Most stupid mechanic mistake I have made so far...

[DesertBen44]

So just putting this out here as a lesson, and so hopefully the mockery will make me feel even worse about what happened today...
I am only 21 and this is teh worst mechanic-style mistake I think i have made so far, i'm sure there will be more to come...

Was re-installing old starter on parts truck after swapping a different one in and that not remedying the problem; I had had the battery cables off a few times alreadyl...

Figured its fine, Ill just throw this up real quick without disconnecting them!

WRONG!



Dropped starter (wires were hanging down and not connected to solenoid yet), hit oil pan, bounces off into fuel line, sparks fly, and now my fuel line is spraying out fuel at a slow rate of about a gallon every 5 minutes.

Not sure how full rear tank is, this is all on my nonworking parts truck that is parked nose down in my driveway (steep hill...)

So this may very well drain the entire fuel tank, 2-3 gallons have come out so far, not sure how far it will go!

Moral of the story is dont do that!!! I feel so stupid!

Could have possibly had much more severe consequences if this was a gasser...


Hope it stops soon! Nothing seems to be able to seal up leak going on wet.

 

[Portuga]

Thats not too bad. I did my water pump a couple months ago, and i put the pulley backwards. Shredded a brand new belt the next day when i got to the warehouse to load up.

 

[icanfixall]

At least you guys found the mistake. Thats part of doing a job correctly. Finding out what you did wrong... We all have done them too... Thanks guys for shareing...

 

[RLDSL]

Put a clamp or set of vice grips on a soft section of the fuel line or it will continue to siphon till it empties the tank.

Always disconnect both ground cables from your batts before touching anything on the electric system, or , you can arc weld yourself to something.

Little lessons like that are the kind you never repeat, but it's a lot better to learn from other's mistakes

Hey, I'll never forget when I was about 15 and learned why you never use bricks or concrete blocks to hold up a vehicle after spending a few hours with a pontiac on my chest

 

[Devon Harley]

Lol some how I installed my new rear diff the other day ( with the gasket laying next the rear tire). I was so mad I had to walk to the store to get a new tube of permatex. 1 mile each way 101 degrees out lol. We all make our goofy mistakes the gasket was in my face lol. Luckily I didn't fill it to I would have been really upset. We all make mistakes it teaches us to slow down a lil. I've took notes on everything taking apart my motor.

 

[X-NRCan_IDI]

I'd think that if a person has never made a mistake while wrenching, they are either perfect, or they aren't really wrenching much...
so far my mistakes involve spilling a bit of used oil all over the driveway and myself... haven't had to do much repairing yet.

 

[Devon Harley]

RDSL my friend was putting a trans behind a 383 in a s10 and he did the same thing. He is no longer with us he passed away. The doctor said it was instant. Idk but( PLEASE use JACK stands) guys.

 

[Wyreth]

RDSL my friend was putting a trans behind a 383 in a s10 and he did the same thing. He is no longer with us he passed away. The doctor said it was instant. Idk but( PLEASE use JACK stands) guys.

X2 on that, also remember just how heavy these trucks are, and have stands that are actually rated for it. Had a friend come over to help, and he brought a pair he got at HF, they SAID they were 2 1/2ton... So I carefully put one under the front end and crushed it for him.


I think my best mechanic mistake was when I tried to put my C6 into the truck without pulling and mating the TC first. Destroyed the pump, and the tc, and set me on a really crappy adventure to get a working trans into the truck. I even knew better....

 

[justinray]

X2 on that, also remember just how heavy these trucks are, and have stands that are actually rated for it. Had a friend come over to help, and he brought a pair he got at HF, they SAID they were 2 1/2ton... So I carefully put one under the front end and crushed it for him.


I think my best mechanic mistake was when I tried to put my C6 into the truck without pulling and mating the TC first. Destroyed the pump, and the tc, and set me on a really crappy adventure to get a working trans into the truck. I even knew better....

In highschool we built a '41 Chevy Coupe w/ '85 Windsor 351/C6, Divorced Transfer Case, dodge frame with whatever front and rear ram chargers used.. Me and the teacher put the c6 in, without taking the least bit of notice to the torque converter we kept having to step over. Until I tried to put in the TC bolts... Then it became apparent that it went in far too easy.

 

[Paul E350]

Fortunately the only thing hurt was your pride. I've been wrenching forever and somehow not long ago forgot the lead to the maxi-fuse on a Taurus SHO. A BIG flash, and that was it, nothing hurt. My friends who were over at the time DID have a good laugh at my expense............

I've learned to run a checklist in my head before I hook up a battery <didn't help with the Taurus though!> And a good walk-around and looky-loo before I get under a vehicle.

Best,

Paul

 

[Wyreth]

XD

awesome!

 

[IH POWER]

I was doing a front seal on my 6.9 and unscrewed my crankshaft bolt and put an extension in the hole and used it to push off of with a gear puller cause I was too cheap to buy a harmonic balancer puller. Bummed up the threads in the crankshaft for the bolt. Had to get a 5/8 tap and run in it to clear off the threads.

 

[idi_econoline]

RDSL my friend was putting a trans behind a 383 in a s10 and he did the same thing. He is no longer with us he passed away. The doctor said it was instant. Idk but( PLEASE use JACK stands) guys.

Amen to that, Devon Harley. I've had a few minor mishaps over the decades of being a laughable amateur, and I could share them here.

But remembering a co-worker's 18 yr old son takes the smile off my face. No jack stands; little import car came down on him. Younger sister found his body.

Engines weigh 900+, trucks weigh 5,000+. Most of us are in pretty good physical shape, but these beasts can still kill us, quite easily.

 

[Devon Harley]

Also add with the intrest thats being brought up of working the under side try if possible(try) to tell someone you will be working the underside so they could check and see if your ok. (my friend was alone).

 

[flareside_thun]

Lol some how I installed my new rear diff the other day ( with the gasket laying next the rear tire). I was so mad I had to walk to the store to get a new tube of permatex. 1 mile each way 101 degrees out lol. We all make our goofy mistakes the gasket was in my face lol. Luckily I didn't fill it to I would have been really upset. We all make mistakes it teaches us to slow down a lil. I've took notes on everything taking apart my motor.

I never use a gasket.....permatex by itself works just fine.