Stupid stuff in the garage

[ovilla]

Okay this is more car related but it happened IN the garage. One of my little 914's hasn't been running too good so I figured it was time to replace the fuel filter, so I clamp both ends of the fuel line and swap it out. Then a neighbor stops by and we get to talking. Soon another neighbor needs to borrow something for his project of the day. I finally get back to my car (about an hour later) to start it up and see how it runs. Runs great for about 20 seconds and then dies. Keeps cranking but doesn't want to start. I'm then pulling the cap and rotor, checking points and plugs. 10 minutes later I remember that I still have the fuel lines clamped. I undo them and of course the car starts right up. Argh!!!


Come on share your stories! I can't be the only one having these senior moments.

 

[Danver]

I'm sure I have tons of them but the first one that came to mind was when I was repairing an older Chevy Cavalier that had been hit on the left front tire and bent the strut and lower control arm. We were replacing the assembly with a used one from the salvage yard (a whole different topic of stupid but I won't go there now). Anyway, I knew the next day was going to be extremely busy so I stayed after closing to swap out the parts to get a head start on the next day's work. Everything went smoothly and I got it all done before I went home with the only thing left to do in the morning was to put the tire back on and drop it down from the jack stands.

Next morning I come in and throw the tire on and set the car down on the ground. Wtf? The tire is still leaning way in on the top. Sonufa.... I took the old assembly off and set it on the floor next to the "new" used one and apparently proceeded to put the same one back on the car. The day suddenly became even more busy than I had previously thought.

 

[Waterloo Structures]

Hahaha that was funny but it happens so no worries.

 

[914wilhelm]

My usual stupid is to change the oil but forget to put the drain plug back in. Usually become aware of this issue somewhere around quart 4.......

 

[autonaut]

Okay this is more car related but it happened IN the garage. One of my little 914's hasn't been running too good so I figured it was time to replace the fuel filter, so I clamp both ends of the fuel line and swap it out. Then a neighbor stops by and we get to talking. Soon another neighbor needs to borrow something for his project of the day. I finally get back to my car (about an hour later) to start it up and see how it runs. Runs great for about 20 seconds and then dies. Keeps cranking but doesn't want to start. I'm then pulling the cap and rotor, checking points and plugs. 10 minutes later I remember that I still have the fuel lines clamped. I undo them and of course the car starts right up. Argh!!!


Come on share your stories! I can't be the only one having these senior moments.

Been there done that.. Left a clamped fuel line.. The feeling when you realise your mistake is stupid!!

 

[Playwme]

Left a rag in the air box of a motorbike one day . Half it got pulled through the carby and lodged up in the inlet port.

 

[T-Mac]

Didn't happen to me but I know where it happened-Body shop repairing a dodge shadow hooked hose to washer tank into engine vacuum hose-hydrolocked engine,bent 2 connecting rods!

 

[workhurts]

Up on ramps with a jackstand in place as a precaution. Drove off ramps with jackstand still in place. Damaged rocker panel a little.

 

[mustanginky]

Blue shop towel in my blowoff valve tube. Wouldnt make boost. Removed clamp/tubing and lol'd. I had left the rag in the blower tubing to prevent anything from getting in and assembled it without thinking about it.

 

[koondog]

Spent two days trying to fix a lawn tractor that the wife said "stopped while I was going across the yard". Didn't tell me she was mowing at the time. Disengaged the mower, started it up, then threw a wrench.

 

[CJM8515]

Plug blew out of the head and busted valve cover on mytoyota truck. Was odd because last place to plugs was dealer according to PO records and that was 50k before it blew. It busted the valve cover too.

So I tap it out and take the efi fuse out and crank it over to throw any errant shavings out. Left a rag on the intake. Sucked it right up into the cams. Had to take it all apart and get rag out. Then I put it together and it's tapping. I realized that the cam gear is spring loaded and was out of place.

Took me another day to get it all sorted out

 

[Lippyp]

I had a hidden switch on the HT side of the ignition circuit on my Triumph Spitfire as an anti theft measure, it allowed the engine to turn over but it wouldn't fire. It had been sat at my parents for a few months after I'd bought a new car and I went by to move it to my rented workshop ready to restore it. I spent two ****** hours trying to get the damn thing started, had half the ignition system apart, the fuel system, carbs etc, narrowed it down to no spark but ****** me if I could work out why. In the end I rang my next door neighbour who had been a mechanic, first thing he said was "You have turned that hidden switch on haven't you" Doh, smack forehead against nearest wall repeatedly, click switch, turn key, starts first time!

 

[b-body-bob]

I decided to turn on the key to let an electric fuel pump fill the carb bowls before trying to start the engine. Seemed like it had been going on too long, and when I finally looked it was shooting fuel out of the vents because the floats were stuck from sitting so long.

Then there was the time I decided I'd build a pressure tester to find a vacuum leak on a 440. I removed the carb, blocked the opening with a plate and bung, and pumped it up. It held pressure, so no problem found - until I took the plate off and found that somehow I had an intake and heads plumb full of coolant. I've still got no idea how that happened since a BB mopar doesn't run coolant through the intake.

In both cases I'd hydrolocked the motor but since I didn't crank it the motor survived with no damage. It'll catch up to me one day though, bad luck always does.

 

[b-body-bob]

I spent two ****** hours trying to get the damn thing started

A friend had that kind of problem in high school with a different outcome. 1968 Mustang notchback died on him one day. He drug it home on a chain and worked on it all day without luck. Then he realized he'd never checked the fuel and that he'd just run out of gas.

The guy was and still is a natural born psycho so I stood back and watched him go absolutely beserk on the car. At one point he got a piece of rebar and wailed on the car with it. I can still remember him standing back and throwing his tape deck (on a slide mount) at the headlights and grille until he busted the whole mess out.

His stepmother about had a heart attack when she saw the car because she thought he had been killed in a wreck. They ended up just shoving the car into a hollow for use as fill.

 

[48RON54]

Very recently I wondered why the power steering system leak had gotten so much worse in my truck. Open the hood and noticed the cap was missing. Worse than that, I clearly remember weeks ago wondering what the hell that extra power steering pump cap was doing sitting in my garage and threw it in the trash. And it was a dealer only item....that had to be ordered.....And someone at my wifes work had to jump start the truck for me and likely saw my sandwich baggy/electrical tape contraption I had fashioned for a temp fix until the cap came it... *so embarrassing*

 

[Kevin54]

I looked for over an hour one day for a wrench. I had it, I know I used it, and now I couldn't find it.

I had a shoprag in my hand, and was carrying it around while i was pulling drawers open, looking in the car, under the car, and all this time I had the wrench I was looking for in my hand. :tard:

 

[Lippyp]

I looked for over an hour one day for a wrench. I had it, I know I used it, and now I couldn't find it.

I had a shoprag in my hand, and was carrying it around while i was pulling drawers open, looking in the car, under the car, and all this time I had the wrench I was looking for in my hand. :tard:

Thats just a sign of getting old mate!

 

[Taildragger]

It was a new (to me) Maxima. I was thrilled with this thing cause it was getting fantastic mileage. Until it got down to a quarter of a tank. (you can already see where this is going) Worked on it for half a day before finally condemning the fuel pump.
Pulled the seat and pump out. You guessed it, no fuel when still indicating a quarter tank. It did turn out to be a great car, just not as great a mileage as I thought.
As a bonus, it was the only car I have ever had that my wife would fill up. She just got too nervous when it was to the bottom third.

 

[ovilla]

It was a new (to me) Maxima. I was thrilled with this thing cause it was getting fantastic mileage. Until it got down to a quarter of a tank. (you can already see where this is going) Worked on it for half a day before finally condemning the fuel pump.
Pulled the seat and pump out. You guessed it, no fuel when still indicating a quarter tank. It did turn out to be a great car, just not as great a mileage as I thought.
As a bonus, it was the only car I have ever had that my wife would fill up. She just got too nervous when it was to the bottom third.

LOL! I had a Nissan Sentra that did the same thing. I ended up just carrying an extra gallon of gas (in a spare gas can) in the truck because mine was all over the place. I once ran out of gas even though the gauge said I still had half a tank full. I put over 200K on that car and collected a few thousand bucks when it got destroyed with hail damage too. In the end, I ended up trading it to a good friend of mine for his dot matrix printer (Yes, you read that right!). I didn't have a printer at that time and I believe I actually got the better part of the deal too,

 

[Chitown_hillbilly]

I recently bought a 1985 Ninja 900. Previous owner was very meticulous and had records and the thing was immaculate. I take it out for a ride and it is handling like a dump truck. Bring it back to the shop and start checking everything. Torque settings on the axle, anti-dive on the forks, Air fork Pressure, Air shock pressure, preload, dampining, etc... Spend probably an hour before I check the tire pressure. Yep 20 psi in a motorcycle tire makes any bike handle like ****. The easiest solution is usually the right one.

 

[rburke65]

Had a guy at work and three or four times a week he would go to the parking lot and put 2.... 3 gallons of gas into our friends tank and then we would get to hear all about his fantastic gas milage. Then, he would siphon out a all on or two and man did the story change. Laugh our butts off!

 

[Backyard builder]

My brother and I where replacing a power steering pump on a Ford Windstar van. Once the new pump was on we fired the van and instantly the return hose would blow off, we replaced it , tightened down on clamp an fired the engine again only to have the hose blow off again, we went thru this several time before returning the pumps , because something HAD to be wrong with it. Came home put 2nd new pump on and same thing, WTH ... Turns out the return line ****** on the pump was capped and that cap was stuck in the end of the hose. Yes we felt like complete idiots.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Zeke]

Just now I was looking for a sawhorse. Then I tripped on it. Seriously. I've looked for many a thing when it was right in front of me, but to knock it over while looking for it is a new one.

Figured I better come in, sit down and have some lunch and read a few posts.

 

[oldwino]

Was finishing a little "go fast" street car prior to an evening of fun on a Saturday night. Stopped working on the new mechanical oil pressure gauge to help a buddy with the headers…you guessed it…fired up car and shot oil all over me, the seat and carpet. oops!

 

[George in Rancho Cordova]

While we were both in high school, I "helped" (that meant I did most of the work) my neighbor put a long block in his white (that's an important fact) '57 Chevy.

We had it all installed & ready to fire up to break in the cam, then adjust the valve lash.
While I was rounding up the valve cover, he decided to go for a test drive. With no valve cover & no hood, oil went everywhere! He returned with the wipers going so he could try to see where he was going.

It wasn't long before he had the "oily white" car painted dark green.

 

[dlcwent]

Just recentll here on GJ, I asked for help on a diag. problem on an Xterra. Then noticed there was no ck. eng light on when the key was turned on. Felt like an ***.

But gotta share this one with you guys......Back in HS.. I had two friends that were really good mechanics. They had just rebuilt an engine (might of been a 350) anyway, got the thing installed and fired it up...Ran for a few minutes and quit.. They found out that they never put oil in it..OUCH.....Maybe they weren't really good mechanics

 

[plow]

I for some reason insist on picking up the piece of metal that I just welded or used the torch on............Sometimes twice.

 

[KRB52]

At least once I reinstalled a thermostat I was replacing, with the new one sitting with the tools, gasket material on it slowly setting up. A few years ago, I replaced the electric fuel pump in a LeBaron wagon we had. Put the new one in without dropping the tank or cutting a hole in the floor (just enough room under there.) Once everything was done, tried the car, still wouldn't start. Cuss, swear, etc., go to work. My son comes home from school, takes the rear of the car off the jack stands so the gas now reaches the pump and starts the car up. Runs fine.

Before we were married, I was working midnight shift. I had new-used tires for the front of my S-10, but not the time to put them on. My now wife told me to leave it at her parent's house and she and her younger brother would put them on for me. For the next two weeks, the truck just didn't feel right cornering, especially on one going into work. I finally checked the front wheels. Yup, the right front lugs were about finger tight. Typical of her.

 

[dlcwent]

I for some reason insist on picking up the piece of metal that I just welded or used the torch on............Sometimes twice.

 

[flhshvlhed]

Not to me, but my neighbor (it would take too long for all of the ones that I've done!) While working in the garage, I could hear my neighbor trying to start his chainsaw. He kept pulling on it/checking it/pulling on it - for about 5-10 min. Nothing. I grabbed a sparkplug wrench, screwdriver, can of starter fluid, and walked over. I asked if he would mind if I had a look at it.

I pulled on it a few times, same results. I looked down and slid the "On/Off" switch to "On". Pulled it, and it fired right up. I turned it off, set it down. Stood up, looked at him, didn't say a thing, then walked back to my house. Some things are just better left unsaid.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Once my boss more or less forced me to hire a new "B" tech. He was one of those hot-shot, best-in-the-world kind of guys. First job he got was a 4 wheel brake job on an Accord. Car left the shop, customer called back 1/4 hour later saying the brakes started making noise on the way home, then the car wouldn't stop at a stoplight. We towed it in, put it up & pulled the wheels. The "tech" never put the caliper bolts in & it threw 3 out of 4 calipers & pads & destroyed the rotors... Needless to say it was his first & last day...

Tommy

 

[Paul1956]

Woke up early one chilly morning at the cottage up
north and wanted to quickly get the fire going so I
could jump back into bed.

Put some kindling then a coupla logs in. For good
measure I soaked it all with Coleman fluid then shut
the door on the stove while looking for matches.

Found the matches, opened the door, fired up the
match and got within 6 inches of the door when
baboom! Knocked me against the wall, singed my
hair and got the fire started in one fell swoop.

Silly me.

 

[T-Mac]

Took my chainsaw apart because I thought the clutch was bad-chain brake was on!DOH

 

[ncaddy87]

This was several years ago, but I was working with my friend and dad in the garage on the brakes for my 1966 Mustang fastback. It was a hot summer day and I was chugging gatorades. We had an empty bottle sitting there, so I used that to catch the brake fluid when bleeding the brakes (you already know where this is headed). I stupidly set the brake fluid down by my drink (lemon lime gatorade I believe) and the next time I reached for a drink without looking, it caused me about 45 minutes of anguish until I puked up the brake fluid...

 

[Terracar]

A few years ago, my friend who is a self proclaimed mechanic, had me help him rebuild an engine. By help, I mean I did it and he handed me tools. Anyway, we got the motor installed and I had to go (he lived about 2 hours from me) and told him it needed all the fluids. He said he was all over it. He called me a couple days later. He forgot to put oil in the transaxle. Needless to say, I was back at his place the next weekend replacing the transaxle.

For me, I tend to wear safety glasses when wrenching under a car. Just helps to keep gunk out of the eyes and ever since I had gas spilled in my eyes from a friend helping me, it has been habit. Well, on more occasions that I care to admit, the following scenario occurs... usually like clock work. I will spend 45 minutes looking for the damn glasses only to give up and go in the house for a drink. Wife will typically ask what is wrong and I explain how I have looked everywhere for my safety glasses. She is usually gracious in her response, "have you looked on the top of your head?" You is typically kind enough to get me a beer at that point.

-Terracar

 

[Pathfinders]

Was in the back yard cutting up some trees I had just dropped. Chain was getting dull, decided to put on a new chain and sharpen the old one later. Got back to the trees and the saw cut like ****. Could not figure it out. Took off my safety glasses and put on my reading glasses. Chain was on backwards. It was a long walk of shame back to the garage with the GF watching.

 

[HTGTS350]

Doing a rushed in car rebuild on the engine in my DD on a Friday night, job going well, showing the new GF(now wife) how to hand lap valves so I could pull pistons and replace rings and big ends while she did the heads.
Pistons all re ringed and installed, rods torqued up, now it's getting late so I started re assembling the heads and get them back on. Come start up time engine blows big cloud of smoke, no big deal it has been in bits, turn it off leave it for 20 mins, next start up and another big cloud ??????, oh well it is about 3 am by now and the car is running so bed time. Next morning I start up again and get another big cloud???? at this time the GF is cleaning up the tools and bench and she comes outside to the car and says " do we need to keep these or throw them in the bin?"................. in her hand is the packet of valve stem seals that I had forgotten to install the night before...

 

[ScurvyPete]

I for some reason insist on picking up the piece of metal that I just welded or used the torch on............Sometimes twice.

I've burned off my fingerprints more times than I can count from doing the exact same thing.
The first time, I was stick welding two small pieces (about 1/4" thick by 3" long) together with a 6011 rod and knocked them off the table right after I finished. Of course, out of pure reflex, I snagged them before they could hit the floor. Big mistake.
Should have been wearing gloves

 

[waggie]

it was just days after i got the BuildPro table and was excited about using it. my brother came by with a quick project for his photography business: a rack that hangs big sheets of background paper. It's a very simple project. Looks like a retail clothing rack, but taller.

anyway, I was so excited about welding two square tubing into a "T" shape without using a square, since you can simply jig the thing up on the BuildPro table. I made a perfect square weld alright... 3 inches off, but it was perfect 90º angle.

had to cut off, grind, and re-weld.

 

[Kevin54]

I've burned off my fingerprints more times than I can count from doing the exact same thing.
The first time, I was stick welding two small pieces (about 1/4" thick by 3" long) together with a 6011 rod and knocked them off the table right after I finished. Of course, out of pure reflex, I snagged them before they could hit the floor. Big mistake.
Should have been wearing gloves

I've done the same thing, only at work and not in the garage. We had a stand that would hold the torch. Just a base, a pipe coming up, then a cradle for the torch. I was heat treating a rather large piece of tool steel, so instead of holding the piece with the tongs, I rested the tong on the cradle and moved the torch around it. It was a Rosebud BTW. Once I was done, quenched the piece, turned off the torch and wrapped the hose back up, I turned and grabbed the stand to put it away. I had some hellacious blisters in the palm of my hand.