Starting after sitting.

Dear Editor,

If you try to fire up your M17 decon after it's been sitting idle for weeks, you could end up sending crystallized gas chunks or gummed-up fuel into the fuel nozzles. Then you've got a plugged fuel system and a major cleaning chore ahead of you.

Avoid that chore by purging the old fuel. Get a 2-ft fuel hose that fits over the metal burner return line. Take off the return line hose and connect the 2-ft hose in its place. Put the other end of the hose in a container to catch the contaminated fuel. Stick the burner suction hose in a can of Fresh Fuel.

Start the engine and run it for one minute. That should get all the old gas out of the system. Dispose of the drained fuel properly.

Pull off the hose you used For purging and reconnect the hose for the burner return line. Make sure the other end of the return hose is in the fuel can with the suction hose like it normally would be.

Now start the engine and see if the burner fires up. If it doesn't, you need to clean the fuel nozzles and solenoid and try again.

(Editor's note: Another good decon suggestion, Jim. Thanks again.)

Jim Blackiston

RDECom Decon/Smoke Team

APG, MD