Where did you mount it, and what type of bottle/bracket do you have?

I bought a new 5lb bottle with a metal mounting bracket and strap (wall type) and screwed it to the floor (next to the tunnel) on the passenger side footwell. The handle is pointing towards the rear of the car. The problem is I can't reach it while still in the harness, and the bottle is still a bit loose. It's not going anywhere, but Tech might think it's too loose.

John -- who hasn't dropped the wad yet for a plumbed system.

 

Your talking about an extinguisher, right?

I've got mine on the left footwell just infront of where the front seat would be. I can't reach mine either and I did consider remounting it. I couldn't find any suitable place to have resigned myself to unbuckle "real fast" if I ever need to reach it.

Greg - who can barely reach the dash when he's buckled in...

ADD: I think mine is a 2.5 lb ABC bottle with a all steel mounting bracket with a single steel band and clasp. The neck seat is also metal...



[Modified by bulldog_RS20, 9:14 PM 7/19/2002]


[Modified by bulldog_RS20, 9:27 PM 7/19/2002]

 

A-pillar with zip ties. jk..
Actually on the diagonal cage bar running down behind where the passenger seat was... using a dual clamp metal bracket and multiple metal hose clamps.

 

Greg,
Sounds like what I have, only I got the 5lb size. Yours is mounted in the "drivers" footwell? Is it tight if you grab it and wiggle it?

Robert,
Unfortunately hose clamps won't fly since they're not "quick release".

 

Passenger side of the vertical main hoop. Nope, cant reach it from drivers seat, dont want to. Seems a bit counter productive, but think about it. If theres a fire, its my priority to get out of there ASAP. Then think about if its safe enough for me to go back to the car and unbuckle the bottle. The worker coming to my car is going to either 1) bring a bottle with him, 2) be in a better position to reach the bottle than me, even if it was mounted near me. I placed it at the most accessible place. having it on the floor means the person needs to reach half the body inside and grab it, in a car on fire... how senseless is that.

 

we've always used a complete halon fire systems with the bottle mounted in the trunk with nozzels spraying on the driver, engine compartment, and fuel cell area. these systems have remotely mounted buttons which should always be within reach of the driver. trust me, being on fire sucks and you might need to discharge the bottle before the car even stops.

tony-who has had the pleasure of being on fire 3 times in one weekend.


[Modified by delinquent, 11:01 PM 7/19/2002]

 

Opps check that. Drivers right = pass footwell. Yeah, it's snug. I think the key is the slotted neck "seat" that adds rigidity. Also, the steel strap and clasp is real tight.

I've got a regular "household" extinguisher that has a plastic mounting ***'y and that's not nearly as rigid.

Are you sure you got one that's designated for auto/marine mounting? Just a thought...

Greg - who has a Phoenix halon system on the "want" list...


Edit: You might try some weather stripping material to stick between the bottle and the mounting bracket...


[Modified by bulldog_RS20, 11:01 PM 7/19/2002]

 

They work fine for my Honda-Challenge car.. I hose-clamped the 2-band quick release metal bracket to the cage. I'll take pictures.

 

Thanks. I'll take pictures of what I have too.

 

I think this is the best option and it should probably be one of the first safety mods. Even before a cage. Only on fire 3 times in a weekend is kind of weak, but you never get used to it...

-Dustin

 

I don't have the budget for a plumbed system right now. The bottle will have to make do for the last few races of the year. This is what I have going right now (Greg will call me a post ***** for posting more pictures, but I need this resolved).

Notice where the strap is.... it's only supporting the top 1/3 of the bottle. The lower 2/3 is unsupported, so I had tp pad the bottom of the bottle to add pressure down there.



Padded....


Looking at the bracket again and thinking more about it, I think I'll get another bracket, hack the neck off, screw it down, and use the strap on the lower part of the bottle.

 

Honda Challenge rules don't require the bottle to be quickly released? Lemme ask what maybe a stupid question..... wouldn't you feel more comfortable if you could just reach over and unbuckle it, if needed? Why bother having one in the car if it requires a tool to remove it?

John -- who's just asking

 

I'm with Tyson. Before I had a plumbed system, I mounted it to the passenger side cage. I figured if I caught on fire, I'd be jumping out that window ASAP (and not worrying about unlocking a small fire bottle that will probably be insufficient to do much anyways). If time permitted, I could reach back in easily (without putting torso into car).

 

John, I used to have the 2.5 lb bottle mounted in a similar location/orientation. I had it farther back almost right up against the passenger seat tunnel. I picked up an double strap mount from the mfg. I wouldn't worry too much about reaching the thing. Cars are cheap (relatively speaking). I have since gone to a Safecraft system. It is mounted in the rear passenger side 'footwell' area. I only have it set up with two nozzles. If I had to do over again, I would go three. It wouldn't have cost that much more for the extra protection. I got mine when IO Port had their winter sale.

 

John,

He doesn't have his bottle strapped down with hose clamps that he needs tools to remove. He has the bottle holder, hose clamped to his cage! What are you smokin'?

Victor Penner

 

A bunch of years ago, I tech'd a FFord that came to Seattle from Canada for a conference race. The driver had the fire bottle mounted under the seat and couldn't even get it out so we could see if it was full. He couldn't figure out why it was a problem since, in his words, "It's just a legalizer, eh?"

Anywho, some thoughts...

** Dry chem extinguishers will pack down if you don't take them out and shake them really well once in a while.

** I have been out of the safety equipment loop for a while and Halons are environmental criminals now, so the specific agents have changed. Regardless, we used to like to have a little handheld Halon bottle mounted in the car for "little" fires (in addition to the plumbed on-board system). I put out a carb fire on our RS car at Sears Pt on pregrid on day, about 10 seconds in front of a well-meaning worker emptying a huge bottle of purple K into the engine compartment. We ran the race but would NOT have if she had gotten to us in time.

** Remember that 5# of agent and another pound of bottle will "weigh" 60# in a 10-g shunt - which is not a big hit. Brackets and bracket mountings must be appropriately stout.

Kirk

(edit - 47 spelling errors. I think I am hung over.)



[Modified by Knestis, 3:08 PM 7/20/2002]

 

DOH! I read right over the top of this. Sorry 'bout that. Where can I locate a bracket like this? My local Home Depot only had the single-band bracket that I bought.

 

Its for a 2.5lb bottle at http://www.ioportracing.com I have the same thing, bolted to my floor though..