Fire In 47 caught In Time

[55 Fargo]

Hi all, was having a nice long cruise tonight in the 47, stopped and showed a friend the car.

When I went to start the engine to leave, it was cranking real slow and wouldn't start, tried a few more times, all of a sudden I see smoke coming from under the hood, I immediately open the hood, I saw the choke wire smoldering where it connects to the choke switch.

I have a master switch on the battery, I immediately shut it down.

I removed the choke wire from the starter connection circuit, the engine fired right up like nothing, this choke was obviously not working right either, as it wasn't firing before I removed the wire, it started just like that after it was removed.

Thank God it wasn't worse, or anything too serious, but this wire connection is darn cles to the carb, someone is looking out for me afterall.............Fred PS not sure what I may do to fix this, maybe convert to manual choke or make up a new wire for the electric choke

[55 Fargo]

Hi Shel, the screw was tight, and the right length. I have had this scrw become loose in the past and saw a few sparks fly from there.

The wire right from the ring terminal on the choke, had melted away about 6 inches, it was the old wire, maybe it was shorting or something, which caused all of this............Fred

[Normspeed]

Wow, glad you were quick to catch it. Sounds like maybe it was shorting out internally from what you describe. I always wondered why that wire was not equipped with a fuse.

[Norm's Coupe]

Fred,

Glad you caught the fire before it got out of hand. However, that points out a good reason for everyone to put a small fire extinguisher in their car.

[55 Fargo]

Norm,you are absolutley correct, I have one in the car, but I took it out the other day when I was welding, I forgot to put it back in the car.I was 10 miles from home, I am going to buy another fire extinguisher today, a nice for the car, I have 2 for the shop, but the big one needs recharging.............Fred