Cornball fix; but cheap

[Steve in VA]

Previously I posted a pic of a fire extinguisher that went under the bush hog. One response mentioned it likely being out of date and that started me thinking that I really had no idea what condition they were in. I've only had 1 equipment fire but it scared me enough to put extinguishers on everything.

So I checked and while they are good, over half were plugged with insect nests. Being a student of history, I recalled how troops making beach assaults kept sand and water out of weapon barrels. They didn't use balloons but...For 1$ i got 20 balloons. Time will tell.

 

[PJH]

Good post Steve! I got my history lesson and a practical idea at the same time.

 

[old]

I'd use a cork. A balloon while it will work will not last more then say a month out in the hot sun if even that long

 

[Steve in VA]

True about sun exposure but everything is shed kept. If it works that's fine. If not I'm out a 1.05$ and will go the route of rubber stoppers.

 

[old]

I used balloons on the end of a black powder rifle to keep rain out and that works well and also used them for making wine but never to be there long

 

[Steve@Advance]

Not only bug nests in the nozzle, but they need to be taken off the vehicle or wall, turned upside down and shook to loosen the powder once a year.

And check the hose if equipped, for rot.

At least that's what the service people do when they inspect them.

 

[Moonlite37]

as,.an infantry soldier we had no balloons in the supply but had a reasonable facsimile we used to prevent rain entering the muzzle of our weapons.

 

[oldsarge]

Prolly the same thing airborne sojers used to blouse their trousers over their jump boots.

 

[jeffcat]

You are dead on Steve. That is why they change them out in buildings every few years. Nobody thinks to shake them every six months. That is the biggest problem with ABC Extinguishers. Pull the trigger and nothing happens. Oh crap!!! Next time you buy a container of Nestle quick, open the plastic seal and see where the level is. Now snap on the lid and shake the everliving daylights out of it. You look in now and it should be almost to the top. You put the air back in the powder. Same as those ABC units.

 

[Thomasthetankengine]

If used as intended, none if us might be here 🤔

 

[DoubleO7]

You should be able to feel the powder falling from one end to the other on the abc's when you turn it up and down.
Mounted on a vibrating vehicle will cause the powder to really pack down.

 

[kcm.MN]

(quoted from post at 16:56:49 09/23/19) You should be able to feel the powder falling from one end to the other on the abc's when you turn it up and down.
Mounted on a vibrating vehicle will cause the powder to really pack down.

I was just about to mention this.

While in USAF, our Extinguisher Maintenance guy taught me a lot about extinguishers (mostly the larger ones used on flight line). He explained how the dry chem would pack over time, even if mounted on the inside of many buildings. Just normal vibrations can cause the powder to pack tight.

He taught to turn the unit upside down and give it a few raps with a rubber mallet. You should be able to feel the powder as it falls. Once loose, turn extinguisher end-for-end several times to get it nice and fluffy. If it's already loose from the start, no mallet is necessary.

 

[Janicholson]

Times 2 A different approach would be a soft plastic cap that would expand and blow off. Jim
caps like this

 

[Bret4207]

I just wish I could by inexpensive ABC powder extinguishers that didn't leak down over a few years. I have 4 or 5 Kidde brand 1 lbs jobs that so a big fat zero as far as air pressure goes. I've tried re pressurizing through the nozzle, but then they really leak!

 

[John D Smith]

Be careful with these things, I was told that they are charged to more than 2000 psi. Than could hurt someone bad.

 

[Destroked 450]

The hand held units with plastic nozzles are only charged to 100 psi, the better ones with metal nozzles are normally charged to 175-200 psi.