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MG TD TF 1500 - Fire Extinguisher

Do you carry a fire extinguisher? If so, what kind and where did you mount it? This comes to mind after talking to a guy that had just purchased a 72 Camaro and on the way home had a under dash electrical fire, and did not have an extinguisher. Fire department got it out but done a number on the car with their axes. Now thinking I've been lucky long enough so best do something.

Bill
Bill Brown

I saw one once, on a 51 TD, parked at Deerfield Beach in FL, that was about 6" long, chromed and encrested with the MG logo. It was mounted on the firewall. I was told it was period correct.

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

I carry a small chrome Halon fire extinguisher in the cockpit.
Made a small mistake when I did the interior. My kick panels are "behind" the Scutal cross-bar. (It was like that when I got the car and I did the same when I re-did them.)
It was an easy place to install the extinguisher with just a couple zip ties and it is on the side of the car with the carbs!
Came with a quick release holder that could be installed anywhere with a few screws.


David Sheward

I like that David. I just got one that looks identical to yours and was thinking of mounting it on the floor behind the seat but I think I like your idea better.

Bill
Bill Brown

Among the most convenient mounting places is on the floor, parallel to, and directly in front of, the passenger seat. Just push the seat all the way forward and screw the extinguisher's mount to the floorboard. It's very easy to get to without having to get out of the car, or even out of the driver's seat. Bud
Bud Krueger

I mounted mine on the back of the passenger seat. It's out of sight but I can reach it from the drivers seat.
Mort 50TD (1851) Mobius

Fire extinguishers are a requirement of club competition in speed events over here. Usually mounted on the floor in front of the passenger seat. It is important to be able to reach them if immobilised in an accident. You can just see it in the bottom of the picture.

Matthew.


Matthew Magilton

I have a chrome Halon one mounted just in front of the shift lever, and a battery cutoff switch.
Larry Brown

I got a nice small one that just barely fits in the glove box with my registration, gloves, and hat. I was going to put it under the dash but thought that was a likely place for a fire to start so opted for the glove box.
L Rutt

You guys still have Halon ? I thought that stuff is on the fully illegal side at least since leaded fuel was banned.
The chromed ones look nice and also seem to be of the serviceable type which is also important. Cheap ones cannot be checked and may fail when you finally need them.
That said, mine still sits in the workshop (:-(
Mike
Mike Fritsch

Please shine me some light on the the halon extinguishers WHERE TO BUY ????

Thanks in advance,

Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

Gerard, look here:
http://www.h3raviation.com/halon_1211_a344tc.htm
Guenter

I must be getting paranoid in my old age as I bought 2 one pound chrome H3R extinguishers. I plan to mount one in my TD on one in my 67 Camaro. Hope I never have to use either one.

Bill
Bill Brown

Gerard,
The link that Guenter posted is the same one I have.
(Actually 4 of them... 1 in each car and 1 on my lift in the garage.)
I found them at a shop near a small airport using airport transfers tunbridge wells. (They can also "re-charge" there.)

As I recall the price was about half for the same units offered through "automotive channels". (Jeggs, ect).
Look for Avation or Marine supply places near you and you might save some $$! (Truck stop?)

Seems to me a lot of times if you think "out-side the classic car box" prices come down considerably!

Still legal in US, (far as I know) but not sure about all European countries, or Canada.

Bill,
Not "paranoid"...just lucky! I have had these in every classic/sports car I have owned since the "not so great" Austin fire of 1972!



David Sheward

I would not be without one! To me, Halon is the best, but any properly used dry chem will work just as well. Remember to remove your dry chem extinguisher from your car and shake it upside down periodically, as the powder packs tight after setting too long and can plug up the piping inside. PJ
P Jennings

Thanks all, a lot of good advice!!

Bill
Bill Brown

I have mine mounted on the tran. tunnel forward of the shifter.


David Werblow

i have a halon that rides just behind the seat back. regards, tom
tom peterson

I mounted mine in the floor in front of the passenger seat and not in the way. That was where I had it mounted in the race car years ago and it's fast and easy to get to in case I need it. I also have to have one for AACA shows.

Cheers, David....
David Honness

Mort and David Honness,

If either or both of you have a pic of where and how you mounted behind the passenger seat, would you post it/them?

Greatly appreciated,

Jerry
Jerry Chandler

I once had our extinguisher in the boot right behind the passenger,,,, thought it was a good place,,, seemed easy to get to,,, Then we went on a short trip,,, we had to push the car a bit faster than I wanted to, but we had to catch the Ferry Boat going to Fishers Island,,,,we made it just in time, and we were guided into a smallish spot on the boat. We thought all was well,,, untill we noticed some smoke coming from under the bonnet!!!! Other boarding cars had now blocked any exit form the boat. First reaction was to get the extinguisher,,we knew right where it was,, all I could think of was a fire in our car causing a massive loss of other cars on board and the Ferry Boat itself!! BUT, you never realize just how long it takes to get out of the car, rip the toneau off, remove some luggage just to get to the extinguisher!! It turned out to be just some oil on the exhaust smoking, but after that experience, I got the extinguisher out of the boot and mounted it on the floor in fromt of the drivers seat,, I can now grab it as I make my way out of the car, with out wasting any precious time.
JMHO,
SPW
STEVE WINCZE

Thanks : Gunther and the others for your advice.
Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

Might mention one issue with Halon units which I observed on an engine fire. A strong breeze will blow away the suppressant and the fire may reflare. I knocked down this fuel fire on an S10 pickup 3 times with a halon extinguisher, only to have it re-ignite as the Halon blew away. Had to run to other end of the shop and grab a powder unit to finaly kill it. Still keep Halon handy in the shop, cars, and home but realize its shortcomings in certain conditions. Anything beats standing and watching em turn to ashes. Dan
Dan Craig

Guys
What is the magic of Halon? I have a small extinguisher that I bought at the hardware store. Says it is good for gas fire. Does not contain Halon, per the label.
Are other chemicals ineffective?

Tom
'54 TF
Tom Norby

Jerry,

Sorry about the delay in getting the photo to you. I was under the weather. If you need additional photos just email me.

Cheers, David....


David Honness

David,

Thank you for the photo. I am trying to decide to mount an extinguisher in my TD and my TF. If you should have other pics you think would help me decide, I would really like to view those.

Anyone else?

Regards,

Jerry
Jerry Chandler

Bill:

Ever since my Audi 5000 Quattro burned up in my driveway in 1988 [what a nasty vehicle - I haven't owned an Audi since,] every vehicle I own has had a fire extinguisher. I've got one strapped to the rollbar of the TD. Bud's idea of having it within easy reach is crucial - with my TD being RHD I have it on the wrong side, but that'll be changed to the left roll hoop next weekend. The idea is that I can reach behind and quickly unclasp the bottle without moving from the driver's seat.

Here's a picture - hope this helps.

Dave


Dave Jorgensen

Jerry,
Here is where I mounted mine. After reading this thread I am considering moving it to the front. In front of the passenger seat or on the transmission tunnel.


Mort 50TD (1851) Mobius

Mort,

It seems as though the current position for your extinguisher is pretty handy - just swing your arm over the seat-back and release the strap. Obviously, nothing will ever be perfect. Thanks to all the ideas so far and continuing ones.

Jerry
Jerry Chandler

I seem to recall that the NEMGTR Safety Fast inspection requires that a fire extinguisher must be present and mounted as David H's is. Bud
Bud Krueger

Jerry,
It is easy to get to if there is nothing or just a few things in the back. When traveling on a longer trip we usually pack the back pretty tight and it would be difficult to get to the fire extinguisher in a hurry.
I might consider mounting it higher up.
I like it in the back because you don't see it but in retrospect, I think having it up front makes more sense.
Mort
Mort 50TD (1851) Mobius

Mine lived in the boot for years.
Only time I felt "the need" it was burried under a bunch of stuff. Luckly I did not have to actually use it...but it got moved after that.
David Sheward

Do any of you that have mounted the extinguisher in front of the passenger seat gotten complaints of interference from the passengers? I think that is where I'm going with mine if it doesn't bother the wife. I really appreciate all of the input.

thanks,
Bill
Bill Brown

Still, no one has explained what the special qualities of "halon" are.
Anyone....?

Tom
'54 TF
Tom Norby


It does not get white poweder all over the engine compartment.

Jim B.
JA Benjamin

Tom , the main advantage for not using a Powder extinguisher is apart from almost no mess left behind ' is that most powder extinguishers with powders are highly corrosive. Please don't ask how i know.
Gerard Hengeveld

The "magic" of Halon gas works is that it changes the Hydrogen atom in the oxygen make up of the "air" and denies it to the combustion process. The other big advantage , as mentioned , is that is leaves no residue.
The downside, also mentioned, is that once dissipated the fire can resume if combustion heat is still present.
We had automatic "Halon" (which is now a generic term for more than one type) fire suppression systems installed in the control rooms of the Chemical Plant where I worked, and were required by OSHA to remove them. The reasons were never perfectly clear- some inspectors said that the reason had to do with possible suffocation in confined spaces; others said it was an environmental, or health hazard to the operators if it were released?


Dallas Congleton

"Suffocation in confined spaces" is why we quit putting them in television trucks I built.
David Sheward

Bill,
I really think it makes more sense to put it in front of the drivers seat,, if it's there, you know it will not interfer with your feet,,,passengers usually move their feet around, or have something on the floor in front of the seat,, I will take a picture of mine to show you how it is easily moved for different driver seat position,,

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

I have used both in real fire situation.
They both work.

The Halon one had no clean up. Halon is a noncombustible gas and displaces the oxygen so the fire starves and goes out. Only problem was mentioned in an earlier post, in a wind the Halon gets displaced by the wind and the fire can reignite. Halon ones are expensive 150 to 180 dollars.

Chemical extinguishers, required hours to clean up. They come in both dry powder and liquid. The liquid ones are not good for electrical fire. Dry chemical are 30 dollars.

What makes the dry chemical one so hard to clean up is the power does not mix with water, the powder is very fine but heavy so it doesn't even vacuum up easily. It gets into every little creak. When cleaning up the dry chemical use a dust mask you do not want to breathe the fine dust.

I have two different ones, a small 2” diam by about 8” tall Halon in the glove box and a larger 5 lbs. dry chemical one behind the seat. I figure that if the fire is under the dash the small Halon in the glove box is handy. If it’s in the engine area I have to get out of the car to do anything so getting the large one out from behind the seat is easy. I have mine mounted in the upright position so it doesn’t end up buried under stuff.
G D

Steve,
I am going to add a halon in front of the drivers seat. Would appreciate your photos and how you mounted it.
Thanks,
Mort
Mort 50TD (1851) Mobius

Steve, same request as Mort's

Bill
Bill Brown

Bill,

I have not had any complaints and I have always mounted the fire extinguisher in front of the passenger seat on my MGA's, MGTD's and Austin Healey.

Good luck.

Cheers, David......
David Honness

Here's some background for the Halon discussion.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halomethane#section_1
Seems it is still being used despite its ozone damaging properties
Rgds
Mike
Mike Fritsch

This thread was discussed between 09/05/2012 and 16/05/2012

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