Check yourself before you wreck yourself

[bluedogz]

So, I go out to test the generator, because there's snow coming and we haven't used it yet this year. Pull and pull and pull for 15 minutes... won't start and my shoulder hurts now. I think, "jeez, did I forget to put stabilizer in the gas and now the carb is clogged?"

So, off I go draining the gas tank, gas everywhere... remove the carb after ignoring the "no user-serviceable parts inside" sticker, more gas everywhere... carb falls off workbench and little bits go everywhere.. and on and on.

2 hours later, generator is back together, and I sit down on the asphalt to admire my work, and see the carb nicely bolted back in place, the air filter clicked back into its slot, a fresh new spark plug screwed into place...

And the kill switch. Set to "off."

 

[Stlshrk]

Easy to do when we get so busy ad rushed, which feels like all the time... We've all been there.

 

[Jags]

It wouldn't be so funny if I couldn't relate so well.

 

[Michael Golden]

Been there done that! You have to laugh.......

 

[Sinngetreu]

So, I go out to test the generator, because there's snow coming and we haven't used it yet this year. Pull and pull and pull for 15 minutes... won't start and my shoulder hurts now. I think, "jeez, did I forget to put stabilizer in the gas and now the carb is clogged?"

So, off I go draining the gas tank, gas everywhere... remove the carb after ignoring the "no user-serviceable parts inside" sticker, more gas everywhere... carb falls off workbench and little bits go everywhere.. and on and on.

2 hours later, generator is back together, and I sit down on the asphalt to admire my work, and see the carb nicely bolted back in place, the air filter clicked back into its slot, a fresh new spark plug screwed into place...

And the kill switch. Set to "off."

Did the exact same thing with a snowmobile. You either laugh or cry in moments like this.

 

[Hills Hoard]

Been there done that! You have to laugh.......

You have to laugh, but dont tell the wife...!!...

 

[fossil]

I've never, ever done anything that dumb...(that I will ever tell anyone about)

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I've done it twice now; forgetting to turn the gas on.... Hard on the shoulder for sure.

 

[jatoxico]

Done that and forgot about the fuel valve being shutoff a couple times too...DOH!

 

[NH_Wood]

That's one way to make sure to clean the carb!

 

[CenterTree]

Oh man, glad I ain't the ONLY ONE!

 

[Makers Mark]

Wondered why boat was acting sluggish. Think goodness water was warm when I jumped in fully clothed to put plug in.

 

[DanCorcoran]

I was in aviation electronics in the Navy. When the pilots returned from a flight, they'd write up "gripe" cards to let the maintenance crew know what needed repair. We used to joke that a typical gripe would be, "ALQ-41 inoperative in the O-F-F position".

 

[WiscWoody]

Well it was about time to clean the carb anyways. Just keep telling yourself that.

 

[legrandice]

I have done the same a few times with various engines. Every time, I say NEVER again.

 

[Giles]

I know exactly what you are talking about---This summer, I decided to pressure wash my drive and sidewalk. Pulled the starter rope Two times and it cranked and ran perfect. Shut it off and transported it along with all the hoses I needed to the front drive. Cranked immediately, but didn't have but about 200 pounds of pressure. I knew it had to be the pump or the unloader/pressure regulator valve, so I removed the valve, tore it apart and found nothing wrong! Well, I figured the pump was bad so I just took a small break--to think it through--and while setting in my recliner--I FIXED IT!
It had been about four years since I used it, and I remembered that to clean with soap I had to MOVE the spray nozzle, apply the soap ---under low pressure- and then MOVE the spray nozzle back for High Pressure????????

 

[osagebow]

Great post - definitely sounds like my M.O. Setting up a coworker's computer and peripherals makes you look smart. Until nothing turns on.
20 minutes later you discover the powerstrip IS plugged in.... to itself.

It was a good day

 

[fabsroman]

Reminds me of the joke about the guy that calls customer service because his computer will not turn on. They are running through the diagnostic.

Was the computer running earlier today? Yes

What operating system? Windows 7

Do you see anything on your monitor? No

Press the power button on the computer please. Ok

Anything? Nothing

Press the reset button on the computer please. Ok

Anything? Nothing

Is the computer plugged into the wall? Wait a second, let me grab the flashlight.

Flashlight? Can't you just turn the lights on in the room?

Nope, the power is out. Click.

Stuff happens. Was cleaning a shotgun a couple weeks ago and the firing pin spring launched out somehow. Searched the room for an hour and could not find it. Sat down at the computer and ordered another one for $5. Cannot say this is the first time, or the last time, that I will lose a small part somewhere and I keep telling myself "Never take anything apart in a room with stuff everywhere." Problem is finding a clean room.

 

[NH_Wood]

That's one way to make sure to clean the carb!

Reminds me of the joke about the guy that calls customer service because his computer will not turn on. They are running through the diagnostic.

Was the computer running earlier today? Yes

What operating system? Windows 7

Do you see anything on your monitor? No

Press the power button on the computer please. Ok

Anything? Nothing

Press the reset button on the computer please. Ok

Anything? Nothing

Is the computer plugged into the wall? Wait a second, let me grab the flashlight.

Flashlight? Can't you just turn the lights on in the room?

Nope, the power is out. Click.

Stuff happens. Was cleaning a shotgun a couple weeks ago and the firing pin spring launched out somehow. Searched the room for an hour and could not find it. Sat down at the computer and ordered another one for $5. Cannot say this is the first time, or the last time, that I will lose a small part somewhere and I keep telling myself "Never take anything apart in a room with stuff everywhere." Problem is finding a clean room.

I would have found the spring on the keyboard AFTER submitting the order. Cheers!

 

[NH_Wood]

This thread made me remember a big Halloween party we had two years ago - about 30 kids and lots of parents. Put my trailer on the ATV for hayrides and it was parked near the barn for a few hours till dark. Kids were playing on it, etc. Finally came time to start the rides and damn thing would not start - tried and tried and tried. Parents and kids staring. Was about to give up and finally noticed one of the kids had hit the kill switch while playing. I never use the kill switch so never thought to look. Cheers!

 

[Beer Belly]

Had a customer with a new car call and complain it wasn't starting.....sent a tech to his house.....car wasn't in "Park"

 

[infinitymike]

WEEELLLLL, Did it ever start???

 

[Jags]

ALQ-41 inoperative in the O-F-F position".

One of my back seaters came back with a gripe - "radar wouldn't work in On Full Force position." I looked at him and asked again "you mean the O-F-F position?" It hit him then an there. Turned a shade of deep red I hadn't seen before.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

So, I go out to test the generator, because there's snow coming and we haven't used it yet this year. Pull and pull and pull for 15 minutes... won't start and my shoulder hurts now. I think, "jeez, did I forget to put stabilizer in the gas and now the carb is clogged?"

So, off I go draining the gas tank, gas everywhere... remove the carb after ignoring the "no user-serviceable parts inside" sticker, more gas everywhere... carb falls off workbench and little bits go everywhere.. and on and on.

2 hours later, generator is back together, and I sit down on the asphalt to admire my work, and see the carb nicely bolted back in place, the air filter clicked back into its slot, a fresh new spark plug screwed into place...

And the kill switch. Set to "off."

Ouch. Right. In. The. Nutz.

 

[firebroad]

Laughing so hard I almost wet myself.
Did something similar many years ago, went crazy trying to find the bad wire, etc. for an outlet, almost called an electrician before I remembered that that outlet was governed by a wall switch. Never used the switch, accidentally turned it off moving furniture. Boy did I feel dumb