PT-1845 Fire in the Engine Room
Scenario
Mowing along in roughly 50 degree, breezy, sunny weather I made the turn at the end of a lap and I guess because the wind was now at my back I smelled smoke, stopped, turned my head, didn't see anything, but smell intensified and I turned again and thought I saw smoke against the blue sky.
Then I got off the tractor and saw immediately it was coming from the engine compartment. I shut the engine off, opened the hood, and saw flames that seemed to be heavier on the right side than the left but were generally spread throughout bottom of the engine compartment "tub".
Then, and I don't know quite what I intended to accomplish, I tried restarting the tractor - nothing happened when I turned the key.
Then I ran to the studio for a fire extinguisher (about 500 feet away) and returned and easily extinguished the fire.
By the time I got back of course the flames were bigger but as luck would have it no fuel or hydraulic lines had ruptured.
About this time a neighbor arrived with the extinguisher from his kitchen to offer what help he could.
I stayed with the tractor until I felt certain it had cooled enough not to re-ignite, perhaps a half hour, then I went to the studio and got a wrench and disconnected the battery negative terminal.
Visual damage assessment (see pictures)
Saturday April 19, 2003
- Battery
- bulged near positive terminal
- Battery cables
- positive cable completely severed near starter
- Hydraulic hoses
- All within engine compartment may be damaged
- Wiring
- All within engine compartment may need replacing
- Draft control
- Adjustment knob melted
- Solenoid damaged
- Fuel lines
- Engine oil dip stick
- Melted
- Junction box assembly
- Throttle cable
- Starter
- Solenoid
- Starter ?
- Air cleaner assembly
- Motor mounts
- possibly cooked
- Fuel strainer cover
- Paint touchup
- Blistered lower left corner of engine oil cooler shroud
- Discolored red on right side above wheel
Added Monday 4/21/03
- Filters
- Fuel
- Engine oil
- Hydraulic
- Engine oil filler cap
- Fuel filter housing
- Fan belt
- Engine covers
- plastic - at rear of engine (timing belt covers)
- Engine wiring harness
- Fuel gauge wiring
Added Thursday 5/8/03
- Flywheel ring gear ?
- It appears possible starter was engaged
- (this deduced from the fire inspectors note that current was flowing in start wire to solenoid when it burned through)
- It appears possible starter was engaged
Added Saturday 510/03
- Timing belt
- If the plastic covers over the belt need replacing perhaps the belt does too.
Pictures
April 19, 2003 - the morning after the fire
- Left side hood up
- Left side detail at draft control
- Left side detail at draft control
- Left side detail at engine filters
- Left side detail at battery
- Right side hood up
- Right side detail at starter
- Right side detail at starter
- Right side detail at air cleaner
- Right side detail wiring below starter
May 5, 2003 - after fire investigator's inspection
- End of burned through start wire
- Fallen nut inside junction box - closeup showing end of start wire also
May 6, 2003 - pictures of Charlie's PT1845 he so generously sent for before and after comparison
- Right side detail junction box
- Right side detail fuse block
- Right side detail fuse block
- Left side detail pto solenoid
- Left side detail draft control
May 7, 2003
June 28, 2003
July 12, 2003
During rebuild
July 31. 2003
- Alarm buzzer behind left rear wheel
- Left wheelmotor from inside tub
- Tub front right
- Tub front left
- Pumps from right side
- Pumps from left side
- Dash wiring from front
August 2, 2003
August 22, 2003
September 8, 2003
A brief synopsis of the long journey to settlement
Monday 4/21/03 Telcon Terry Estep, Power Trac. Described damage - he says it sounds like a complete refurbishment needed, wants tractor shipped back to factory, says we won't know if anything is warped (engine head etc, hydraulic pumps etc) until it is started up and tested.
Thursday 4/24/03 Meet with adjuster, at tractor. He will have an investigator come out to try and determine cause of fire ("A one year old tractor shouldn't burn"). Don't move or touch tractor until then. Says transportation to and from Power Trac may not be covered.
Thursday 4/24/03 Telcon Terry Estep, Power Trac. Told him adjuster wants to have an investigator look tractor over before I touch it. Call him when tractor is ready to go and he will send up a trucker.
Monday 5/5/03 Meet at tractor with fire investigator. Found positive battery cable burned through and wire from junction box to starter solenoid burned through with a copper bead on junction box end of the severed wire (evidence of current flowing when it separated). In junction box, found cable connector nut separated from connector and lying atop terminal 12. I [jhc] can't tell without further disassembly whether it caused a short but it seems likely. [Note: A later look at the circuit diagram makes me question whether a short to ground at terminal 12 would cause any harm - the diagram is hard to follow - jhc]
Wednesday 5/7/03 Telcon with adjuster. Will cover transportation to factory. Hasn't heard from investigator yet - will try him now and get back to me if there is any problem - otherwise go ahead and ship.
Wednesday 5/7/03 Telcon Terry Estep at Power Trac. Have claims adjuster call him.
Thursday 5/8/03 Fax in hand from adjuster authorizing me to get the repairs done, shipping included, but to get him an estimate first as well as exact replacement cost including delivery.
Thursday 5/8/03 Telcon Terry Estep at Power Trac. Adjuster called him yesterday as planned and said the insurance company would subrogate the claim against Power Trac to recover their costs. Terry says PT won't/can't touch the tractor in that case. I then asked him what it would take from insurance company for PT to agree to fix it, my presumption being that some kind of telephoned assurances not to subrogate would not be sufficient.
Friday 5/9/03 Telcon Terry Estep at Power Trac. PT won't touch the tractor if the insurance company is going to sue. If they will agree not to hold them liable PT will fix the tractor.
Monday 5/12/03 Telcon adjuster. Insurance pays to get tractor fixed - including transportation - its up to me to arrange for repairs. If the fire investigator's report doesn't point to PT maybe insurance company can agree not to subrogate the claim.
Wednesday 5/14/03 Telcon adjuster. Fire investigator feels a one year old tractor should not burn and manufacturer has some liability here. Adjuster concurs and will recommend subrogation to insurance company. I then suggested a cash settlement. Adjuster suggests I get him a parts and labor (my labor) estimate asap and he will work with me.
Thursday 5/15/03 Telcon Terry Estep. Terry will estimate my parts list. Terry's estimate is here.
Tuesday 5/27/03 Faxed my estimate ($15,607.79) to adjuster.
Thursday 5/29/03 Telcon with adjuster. Wants an independent appraisal - will arrange for one.
Thursday 5/29/03 Telcon Terry Estep. PT won't fix tractor on my nickel either, as long as subrogation suit might be pending.
Wednesday 6/11/03 Telcon adjuster. Independent appraisal came in at $16,000+ to repair, $12,000 Actual Cash Value, and one salvage offer at $750. Adjuster understood my policy to be ACV (but it's actually R/C) - I faxed him my Declarations Pages [it took a week to get this straightened out! - jhc]
Thursday 6/19/03 Telcon Terry Estep. I requested that he fax me a price quote for a replacement PT1845, including transportation (at the request of the adjuster - to be used to establish replacement cost to settle claim).
Friday 6/20/03 Telcon Terry Estep. Power Trac will not quote a price nor sell me a replacement tractor unless insurance company agrees to not subrogate the claim.
Friday 6/20/03 Telcon insurance company claims dept decisionmaker (I was referred to him by my agent).
- Claim settlement agreed upon.
- $xx,xxx for tractor
- $xxx for transportation
- less $xxx for salvage to remain with me
- less $xxx deductable
- Check goes out today.
Thursday 6/26/03 Insurance settlement check received.
Parts quoted by Power-Trac on 5/23/03 for my fire damage estimate
- Power-Trac part numbers are from owner's manual
- Deutz part numbers from the Deutz engine Spare Parts Catalogue
| E419 | Battery | 185.94 |
| E504x38 | Red Power Cable 38" | 13.32 |
| E402x1 | Black Ground Cable 17" | 6.18 |
| F415 | Deutz Fuel Filter | 27.60 |
| F416 | Deutz Oil Filter | 34.16 |
| F050-1 | Hydraulic Filter | 28.00 |
| V250 | Draft Control Valve Cartridge | 109.80 |
| V242 | Draft Control Electric Solenoid | 126.64 |
| V233x1 | Cooler Bypass Valve | 96.40 |
| M15087 | Cooler Fan Thermal Relay | 11.34 |
| M15140 | Tram Pump Push/Pull Cable | 110.60 |
| M15185x1 | Throttle Cable | 25.95 |
| E499 | Junction Compartment Box | 98.22 |
| E470x14 | Terminal Block | 26.98 |
| E186x4 | 1-1/4" Neer Connector (3 pieces) | 4.64 |
| E186x4 | 1-1/4" Neer Connector (3 pieces) | 4.64 |
| E186x4 | 1-1/4" Neer Connector (3 pieces) | 4.64 |
| E509 | 20 amp Fuse Block and fuse | 25.20 |
| E508 | 50 amp Fuse Block and fuse | 25.20 |
| E514x4 | Complete wiring harness(es) | 97.28 |
| NOTE: Many of the following hydraulic hoses are incorrect on the drawings and incorrect here - see Fire Damage Repairs for a more accurate list | ||
| H0752JP030 | Hose 3/4 dia x 30" (ref 13 dwg H075x4) | 35.63 |
| H0371JJ106 | Hose 3/8 dia x 106"(ref 14 dwg H075x4) | 41.90 |
| H0501JJ018 | Hose 1/2 dia x 18" (ref 16 dwg H075x4) | 20.90 |
| H02514J6J088 | Hose 1/4 dia x 88" (ref 20 dwg H075x4) | 28.50 |
| H0251JJ054 | Hose 1/4 dia x 54" (ref 7 dwg H075x5) | 22.28 |
| H0251JJ054 | Hose 1/4 dia x 54" (ref 7 dwg H075x5) | 22.28 |
| H0251JJ018 | Hose 1/4 dia x 18" (ref 8 dwg H075x5) | 15.44 |
| H0251JJ056 | Hose 1/4 dia x 16" (ref 9 dwg H075x5) | 22.66 |
| H0371JJ108 | Hose 3/8 dia x 108" (ref 14 dwg H076x2) | 42.47 |
| H0752JJ116 | Hose 3/4 dia x 116" (ref 24 dwg H077x2) | 81.58 |
| H0752JJ110 | Hose 3/4 dia x 110" (ref 25 dwg H077x2) | 78.46 |
| H0501JJ088 | Hose 1/2 dia x 88" (ref 26 dwg H077x2) | 41.54 |
| H0501JJ059 | Hose 1/2 dia x 59" (ref 27 dwg H077x2) | 33.02 |
| H0501JJ048 | Hose 1/2 dia x 48" (ref 28 dwg H077x2) | 29.72 |
| H0501JJ042 | Hose 1/2 dia x 42" (ref 29 dwg H077x2) | 27.98 |
| H1002JP030 | Hose 1 dia x 30" (ref 17 dwg H078x4) | 63.17 |
| H0752JJ077 | Hose 3/4 dia x 77" (ref 18 dwg H078x4) | 61.30 |
| H0752JJ056 | Hose 3/4 dia x 56" (ref 19 dwg H078x4) | 50.38 |
| H0502JJ040 | Hose 1/2 dia x 40" (ref 20 dwg H078x4) | 32.45 |
| H0502JJ040 | Hose 1/2 dia x 40" (ref 20 dwg H078x4) | 32.45 |
| H0502JJ028 | Hose 1/2 dia x 28" (ref 21 dwg H078x4) | 27.38 |
| H0502JJ020 | Hose 1/2 dia x 20" (ref 23 dwg H078x4) | 23.99 |
| H1002JJ035 | Hose 1 dia x 35" (ref 24 dwg H078x4) | 71.47 |
| H0251JJ093 | Hose 1/4 dia x 93" (ref 6 dwg H078x5) | 29.69 |
| H0251JJ060 | Hose 1/4 dia x 60" (ref 7 dwg H078x5) | 23.42 |
| H0251JJ021 | Hose 1/4 dia x 21" (ref 9 dwg H078x5) | 16.01 |
| H0251JJ016 | Hose 1/4 dia x 16" (ref 10 dwg H078x5) | 15.06 |
| H0752JJ027 | Hose 3/4 dia x 27" (ref 27 dwg H079x2) | 35.30 |
| H0251JJ096 | Hose 1/4 dia x 96" (ref 28 dwg H079x2) | 30.26 |
| H0251JJ092 | Hose 1/4 dia x 92" (ref 29 dwg H079x2) | 29.50 |
| H0251JJ078 | Hose 1/4 dia x 78" (ref 30 dwg H079x2) | 26.84 |
| H0251JJ075 | Hose 1/4 dia x 75" (ref 31 dwg H079x2) | 26.27 |
| H02514J6J021 | Hose 1/4 dia x 21" (ref 34 dwg H079x2) | 15.77 |
| H02514J6J021 | Hose 1/4 dia x 21" (ref 34 dwg H079x2) | 15.77 |
| H01814J4J018 | Hose 3/16 dia x 18" (ref 36 dwg H079x2) | 15.48 |
| H01814J4J018 | Hose 3/16 dia x 18" (ref 36 dwg H079x2) | 15.48 |
| M15203x1 | Deutz engine Series F3L 1011F Model YDZX Serial# 0562077 | $7,141.20 |
| 20/5 | Fuel pump and strainer | 572.99 |
| 21/2 | Fuel line per ft 20.55 | 20.55 |
| 21/3 | Fuel line per ft 20.55 | 20.55 |
| 21/66 | Fuel line per ft 20.55 | 20.55 |
| 22/89 | Air cleaner assembly M15203-7 | 417.87 |
| 39/20 | Fan belt M15203-10 | 21.51 |
| 40/2 | Forward engine shroud | 303.30 |
| 44/41 | Starter assembly M15203-1 | 960.62 |
| 44/12 | Motor mount rubber bushings (8 pieces) 22.32ea | 178.56 |