:47:47 -0800, Don Bradner <do...@arcatapet.com>
wrote:

>Not mine, but happened last night, 42-foot 1995 with Series 60 engine.
>
>Last night on fire:
>http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3184&d=1257468990

---

nothermark

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Nov 7, 2009, 5:23:02 PM11/7/09
to
On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:46:20 -0800, Don Bradner <do...@arcatapet.com>
wrote:

>It is amazing how well a steel floor protects everthing below it. With
>heat rising, and nothing combustible between them, compartments,
>contents, propane, diesel, tires all unscathed:
>
>http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3203&d=1257611380
>
>http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3202&d=1257611364
>
>http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3205&d=1257611437
>
>http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3201&d=1257611350
>
>
>On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:47:47 -0800, Don Bradner <do...@arcatapet.com>
>wrote:
>
>>Not mine, but happened last night, 42-foot 1995 with Series 60 engine.
>>
>>Last night on fire:
>>http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3184&d=1257468990
>
>---
>Don Bradner
>www.arcatapet.net
>'90 Wanderlodge PT40 "Blue Thunder"
>towing '07 Jeep Liberty
>

Yes, it almost looks fixable. Then there is the wiring.....

Don Bradner

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Nov 8, 2009, 11:22:45 PM11/8/09
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This is a picture of that '95 Blue Bird in "happier days gone by:"

http://i309.photobucket.com/albums/kk397/kguns/CopyofPA312567.jpg


On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:47:47 -0800, Don Bradner <do...@arcatapet.com>
wrote:

>Not mine, but happened last night, 42-foot 1995 with Series 60 engine.

Bob Hatch

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Nov 8, 2009, 11:26:23 PM11/8/09
to
I think we can assume that the rig was totaled. How hard will it be to
replace it?

Tom J

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Nov 8, 2009, 11:39:19 PM11/8/09
to
Bob Hatch wrote:
> Don Bradner wrote:
>> This is a picture of that '95 Blue Bird in "happier days gone by:"
>>
>> http://i309.photobucket.com/albums/kk397/kguns/CopyofPA312567.jpg
>>
>>
>> On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:47:47 -0800, Don Bradner
>> <do...@arcatapet.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Not mine, but happened last night, 42-foot 1995 with Series 60
>>> engine. Last night on fire:
>>> http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3184&d=1257468990
>> ---
>> Don Bradner
>> www.arcatapet.net
>> '90 Wanderlodge PT40 "Blue Thunder"
>> towing '07 Jeep Liberty
>>
> I think we can assume that the rig was totaled. How hard will it be
> to
> replace it?

Unless a dealer still has a new one on the lot somewhere, it would
have to be replaced with a used one. Blue Bird dropped motorhome
production.

Tom J


Don Bradner

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Nov 9, 2009, 1:36:39 AM11/9/09
to
Bob Hatch wrote:

> I think we can assume that the rig was totaled. How hard will it be
> to
> replace it?

On Sun, 8 Nov 2009 23:39:19 -0500, "Tom J" <tomn...@earthlink.net>
wrote:

>
>Unless a dealer still has a new one on the lot somewhere, it would
>have to be replaced with a used one. Blue Bird dropped motorhome
>production.
>
>Tom J
>

Totaled I'm sure.

Most of the Blue Bird crowd, at least the ones online and at rallies,
aren't much interested in newer vintage. Price of course matters, but
there is a general perception that the best Blue Birds are quite a few
years old. Only 1 2008 and 1 2009 were ever sold, and there were two
2009s and 2 partially complete ones that were part of the bankruptcy
auction last month.

There are plenty for sale, and of course it is a buyer's market. That
1995 with every amenity you could imagine carried a NADA value of $89K
according to the owner. He says this is the first time he's been
birdless in 20 years, and he has owned as many as 3 at once.

His preference this time is for a 97, the last year of the
aircraft-riveted bodies.

If anybody wants to get a look at just how well the old birds hold up
and they happen to be in Q this winter they should stop buy the "nest"
in La Posa South from about the 16th to the 25th of January. This will
be the fourth year of a growing event, with 80 coaches signed up so
far. Usually the oldest ones there are early 70s models, with a large
number of 80s and early 90s represented.

Don Bradner

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Nov 11, 2009, 10:26:23 PM11/11/09
to
On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:32:15 -0700, Bob Hatch <bob....@ymail.com>
wrote:

>Don Bradner wrote:


>> Not mine, but happened last night, 42-foot 1995 with Series 60 engine.
>>
>> Last night on fire:
>> http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3184&d=1257468990

>What started it?

The insurance fire inspector found that the original fire started from
a chafed 12VDC heavy cable (from the battery bank in the rear) in the
front left compartment which has distribution and connections to the
generator. Picture of that area here:

http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/119293183.jpg

That problem ended when the fire department cut the cables at the
batteries, but the finding is that there was a hot spot somewhere in
the chassis that flared up later and led to the conflagration.

Chuck Norris

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Nov 12, 2009, 12:00:46 PM11/12/09
to
On Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:26:23 -0800, Don Bradner <do...@arcatapet.com>
wrote:

>On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:32:15 -0700, Bob Hatch <bob....@ymail.com>


>wrote:
>
>>Don Bradner wrote:
>>> Not mine, but happened last night, 42-foot 1995 with Series 60 engine.
>>>
>>> Last night on fire:
>>> http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3184&d=1257468990
>
>>What started it?
>
>The insurance fire inspector found that the original fire started from
>a chafed 12VDC heavy cable (from the battery bank in the rear) in the
>front left compartment which has distribution and connections to the
>generator. Picture of that area here:
>
>http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/119293183.jpg
>
>That problem ended when the fire department cut the cables at the
>batteries, but the finding is that there was a hot spot somewhere in
>the chassis that flared up later and led to the conflagration.


Just how do 'hot spots' flare up? Something was drawing very high
current to cause the hot spot. Find out what that failure is and you
have the culprit.

--

From earners to yearners. Obamanomics!
From makers to takers. Obamanomics!

Chuck Norris

Message has been deleted

Don Bradner

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Nov 12, 2009, 8:46:48 PM11/12/09
to

Frank got it. The original fire was a dead short, but once all of the
cables were cut at the batteries there was no current flowing anywhere
(the coach was not plugged in after the first fire). A "hot spot"
typically refers to a residual glowing ember of some sort, and is the
bane of all firefighters including those fighting forest fires.

Chuck Norris

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Nov 12, 2009, 10:47:08 PM11/12/09
to
On Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:46:48 -0800, Don Bradner <do...@arcatapet.com>
wrote:


>


>Frank got it. The original fire was a dead short, but once all of the
>cables were cut at the batteries there was no current flowing anywhere
>(the coach was not plugged in after the first fire). A "hot spot"
>typically refers to a residual glowing ember of some sort, and is the
>bane of all firefighters including those fighting forest fires.
>
>

Gotcha.
--
"Liberals refuse to allow facts to conflict with their preconceived
notions."

And its corollary

"A Conservative believes what he sees; a Liberal sees what he
believes.

Chuck Norris

Zandermax

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Nov 13, 2009, 11:42:03 AM11/13/09
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"Chuck Norris" <hamgu...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3llpf51as13kg5vc9...@4ax.com...
And you said you where admitted to the Arizona bar, had to be bar at the
local pub, where have you been retard?

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