Davey 4 Floodfighter Pumps - Manual (Page 5)

AIR CLEANERS
In a fire emergency you need every ounce of performance from your pump unit to
be available, and poorly maintained air cleaners won’t help you. Adequate clean
air flowing into the engine at the right speed and temperature is vital for efficient
combustion:
• Follow the engine manufacturers’ schedule and instructions for the correct
maintenance of the air cleaner.
• Ensure your engine has access to ample clean fresh air.
• Be careful changing the air cleaner from the engine manufacturers original
equipment as these are specially designed for each engine
ENgINE COOLINg
The temperature at which an engine operates has a dramatic effect on the power
it can deliver – the higher the ambient or surrounding heat and the more radiant
heat the engine is exposed to the lower the performance.
The effects of radiant heat should not be underestimated:
1. Protect the engine from radiant heat: Install the engine in a flame proof
enclosure which has some degree of insulating characteristic. Materials such
as fibre cement sheeting, autoclaved aerated concrete or even concrete
bricks provide good fire resistance and thermal insulation. Any enclosure must
allow for adequate flow of clean air, while at the same time protecting the
pump unit from radiant heat. Make sure the exhaust is correctly routed out of
the enclosure.
2. Add a mist spray or sprays around the pump enclosure to both protect the
area from embers, but also to aid cooling.
3. Make sure the enclosure is easily accessible for engine fuelling and pump
servicing
gENERAL ENgINE MAINTENANCE
Sometimes it’s the little things that lead to problems, but they are often easy to
see if you know what to look for:
Fuel lines: Check to ensure there is no water in the carburettor bowl. Make sure
any fuel lines have not degraded over time.
Recoil starters: Ensure they work smoothly. Check the recoil rope for any signs
of wear, if uncertain, replace them.
Service schedules: Small engines are often not treated as well as they deserve,
oil changes are the most common item neglected.
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