How something easy becomes a mpia

[vilant]

Thought you guys might find my ineptitude a little funny. So I'm a construction worker, could build you a house top to bottom w/ all the fixin's. But my automotive skills are limited to changing oil, filters, fuses, and other easy projects. So I bought a used wiper motor from a yard, and decided to install it on Sat.. Easy right? So I get the old shot motor out, no sweat. Get the first screw started on the new one, good. Start the second and PING I drop it down into the motor somewhere. Spend the next hour w/ flashlight, mirror, and magnet trying to find it and fish it out. Finally get it out (now my back is starting to ache from leaning over so much). And it's also 90+ in my garage and I'm soaked. Try it again being careful not to drop the screw and CLANG, are you kidding me? Dropped the socket wrench down into the engine.... and it disappears. Now I'm efn furious.Spend another hour trying pull it out because it wedged itself down in there and refused to come out. So I finally got it out and the rest went smooth, only took 3+ hours. Spent more time fishing out things then I did installing. Anyway, I'm looking to hang a punching bag in my garage for future endeavors, know of any good ones

[VetteMed]

Been there, done that -- don't feel too bad!!

[PhillipsLT5]

forget the punching bag, install A/C unit instead

[DaveK]

That seems to happen with everything I touch these days!

[XfireZ51]

Get a telescoping magnet.

[tccrab]

The first time I did a plenum pull I dropped a plenum bolt down that little gap behind the engine and it rolled back about 4 inches down the bell housing.
If memory serves me, it took about 3 hours of crawling all over the top of the engine with a flashlight and the magnet tool.
I never actually saw the blasted thing, it just magically came back with the magnet after an eternity of fishing it around in the dark recesses.

Feeling your pain....

'Crabs

[Blue Flame Restorations]

If you only knew..........What happens in the garage, stays in the garage........

[C4Fanatic]

My wife dreads every time I go to the garage...much cussing is sure to follow...

[mike100]

I used to be in the trade and even with experience, you will lose some stuff from time to time. I replaced my map sensor bracket screws with conventional 10mm bolt heads after I lost one of those. I found the one I lost about a week later on my garage floor.
Another time, more recently, I lost one of the small nuts for the throttle cable cover. I didn't even try to find it. I know it fell out on the street somewhere- I need to try to find another one- or maybe a similar pair with the same thread.

[XfireZ51]

I wish I had $5 for each time I said, "Oh this will take just a few minutes" and 3 hours later....