Hi
I'm seeking advice and help to get NOL 471 back on the road after a fire under the bonnet. Quickly extinguished but visible damage to off-side air intake, wiring and no doubt electric parts and probably more. Cause of fire unknown but oil now visible on top of engine.
Regrettably I don't have the skills to diagnose the cause identify the damage or to repair.
Desperate to get Nolly going again.
Thanks Anthony
Disaster - Fire in engine compartment
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David Morris
- Posts: 771
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 9:23 am
- Your interest in the forum: Jowett Javelins since 1964. Now a Jowett Stationary engine owner and club member since 1964.
- Given Name: David
- Location: Sunny Bristol
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Re: Disaster - Fire in engine compartment
Hi Ant,
Sorry to hear about the fire. Cannot help with the cause, but it sounds like it originated from a petrol leak and this possibly then being ignited by an electrical spark? The oil on top of the engine sounds unrelated to the fire, and may have come from at least three sources. The oil bypass hose sometimes develops a leak, either from age or oil getting past the banjo washers. The cure here is to use Dowty sealing washers, that have an internal rubber seal. It cures that problem. The other possibility is the oil coming from the oil pressure gauge take off at the rear of the RTC. This is a taper fitting and the wall of the aluminium tapping can sometimes split. The final cause is the wretched Rear Timing Cover gasket failing. After cleaning up the mess, I have used some paper tissue packed underneath the oil filter and up against the rear of the gasket to show where the leak originates once you have the engine running again, or in severe cases, with the engine just turning over on the starter and the plugs out.
There have been many posts on the alternative 'O' ring gasket, which, if properly fitted, can cure leaks here. Whatever solution you decide to use, don't be tempted to over-tighten the two securing bolts at each end of the RTC. It is all too easy to strip the threads in the block, and then you are into helicoils, which is a whole different ball game.
Obviously it depends on the damage done by the fire, but in your situation, I would clean up the damage, carefully check for petrol leaks and/or damaged wiring and tread carefully by restarting the engine, with someone standing by with a fire extingusher.
All the best,
David
Sorry to hear about the fire. Cannot help with the cause, but it sounds like it originated from a petrol leak and this possibly then being ignited by an electrical spark? The oil on top of the engine sounds unrelated to the fire, and may have come from at least three sources. The oil bypass hose sometimes develops a leak, either from age or oil getting past the banjo washers. The cure here is to use Dowty sealing washers, that have an internal rubber seal. It cures that problem. The other possibility is the oil coming from the oil pressure gauge take off at the rear of the RTC. This is a taper fitting and the wall of the aluminium tapping can sometimes split. The final cause is the wretched Rear Timing Cover gasket failing. After cleaning up the mess, I have used some paper tissue packed underneath the oil filter and up against the rear of the gasket to show where the leak originates once you have the engine running again, or in severe cases, with the engine just turning over on the starter and the plugs out.
There have been many posts on the alternative 'O' ring gasket, which, if properly fitted, can cure leaks here. Whatever solution you decide to use, don't be tempted to over-tighten the two securing bolts at each end of the RTC. It is all too easy to strip the threads in the block, and then you are into helicoils, which is a whole different ball game.
Obviously it depends on the damage done by the fire, but in your situation, I would clean up the damage, carefully check for petrol leaks and/or damaged wiring and tread carefully by restarting the engine, with someone standing by with a fire extingusher.
All the best,
David
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