The Ford Barn

Standing Elk · 10-30-2018, 07:27 AM

Ok, so as I read some threads here I learn that the screen in the gas tank fill hole is a "spark arrester". I always thought it was to keep stuff from falling into the tank while filling. So where would the sparks come from and if a spark falls into the tank how does the screen keep you from getting blown up?

Oldbluoval · 10-30-2018, 07:29 AM

Static electricity

ryanheacox · 10-30-2018, 07:45 AM

I remember seeing an ad where someone (it could have been Henry) stuck a lit cigar down the filler neck to demonstrate the flame arrestors effectiveness.

WHN · 10-30-2018, 07:57 AM

It is actually called a Flame Arrester.

Gas doesn’t burn the fumes do.

Arrester is designed to keep the potential problem at the tank neck, not into the tank itself. If you were to have a problem (fire). Arrester should keep tank from blowing up, flame would be just around the cap area like a old style gas lamp. By putting gas cap back on, you should be able to put flame out.

If you don’t have the right one on your car. Please be careful. There is a very good reason it was put there.

Standing Elk · 10-30-2018, 09:42 AM

Thanks now I know.

daren007 · 10-30-2018, 05:35 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

There is a reason coal miners wore gas lamps with a screen.

woofa.express · 10-30-2018, 09:23 PM

Please let me contribute here.

Static electricity. I know of a helicopter refuelling fire when the hose was passed across the bubble. Two blokes badly burned, helicopter destroyed.
A second in 1979. Refuelling from drums to bulk truck tank. again in passing fuel hose. 92 drums exploded and one went through the back wall of an adjacent hangar. Aeroplanes pulled out. Very fortunately a local volunteer fireman was a part owner and had a key to open up. Don't park aeroplanes in hanger with breaks on, you could possibly loose them.
Proper aeroplane fuel delivery hoses have a fine copper wire running the length and earthed at both ends. Plus a wire and clip from nozzle to attach to aeroplane, Plus an earth wire earthed to attach to aeroplane. I reckon it's okay to skip this one provided you are satisfied the fuel hose is approved, or earthed.
Ensure the nozzle / earth is attached prior to opening fuel cap. If no earth wire ensure the nozzle handle touches aeroplane prior to opening the cap and ensure the nozzle is touching fuel tank whilst fuel is flowing.
I had an incident once where static formed when a camloc fitting in the delivery was synthetic thus insulated. Fortunately I felt electricity through my body. I also saw pictures of a auto fuel station destroyed when a bloke held his plastic containers off the ground and poured fuel.

It's easy to avoid but consequences can be severe if you don't.

10-30-2018, 07:27 AM	#1
Standing Elk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: St. Maries, Idaho Posts: 162	Spark arrester??? Ok, so as I read some threads here I learn that the screen in the gas tank fill hole is a "spark arrester". I always thought it was to keep stuff from falling into the tank while filling. So where would the sparks come from and if a spark falls into the tank how does the screen keep you from getting blown up?

10-30-2018, 07:29 AM	#2
Oldbluoval Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Signal Mtn, TN (SE TN) Posts: 2,372	Re: Spark arrester??? Static electricity

10-30-2018, 07:45 AM	#3
ryanheacox Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Northwest CT Posts: 1,092	Re: Spark arrester??? I remember seeing an ad where someone (it could have been Henry) stuck a lit cigar down the filler neck to demonstrate the flame arrestors effectiveness.

10-30-2018, 07:57 AM	#4
WHN Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Connecticut Shoreline Posts: 1,824	Re: Spark arrester??? It is actually called a Flame Arrester. Gas doesn’t burn the fumes do. Arrester is designed to keep the potential problem at the tank neck, not into the tank itself. If you were to have a problem (fire). Arrester should keep tank from blowing up, flame would be just around the cap area like a old style gas lamp. By putting gas cap back on, you should be able to put flame out. If you don’t have the right one on your car. Please be careful. There is a very good reason it was put there.

10-30-2018, 09:42 AM	#5
Standing Elk Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: St. Maries, Idaho Posts: 162	Re: Spark arrester??? Thanks now I know.

10-30-2018, 05:35 PM	#6
daren007 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Saint Cloud Mn Posts: 745	Re: Spark arrester??? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) There is a reason coal miners wore gas lamps with a screen.

10-30-2018, 09:23 PM	#7
woofa.express Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Tocumwal, NSW, Australia Posts: 1,751	Re: Spark arrester??? Please let me contribute here. Static electricity. I know of a helicopter refuelling fire when the hose was passed across the bubble. Two blokes badly burned, helicopter destroyed. A second in 1979. Refuelling from drums to bulk truck tank. again in passing fuel hose. 92 drums exploded and one went through the back wall of an adjacent hangar. Aeroplanes pulled out. Very fortunately a local volunteer fireman was a part owner and had a key to open up. Don't park aeroplanes in hanger with breaks on, you could possibly loose them. Proper aeroplane fuel delivery hoses have a fine copper wire running the length and earthed at both ends. Plus a wire and clip from nozzle to attach to aeroplane, Plus an earth wire earthed to attach to aeroplane. I reckon it's okay to skip this one provided you are satisfied the fuel hose is approved, or earthed. Ensure the nozzle / earth is attached prior to opening fuel cap. If no earth wire ensure the nozzle handle touches aeroplane prior to opening the cap and ensure the nozzle is touching fuel tank whilst fuel is flowing. I had an incident once where static formed when a camloc fitting in the delivery was synthetic thus insulated. Fortunately I felt electricity through my body. I also saw pictures of a auto fuel station destroyed when a bloke held his plastic containers off the ground and poured fuel. It's easy to avoid but consequences can be severe if you don't. __________________ I know many things, But I don't know everything, Sometimes I forget things. And there are times when I have a long memory. Last edited by woofa.express; 10-31-2018 at 02:35 AM.