Bluebird Fire

[ronmarabito2002]

Good move Tom, but make sure you check all the pipes carefully. The
bellows is not a problem because it is stainless steel. When you
remove the top tip, shine a light down into the muffler and see if you
have any guts left. They are probably the first to go

R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Tom McCarthy"
wrote:
>
> Based on Ron's story told to me at Quartzite, I ordered the new 90
> degree exhaust extension this week and it should be on top soon.
>
> Tom McCarthy
> Pretty Penny
> Poway CA
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ronmarabito2002"
> wrote:
> >
> > Add to that, the fact that, many through the roof exhaust systems
> had
> > the wrong kind of tip on them and allowed the rain to get into the
> > exhaust system. Mine was one of them and the system rusted out
> > completely. I just totally re-built mine. It isn't a fun job.
> >
> > R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > It's good that they're safe ... I can't imagine the emotional
> shock
> > > of having that happen. Once a serious fire gets going in an RV,
> even
> > > a Blue Bird, there's not a lot that can be done to stop it --
> and
> > > with up to 300 gallons of diesel and ?? of LP gas on board, the
> risk
> > > is pretty obvious.
> > >
> > > I hope that they'll be able to report on the incident with some
> > > detail about the cause, if it can be determined, so the rest of
> us
> > > can be educated. There are certain fire risk issues in all
> RVs ...
> > > and I'm sure that Wanderlodges have their share of possibilities.
> It
> > > would be good for us to know what we all might watch out for so
> we
> > > can take appropriate maintenance precautions.
> > >
> > > I've seen photos of a couple of wide body coaches that have had
> > > exhaust pipe fires -- caused by leaks in the exhaust system that
> runs
> > > up through the roof at the back of the coach. (Once started, the
> > > fiberglas end-cap will burn.) From the photos I've seen, the
> exhaust
> > > pipe fires didn't seem to have caused that much physical damage --
>
> > > but the smoke damage inside the coach is usually very serious --
> > > making a complete gutting and rebuild almost the only repair
> > > solution, if it's financially worth doing at all. The hint from
> those
> > > incidents it to carefully inspect the exhaust pipe/muffler for
> leaks
> > > as a regular part of maintenance.
> > >
> > > Another lesson is to ensure that the fire extinguishers on board
> are
> > > regularly inspected, replaced, or recharged. The common dry
> powder
> > > extinguishers eventually settle and compact (helped by the
> vibration
> > > in the coach), so become much less effective after a period of
> time.
> > > Even if unused, it's probably wise to replace them (or, if one of
> the
> > > better models, recharge them) every two or three years. CO2 or
> halon
> > > (or other gas) extinguishers don't have the same problem.
> > >
> > > I note that I upgraded my in-coach extinguisher from a 2# model
> to a
> > > 5# model after inspecting the original, 11 year old extinguishers
> on
> > > board. I also replaced the 5# extinguisher located in the front,
> curb-
> > > side basement compartment. Costco had a reasonable price on
> > > replacement extinguishers.
> > >
> > > I've long had good fire extinguishers in my home -- and I
> discovered
> > > that the 20 year-old extinguishers needed to be (expensively)
> > > pressure tested before they could be recharged. So, I simply
> replaced
> > > them -- I hadn't know about the settling/compacting problem
> until
> > > relatively recently. Try to get a model with all-metal valving,
> etc.
> > > Those with plastic parts are more subject to cracking and loss
> of
> > > pressure.
> > >
> > > Pete Masterson
> > > '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> > > El Sobrante CA
> > > aeonix1@
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Feb 5, 2008, at 6:47 PM, Leroy Eckert wrote:
> > >
> > > > Me too. I am very happy all are safe. If I can do anything I
> would
> > > > be happy to do so.
> > > > Leroy Eckert
> > > > 1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors
> > > > Dahlonega, GA
> > > > Royale Conversion
> > > >
> > > > sfedeli3 <sfedeli3@> wrote:
> > > > That is so frightening! We just spent a few days crossing AZ,
> NM and
> > > > Texas in a caravan with them last week. What a shame. They had a
> > > > beautiful black coach. I hope that it was not the heat tape
> that Leroy
> > > > Eckert has been warning us all about. Glad that they are all OK.
> > > >
> > >
> >
>