G'day MickyD Yes, flame and scandal in the family ...
I have researched enough to know how many lawnmower accidents are caused by ignorance or complacency. There is also historical context to this.
I mean, who would check a fuel tank capacity by holding a match to the opening these days? Yet, the Darwin Awards seem to flourish today.
I will tell my own fuel / spark story, that occurred when I was an apprentice...
I was working on a highly complex lawnmower known as a Ransomes-Hahn Triplex. The machine was made on the cusp of new technologies involving mechanicals, electricals, and hydraulics.
The machine had a problem with the hydrostatic transmission. To access the transmission I had to remove the RH mudguard, that doubled as a fuel tank (a clever design).
One fuel tank bracket was mounted next to the starter solenoid. In disconnecting the RH fuel line the obvious happened.
Luckily I had a fire extinguisher nearby, and applied Solarcaine spray to my arm. It could have been a lot worse.
