R.I.P. Spyder 2683 up in flames

[Firefly]

One of the most enjoyable things I did in the fire service was to intentionally set things on fire! That is awesome! But you have to know your fuels or you can become more intimately involved in the operation than you intended. :yikes:

I think we know someone out here that can personally attest to that last part....... :shocked::roflblack:

 

[BajaRon]

I think we know someone out here that can personally attest to that last part....... :shocked::roflblack:

I wasn't going to mention that. But believe me, there are quite a few that learn this the hard way every year. Our buddy is not alone.

 

[RoadHammer]

I wasn't going to mention that. But believe me, there are quite a few that learn this the hard way every year. Our buddy is not alone.

why you 2 have to gang up on another is unknown to me. i removed the rubber collar underneath the handlebars since day one to let heat escape. I wonder if worn out exhaust gaskets are playing a role in any of these fires? Maybe upon startup a quick flame blast lights it up? or upon shutdown the final ignition blasts a flame out? As far as I remember all fires have started upon shutdown or start up.

Glad this spyder guy is ok, it's only a bike, it can be replaced.

 

[Firefly]

why you 2 have to gang up on another is unknown to me. i removed the rubber collar underneath the handlebars since day one to let heat escape. I wonder if worn out exhaust gaskets are playing a role in any of these fires? Maybe upon startup a quick flame blast lights it up? or upon shutdown the final ignition blasts a flame out? As far as I remember all fires have started upon shutdown or start up.

Glad this spyder guy is ok, it's only a bike, it can be replaced.

We happen to personally know the guy we are talking about--- and know that he can take some jibing about his gas/leaf experiment. We're all very glad he wasn't hurt badly. :doorag:

 

[NancysToy]

why you 2 have to gang up on another is unknown to me. i removed the rubber collar underneath the handlebars since day one to let heat escape. I wonder if worn out exhaust gaskets are playing a role in any of these fires? Maybe upon startup a quick flame blast lights it up? or upon shutdown the final ignition blasts a flame out? As far as I remember all fires have started upon shutdown or start up.

Glad this spyder guy is ok, it's only a bike, it can be replaced.

The fact that most fires reported seemed to occur upon startup or shutdown is more likely due to the fact that there is less air movement (as in none) through the body vents when the Spyder isn't moving. JMHO

 

[Spanky]

Fuel leak???

I believe it was damage to the leading edge of the wing caused by ice falling off of the main fuel tank during launch. During re-entry was when the damage caused the catastrophy.

 

[Mo Lee]

Granted, the vapors don't have anywere DOWN to go on pavement. But you will see them rise and rise quickly from hot pavement.

Pour the same fuel on pavement that is the same temperature as the ambient air and you will (if you look closely) see the vapors crawling away just above the pavement. Dry ice or cold air from your freezer when you open the door is a good example of this. That vapor is easier to see. It falls and runs along the floor.

This is why LPG, gasoline and other heavier than air vapors are so dangerous. In a garage they will run along the floor and find an ignition source like a hot water heater. That is why hot water heaters are now required to be elevated.

It all makes sense when you think it through. One of the most enjoyable things I did in the fire service was to intentionally set things on fire! That is awesome! But you have to know your fuels or you can become more intimately involved in the operation than you intended. :yikes:

I fully agree!

 

[warpath]

wow those picx made me sick! hope all works out for you.

 

[bjt]

Fuel leak???

I believe it was damage to the leading edge of the wing caused by ice falling off of the main fuel tank during launch. During re-entry was when the damage caused the catastrophy.

He must have meant Challenger which exploded on takeoff due to a bad or poor quality o-ring.

From Wikipedia

The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atalantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida, United States, at 11:39 a.m.
Disintegration of the entire vehicle began after an o-ring seal in its right solid rocket booster (SRB) failed at liftoff. The O-ring failure caused a breach in the SRB joint it sealed, allowing pressurized hot gas from within the solid rocket motor to reach the outside and impinge upon the adjacent SRB attachment hardware and external fuel tank. This led to the separation of the right-hand SRB's aft attachment and the structural failure of the external tank. Aerodynamic forces promptly broke up the orbiter.

 

[dltang]

I think we know someone out here that can personally attest to that last part....... :shocked::roflblack:

I wasn't going to mention that. But believe me, there are quite a few that learn this the hard way every year. Our buddy is not alone.

why you 2 have to gang up on another is unknown to me.

The individual they are ganging up on is my husband, and he can take it...LOL I think he now knows more about gas vapors than he ever wanted to.

 

[Firefly]

The individual they are ganging up on is my husband, and he can take it...LOL I think he now knows more about gas vapors than he ever wanted to.

As long as he keeps his 'gas vapors' to himself........:roflblack:

 

[millers1]

I am so sick at heart and so dam upset with BRP I could spit nails. My Spyder PE #2683 burst into flames this afternoon. I had went to Costco and filled up with gas. I took the long way home about a 15 mile ride. When I got home I check my email then went back out and started up the Spyder for another short ride, I backed up about 6 or 8 feet then took off to go out my driveway. I didn’t get two feet before black smoke came out from between the yellow tank cover and black side covers. Before I could react I had went 5 more feet there was whoosh & another bigger puff of black smoke and I bailed off the Spyder. It continued on about 10 or 12 more feet and hit the tree alongside my drive way. When I looked over at it there was flame about a foot high in front of the front seat. By the time I got to the garage the flames were 2 feet high and covered most of the tank cover and part of the front seat. I cannot believe how fast it burnt. By the time the fire department got here there was not much left. ‘
I wonder what happened to the other people who’s Spyders burnt up. I looked but never did see anything more about what happened to their Spyders. There will not be any fixing this one that’s for sure. It sizzled when the fire department hit it with the hoses. Sick sick sick.

Thank you all for your wishes and I will keep you informed. I have had fuel smell since I bought the Spyder new 18 months ago. I have had all service done at BRP dealerships. Over flow canister was replaced months ago but the smell has been off and on.
Not really sure what happened. Been playing it over and over in my mind but can't really even guess what happed. I do believe what ever happened started on the right side but couldn't even say that for sure. Just happens so dam fast..But again thanks. I will be calling BRP in the morning and Allstate claims department.

Man, that sucks! Glad to see you didn't fry with it. However... I'd let my insurance company handle the claim and I would immediatly go to the NHTSA website and file a report as this is a safety issue. If there's a pattern here, NHTSA is there to make sure there's a remedy.

 

[SpyderFun]

Glad you were able to get away from your ride before you became engulfed! This community should consider our fellow Spyder riders who are more physically challenged who may not be so lucky if it happens to one of them. Let's pray this never happens to anyone ever again!

I foresee this being a RED HOT TOPIC at the BBQ!

...Dude, I don't even know what to say. This completely sucks. The insurance will help you replace your loss of course. I can only hope that BRP will step up and do their part here and take a deeper look into this....

IF BRP doesn't start becoming aggressive into finding an answer as to "WHY" their product catches fire, and correcting it, the insurance companies will take action upon us!

It will not be long before the insurance industry says, "Sorry, but we no longer insure Spyders and are no longer renewing your Spyder policy".

History has shown this has happened to any vehicle that is deemed a "hazard". Remember the rear-impact-exploding Pinto of the 70's? Or the little 4-wheeling-rollover Suzuki (whose name escapes me) of the 90's. Wasn't long after the insurance people said no, or raised your rates thru the roof, that the government stepped in (or was it the insurance companies that got the government to step in? hmmmmm "chicken>egg or egg>chicken?").

Time for BRP to show the world they are a truly responsible world leading company who is interested in producing a publicly safe vehicle by fixing this before it results in a tombstone. Or worse for them, dealers sitting with unsold product on their showroom floors because the world-wide paying public will not buy an uninsurable vehicle.

REMEMBER:
BRP IS AWARE OF THIS AND HAS BEEN LUCKY THAT NO FIRE HAS RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF LIFE - SO FAR.

 

[SpyderFun]

I've seen Harleys and Hondas burn, for goodness sake. Freak incidents will occur with any vehicle.

Remember Columbia with all of NASA's engineering, exploded and burned due to fuel leak.

Fuel leak???

I believe it was damage to the leading edge of the wing caused by ice falling off of the main fuel tank during launch. During re-entry was when the damage caused the catastrophy.

Actually you both are right. There were 2 separate shuttle incidents on 2 different missions. One was the frozen O-ring seals on the SRB and the other was a chunk of "foam" falling off during launch that caused damage to the leading edge of the shuttle's wing (this caused problems due to overheating - or the burning of the wing during reentry). BOTH incidents were attributed to local freezing conditions being a factor.

Sound familiar now?

 

[Lone Spyder Ryder]

New Pictures of PE#2683

http://home.comcast.net/~idahohickk/

 

[SpyderWolf]

http://home.comcast.net/~idahohickk/

Wow, what a mess that turned into.

 

[PCBeachBum]

Wow, what a mess that turned into.

:agree: The most important thing is, your not hurt or burned and the Spyder can be replaced.

 

[M2Wild]

I understand the initial pooferonie is from the vapor (likely from the evap can) but what is sustaining the fire once it poofed??? Usually when the vapor goes up in flame there isn't anymore stuff to combust. If BRP can't design a simple evap can that can be fire resisitant to individuals who from time to time "over" filles their tanks (may it be less than an inch from the fill neck, or the last little triangle on the guage), then its a design issue. A simple one way valve like ones on their jet skiies should be sufficent to prevent the flame from working its way back into the canister and prevent a fire .... wouldn't you think???:dontknow:

 

[ataDude]

I understand the initial pooferonie is from the vapor (likely from the evap can) but what is sustaining the fire once it poofed??? Usually when the vapor goes up in flame there isn't anymore stuff to combust. If BRP can't design a simple evap can that can be fire resisitant to individuals who from time to time "over" filles their tanks (may it be less than an inch from the fill neck, or the last little triangle on the guage), then its a design issue. A simple one way valve like ones on their jet skiies should be sufficent to prevent the flame from working its way back into the canister and prevent a fire .... wouldn't you think???:dontknow:

My $0.02... fire starts at the canister/rear exhaust header, burns the high-pressure fuel lines right above it... fuel is sprayed under pressure on the flames. Then other things that can burn, do... insulation, plastic, seat, etc.

.

 

[Firefly]

http://home.comcast.net/~idahohickk/

Thanks for the pics-- WOW--- really shows how bad this was....

One thing--- the photo you have marked as 'Canister Area' is not where the canister is/was--- it's up and to the left.....