Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for
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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,703 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,703 | Just a Tip for everyone,
NEVER POUR GAS DOWN A CARB TO TRY AN GET YOUR MOTOR TO START!
Got a call today, a bud of mine was messin with his 78 Silverado that wouldnt start in the 10 below zero weather we are havin and was givin the carb a little drizzle a gas outta a plastic pop bottle in an effort to get it to fire ...well it did ...backfired,lit the pop bottle on fire, he jerked back in responce to the backfire, spewin burnin gas onto his chest wich in turn lit him on fire melting his sweatshirt to his chest, luckily he had a bud there that grabbed a fire extinguisher an put him out.
He is currently in the hosp. with 2cnd & 3rd degree burns, to his chest an neck, BE CAREFUL FOLKS!
Tim | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,403 | If you do put gas or starting fluid down the carb, DON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL YOU PUT THE AIR CLEANER BACK ON! They serve not only the purpose of cleaning the incoming air of the engine, but also as a flame retarder in the event of a backfire in the carb. I never EVER start the engine without it on.
P.S. Tim, I hope your friend is okay and recovers 100%. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,750 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,750 | Wise words Jordan, I've been doing this to keep my engine 'lubed up' while it's in the garage. I tip a little gas down the carb,stick the filter on and let it 'gas up' for a minute....then kick the engine over.
That way I'm well away from any potential backfire etc.
Tim ...I hope your buddy recovers well too. Gas fires are real scary!
Jock.
Last edited by jockbolter50; 01/19/2009 11:58 PM.
1950 Chevy Advance Design 3100 in ScotlandIn the Stovebolt GalleryMore pix on Flickr. I've definately got this truck thing in my blood ... my DNA sequence has torque settings"Of all the small nations of this earth,perhaps only the ancient Greeks surpass the Scots in their contribution to mankind" Winston Churchill.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 | In can happen real quick, safety is always first. I hope he will be OK. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats | | Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 | I use WD40 and starting fluid. a 1 second burst of WD40 followed by a quick 1/2 second blast of ether then crank, there is just enough propellant to get the engine to start without the dangers of gasoline.
The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 8,351 | Another thing to be wary of is hand choking the engine. I know a local mechanic who used to have his own diagnostic shop that almost lost his hand doing that. The engine backfired while he had his hand over the carb. He suffered severe burns and lost partial use of his hand.
Bill Burmeister
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 578 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 578 | I use a blast of carb cleaner, and then I run around and get in the cab to hit the starter.
"Happiness equals reality minus expectations" - Tom Magliozzi
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,031 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,031 | SMART jl, i learned (don't ask how) to ALWAYS put the air filter cover back on b4 i turn that key. 
Last edited by carolines truck; 01/20/2009 3:14 AM.
Jim & Caroline
The highway is for gamblers, better use your good sense."
Gooday-that's my 1¢ answer due to the lousy economy ~ cause I ain't got - no . mo . doe
Every Shaver | Now Can Snore | Six More Minutes | Than Before ... | Half A Pound for Half a Dollar | Spread On Thin | Above the Collar || BURMA-SHAVE
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