I heard on the radio that LA and SF had more rain this summer than
Seattle, and I think they said fires were a problem in Seattle and they
were sometimes caused by cars dragging chains. Why do cars drag chains.

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2018/05/23/wildfire-risk-heightened-by-chain-dragging

Sparks, no matter how small?

There are lots of other hits.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=fires+caused+by+cars+dragging+chains

On Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at 7:59:32 PM UTC-5, micky wrote:
> I heard on the radio that LA and SF had more rain this summer than
> Seattle, and I think they said fires were a problem in Seattle and they
> were sometimes caused by cars dragging chains. Why do cars drag chains.
>
> https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2018/05/23/wildfire-risk-heightened-by-chain-dragging
>
> Sparks, no matter how small?
>
> There are lots of other hits.
>
> https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=fires+caused+by+cars+dragging+chains

No idea. Farmers used to drag chains from combines to keep the potential between the combine and the soil at zero. That was supposed to lower the chance of a field fire.

In <57c4e539-f8b7-4638-a627-baea9cb63665n@googlegroups.com> Dean Hoffman <deanh6929@gmail.com> writes:

[snip]

> No idea. Farmers used to drag chains from combines to keep the poten=
>tial between the combine and the soil at zero. That was supposed to lower =
>the chance of a field fire.

Gasoline trucks, at least into the 1960's, dangled chains
to bleed off static electricity.

--
_____________________________________________________
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
dannyb@panix.com
[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]

On 7/4/2023 9:20 PM, danny burstein wrote:
> In <57c4e539-f8b7-4638-a627-baea9cb63665n@googlegroups.com> Dean Hoffman <deanh6929@gmail.com> writes:
>
> [snip]
>
>> No idea. Farmers used to drag chains from combines to keep the poten=
>> tial between the combine and the soil at zero. That was supposed to lower =
>> the chance of a field fire.
> Gasoline trucks, at least into the 1960's, dangled chains
> to bleed off static electricity.
>
>

It's true. I remember seeing those chains in tanker trucks back then. I
have also seen cars using a wire strip to ground the statics so that
that riders don't get a shock when they get in and out of the car. I
wonder why they don't do it anymore. I suspect that modern tires have
carbon or graphite embedded in the tire rubber, so that the tire rubber
is not a perfect insulator anymore, therefore a grounding chain/wire is
not required.

Car Anti Static Strip, Earth Belt, Ground Wire Strap
https://www.amazon.com/Static-Strip-Ground-Vehicle-Driving/dp/B08CXSRR5Z

On Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at 8:59:32 PM UTC-4, micky wrote:
> I heard on the radio that LA and SF had more rain this summer than
> Seattle, and I think they said fires were a problem in Seattle and they
> were sometimes caused by cars dragging chains. Why do cars drag chains.
>
> https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2018/05/23/wildfire-risk-heightened-by-chain-dragging
>
> Sparks, no matter how small?
>
> There are lots of other hits.
>
> https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=fires+caused+by+cars+dragging+chains
I remember putting tire chains on my Torino one snowy night. Brake stand hammer down was a sight to see, until I shredded a quarter panel.

In <7S3pM.7884$YL1.1645@fx04.ams1> =?UTF-8?B?8J+YjiBNaWdodHkgV2FubmFiZSDinIU=?= <@.> writes:

>On 7/4/2023 9:20 PM, danny burstein wrote:
>> In <57c4e539-f8b7-4638-a627-baea9cb63665n@googlegroups.com> Dean Hoffman <deanh6929@gmail.com> writes:
>>
>> [snip]
>>> No idea. Farmers used to drag chains from combines to keep the poten=
>>> tial between the combine and the soil at zero. That was supposed to lower =
>>> the chance of a field fire.
>
>> Gasoline trucks, at least into the 1960's, dangled chains
>> to bleed off static electricity.
>
>It's true. I remember seeing those chains in tanker trucks back then. I
>have also seen cars using a wire strip to ground the statics so that
>that riders don't get a shock when they get in and out of the car. I
>wonder why they don't do it anymore. I suspect that modern tires have
>carbon or graphite embedded in the tire rubber, so that the tire rubber
>is not a perfect insulator anymore, therefore a grounding chain/wire is
>not required.

>Car Anti Static Strip, Earth Belt, Ground Wire Strap
>https://www.amazon.com/Static-Strip-Ground-Vehicle-Driving/dp/B08CXSRR5Z

What's similarly "fun" is how the hoists in helicopters work.

If you catch a video of a Coastie holding onto the cable
as she's lowered down to rescue someone in the water, you'll
see she's _above_ the weight.

Two reasons: One is for stability, and the other is
there's a _hefty_ static electric charge in the copter,
and rest assured you do NOT want it going through
you into the water...

--
_____________________________________________________
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
dannyb@panix.com
[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]

On Tue, 4 Jul 2023 18:18:56 -0700 (PDT), Dean Hoffman wrote:

> On Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at 7:59:32 PM UTC-5, micky wrote:
>> I heard on the radio that LA and SF had more rain this summer than
>> Seattle, and I think they said fires were a problem in Seattle and they
>> were sometimes caused by cars dragging chains. Why do cars drag chains.
>>
>> https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2018/05/23/wildfire-risk-
heightened-by-chain-dragging
>>
>> Sparks, no matter how small?
>>
>> There are lots of other hits.
>>
>> https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-
d&q=fires+caused+by+cars+dragging+chains
>
>
> No idea. Farmers used to drag chains from combines to keep the
> potential between the combine and the soil at zero. That was
> supposed to lower the chance of a field fire.

https://www.carry-ontrailer.com/what-are-safety-chains-and-why-do-i-need-
them-for-my-trailer/

Some people can't hook up a trailer and wind up dragging the safety
chains. A semi with one trailer on the fifth wheel doesn't have safety
chains but with a set of doubles or triples the con gear hooks to the
front trailer with a pintle hook and those do have safety chains that can
drag if they're not connected properly.

In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 5 Jul 2023 01:20:25 -0000 (UTC), danny
burstein <dannyb@panix.com> wrote:

>In <57c4e539-f8b7-4638-a627-baea9cb63665n@googlegroups.com> Dean Hoffman <deanh6929@gmail.com> writes:
>
>[snip]
>
>> No idea. Farmers used to drag chains from combines to keep the poten=
>>tial between the combine and the soil at zero. That was supposed to lower =
>>the chance of a field fire.
>
>Gasoline trucks, at least into the 1960's, dangled chains
>to bleed off static electricity.

Or thick rubber strips iirc, but now the tires conduct electricity
enough to bleed off any charge.

I have a new pair of sneakers, Everlast brand, that several times in one
supermarket gave me a shock when I touched a shelf. Never happened
before. Their floor didn't seem unusual but I don't remember which
supermarket it was. I will pay more attention in the future.
>
>

On 7/4/23 17:59, micky wrote:
> I heard on the radio that LA and SF had more rain this summer than
> Seattle, and I think they said fires were a problem in Seattle and they
> were sometimes caused by cars dragging chains. Why do cars drag chains.

To discharge static electricity.

Sometimes it is their chains for attaching
trailers to hitches that they are not
careful about dragging the ground.

> https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/austin/news/2018/05/23/wildfire-risk-heightened-by-chain-dragging
>
> Sparks, no matter how small?
>
> There are lots of other hits.
>
> https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=fires+caused+by+cars+dragging+chains

Off roading with hot catalytic converters will
light grass on fire at times too.

On Tue, 4 Jul 2023 22:19:05 -0700, T wrote:

> Off roading with hot catalytic converters will light grass on fire at
> times too.

A person I worked with managed to do that with a Forest Service pickup. We
managed to get the fire out before it spread. I'm paranoid enough that
unless I'm parking on mineral soil when I'm in the woods I'll look under
the car or make sure the pipes on the bike aren't touching dry grass.

micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> writes:
>I heard on the radio that LA and SF had more rain this summer than
>Seattle, and I think they said fires were a problem in Seattle and they
>were sometimes caused by cars dragging chains. Why do cars drag chains.

Safety chains improperly installed when pulling trailers are the main culprit.

On 7/4/23 19:59, micky wrote:
> I heard on the radio that LA and SF had more rain this summer than
> Seattle, and I think they said fires were a problem in Seattle and they
> were sometimes caused by cars dragging chains. Why do cars drag chains.

To make noise? I don't know why, but some people do things because
they're annoying.

[snip]
--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"This crime called blasphemy was invented by priests for the purpose of
defending doctrines not able to take care of themselves." [Robert G.
Ingersoll]

On 7/5/23 00:19, T wrote:

[snip]

> Off roading with hot catalytic converters will
> light grass on fire at times too.

One hot, dry summer we had several fires around here. IIRC, they were
all started by the same truck. I wasn't right there. but I was close
enough to see smoke.

Also, that year people were donating sports drinks to firefighters.

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"This crime called blasphemy was invented by priests for the purpose of
defending doctrines not able to take care of themselves." [Robert G.
Ingersoll]

On Wed, 5 Jul 2023 12:18:59 -0500, Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid>
wrote:

>On 7/5/23 00:19, T wrote:
>
>[snip]
>
>> Off roading with hot catalytic converters will
>> light grass on fire at times too.
>
>One hot, dry summer we had several fires around here. IIRC, they were
>all started by the same truck. I wasn't right there. but I was close
>enough to see smoke.
>
>Also, that year people were donating sports drinks to firefighters.
A few years back here in Ontario when we had a particularly hot dry
summer many cars were destriyed at a concert or car show (CAN'T QUITE
REMEMBER WHICH) WHEN A HOT CONVERTER IGNITED A FRASS FIRE INTHE FIELD
USED AS A PARKING LOT.

I found it - Lavender festival in Niagara On The Lake in July 2018.
19 destriyed and 15 others damaged.

Now when fields are used for parling they are generally mowed and
raked/baled to remove flamable long dry grass.

In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 05 Jul 2023 14:59:46 -0400, Clare Snyder
<clare@snyder.on.ca> wrote:

>On Wed, 5 Jul 2023 12:18:59 -0500, Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid>
>wrote:
>
>>On 7/5/23 00:19, T wrote:
>>
>>[snip]
>>
>>> Off roading with hot catalytic converters will
>>> light grass on fire at times too.
>>
>>One hot, dry summer we had several fires around here. IIRC, they were
>>all started by the same truck. I wasn't right there. but I was close
>>enough to see smoke.
>>
>>Also, that year people were donating sports drinks to firefighters.
> A few years back here in Ontario when we had a particularly hot dry
>summer many cars were destriyed at a concert or car show (CAN'T QUITE
>REMEMBER WHICH) WHEN A HOT CONVERTER IGNITED A FRASS FIRE INTHE FIELD
>USED AS A PARKING LOT.
>
>I found it - Lavender festival in Niagara On The Lake in July 2018.
> 19 destriyed and 15 others damaged.
>
>Now when fields are used for parling they are generally mowed and
>raked/baled to remove flamable long dry grass.

Last week I read an example of this on NextDoor. 18-year old girl,
saved for years to buy a 2008 Lexus, in really good condition. Wasn't
an organized event, just some kids getting together in a field, and not
the cat either I think, only the engine compartment. I told them not to
kick themsleves, that the only people who know not to park on grass are
those who have already heard a story like theirs.

I thought the car could be saved, and asked to see it but he didn't get
back to me. Can't you replace the battery and every non-metal part in
the engine compartment for a reasonable price? Low compared to buying
another car. Because theyre expensive, wouldn't Lexuses be still in
junkyards with all their hoses, plastic bottles and lids, wires and
connectors. At least one somewhere in the country. What am I
forgetting?

In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 5 Jul 2023 12:16:01 -0500, Mark Lloyd
<not.email@all.invalid> wrote:

>On 7/4/23 19:59, micky wrote:
>> I heard on the radio that LA and SF had more rain this summer than
>> Seattle, and I think they said fires were a problem in Seattle and they
>> were sometimes caused by cars dragging chains. Why do cars drag chains.
>
>To make noise? I don't know why, but some people do things because
>they're annoying.
>
>[snip]

They're about to start selling electric cars with extra noise. Not just
so a blind man can hear it coming but louder than that.

On Wed, 05 Jul 2023 15:58:48 -0400, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

>In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 05 Jul 2023 14:59:46 -0400, Clare Snyder
><clare@snyder.on.ca> wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 5 Jul 2023 12:18:59 -0500, Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid>
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On 7/5/23 00:19, T wrote:
>>>
>>>[snip]
>>>
>>>> Off roading with hot catalytic converters will
>>>> light grass on fire at times too.
>>>
>>>One hot, dry summer we had several fires around here. IIRC, they were
>>>all started by the same truck. I wasn't right there. but I was close
>>>enough to see smoke.
>>>
>>>Also, that year people were donating sports drinks to firefighters.
>> A few years back here in Ontario when we had a particularly hot dry
>>summer many cars were destriyed at a concert or car show (CAN'T QUITE
>>REMEMBER WHICH) WHEN A HOT CONVERTER IGNITED A FRASS FIRE INTHE FIELD
>>USED AS A PARKING LOT.
>>
>>I found it - Lavender festival in Niagara On The Lake in July 2018.
>> 19 destriyed and 15 others damaged.
>>
>>Now when fields are used for parling they are generally mowed and
>>raked/baled to remove flamable long dry grass.
>
>Last week I read an example of this on NextDoor. 18-year old girl,
>saved for years to buy a 2008 Lexus, in really good condition. Wasn't
>an organized event, just some kids getting together in a field, and not
>the cat either I think, only the engine compartment. I told them not to
>kick themsleves, that the only people who know not to park on grass are
>those who have already heard a story like theirs.
>
>I thought the car could be saved, and asked to see it but he didn't get
>back to me. Can't you replace the battery and every non-metal part in
>the engine compartment for a reasonable price? Low compared to buying
>another car. Because theyre expensive, wouldn't Lexuses be still in
>junkyards with all their hoses, plastic bottles and lids, wires and
>connectors. At least one somewhere in the country. What am I
>forgetting?
Had a small fire in my 1980 Corolla (overheated converter due to
engine deiseling when shut off) that burned the carpet, console, and
driver's seat. Would have burned a lot more if my wife hadn't turned
the hose on it!!!!. Insurance wrote the car off. I bought it back and
repaired it with junk-yard parts and we drove it for another 3 ir 4
years - but I can easily see a lexus being a write-off from a grass
fire.

In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 05 Jul 2023 18:15:01 -0400, Clare Snyder
<clare@snyder.on.ca> wrote:

>On Wed, 05 Jul 2023 15:58:48 -0400, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
>wrote:
>
>>In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 05 Jul 2023 14:59:46 -0400, Clare Snyder
>><clare@snyder.on.ca> wrote:
>>
>>>On Wed, 5 Jul 2023 12:18:59 -0500, Mark Lloyd <not.email@all.invalid>
>>>wrote:
>>>
>>>>On 7/5/23 00:19, T wrote:
>>>>
>>>>[snip]
>>>>
>>>>> Off roading with hot catalytic converters will
>>>>> light grass on fire at times too.
>>>>
>>>>One hot, dry summer we had several fires around here. IIRC, they were
>>>>all started by the same truck. I wasn't right there. but I was close
>>>>enough to see smoke.
>>>>
>>>>Also, that year people were donating sports drinks to firefighters.
>>> A few years back here in Ontario when we had a particularly hot dry
>>>summer many cars were destriyed at a concert or car show (CAN'T QUITE
>>>REMEMBER WHICH) WHEN A HOT CONVERTER IGNITED A FRASS FIRE INTHE FIELD
>>>USED AS A PARKING LOT.
>>>
>>>I found it - Lavender festival in Niagara On The Lake in July 2018.
>>> 19 destriyed and 15 others damaged.
>>>
>>>Now when fields are used for parling they are generally mowed and
>>>raked/baled to remove flamable long dry grass.
>>
>>Last week I read an example of this on NextDoor. 18-year old girl,
>>saved for years to buy a 2008 Lexus, in really good condition. Wasn't
>>an organized event, just some kids getting together in a field, and not
>>the cat either I think, only the engine compartment. I told them not to
>>kick themsleves, that the only people who know not to park on grass are
>>those who have already heard a story like theirs.
>>
>>I thought the car could be saved, and asked to see it but he didn't get
>>back to me. Can't you replace the battery and every non-metal part in
>>the engine compartment for a reasonable price? Low compared to buying
>>another car. Because theyre expensive, wouldn't Lexuses be still in
>>junkyards with all their hoses, plastic bottles and lids, wires and
>>connectors. At least one somewhere in the country. What am I
>>forgetting?
> Had a small fire in my 1980 Corolla (overheated converter due to
>engine deiseling when shut off) that burned the carpet, console, and
>driver's seat. Would have burned a lot more if my wife hadn't turned
>the hose on it!!!!. Insurance wrote the car off. I bought it back and
>repaired it with junk-yard parts and we drove it for another 3 ir 4
>years - but I can easily see a lexus being a write-off from a grass
>fire.

In 1970 I lent my car to a 19-year old, and 15 minutes later he called
me. "Where should I tow it?" Heck, I was from out of town.

He had run a stop sign in a school zone (the sign was obscurd by a
camper parked right in front of it, but he was from Racine and he should
have known he was approaching a more important street) and he got hit in
the left front.

I ran over to where he was and rode with the tow truck to sears. I
asked the sears guy to pull the fender away from the tire. (I could have
done this before being towed, but that's okay) And I drove away.

The car pulled strongly to one side. A day or two later I went back
and asked him to aligh the wheels. He said I don't think I can. I said
Do your best and I promise not to complain. He didn't mearsure anything
more, took out all the shims from some place on the left, and by golly
the car drove straight ahead even with my hands off the wheel.

But it did ruin one tire fairly quickly. I had the car for 2 to 4 more
years until the city of NY towed me away for parking in front of a chuch
in a house that only had services twice a week, with a license plate
made out of masonite, painted white with black numbers (becuause the
original had fallen off along with the bracket.) Two or 3 days later, I
found a record of the car in a city tow yard but they claimed they had
crushed it. They claimed they never opened the trunk and took out all
my tools.

On 7/5/2023 12:59 PM, micky wrote:
> In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 5 Jul 2023 12:16:01 -0500, Mark Lloyd
> <not.email@all.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On 7/4/23 19:59, micky wrote:
>>> I heard on the radio that LA and SF had more rain this summer than
>>> Seattle, and I think they said fires were a problem in Seattle and they
>>> were sometimes caused by cars dragging chains. Why do cars drag chains.
>>
>> To make noise? I don't know why, but some people do things because
>> they're annoying.
>>
>> [snip]
>
> They're about to start selling electric cars with extra noise. Not just
> so a blind man can hear it coming but louder than that.

They have been making cars with electronically generated interior engine
noise for years.

https://www.kbb.com/car-advice/fake-engine-noise/