What’s Your “Easy” Project That Went Sideways?

[ODB]

If you ever decide to start a publishing company and think the big publishers like St Martin’s, HarperCollins, Penguin, et al, will actually return phone calls or emails in less than 18 months...

think again...

 

[Ridge Runner]

For me it's anything to do with Plumbing, but I'm too darn cheap to pay someone.

 

[WiscoHoundsman]

I use to have an early 2000’s Toyota Corolla that burned a quart of oil for every tank of gas.

Onetime I went to change the oil and in a rush wasn’t paying attention to what drain plug I was removing until the fluid coming out was red…. Luckily I was at my parents house and dad give me a ride to the nearest auto parts store to get some transmission fluid. That 20 min oil change took 2+ hours.

 

[Cashcropper]

Same here with plumbing.,we have several rent houses. Plumbing problems never happen at an opportune time. I learned the hard way that when working on old plumbing the first thing to do is fill up your truck with gas cause youre gonna need it. Over the years we have replaced all water lines with pex and all sewer lines with new PVC

 

[CorbLand]

If you ever decide to start a publishing company and think the big publishers like St Martin’s, HarperCollins, Penguin, et al, will actually return phone calls or emails in less than 18 months...

think again...

I feel this but it’s all within the same company. I once got asked how long it generally took to get answers from other departments. I responded with something like “I had to start operating in the business months, not days, timelines.”

 

[rtkbowhunter]

Not me, but my son. I bought a 2004 Jeep Wrangler in 2017. I figured it would be a good vehicle for him to learn to wrench on. Plus, I've wante a Jeep. Most stuff is fairly accessible and with a little effort and forethought, fixable. We did most of the front end steering stuff, control arms, tie rods, and a few others. Replaced O2 sensors and entire exhaust. No problem.

Shocks need replaced. Fronts aren't too bad. Knock that out in an evening. Now the rears, let's just say who ever designed a replaceable item, with damn near impossible parts to reach, needs a kick in the balls. The upper mounts are waaaaay up inside the body. I mentioned I'd probably take it to a local 4WD place that specializes in this. Nope, dad I can do it. I'd probably take it to the shop. If those bolts snap, you're gonna play hell fixing it. Nope, dad, it'll be fine. 3 of the 4 snapped. Now what dad? Well, we can try to drill out the hardened bolts, tap the next size up....OR we can take it to the shop and they'll weld two nice little clevises in, just pop a pin in and out, easy peasy shock replacement. So after trying to drill and tap, he decided we should take it to the shop. Best $250 I ever spent.

 

[timberland]

Changed out a leaky water pump on a 94 dodge durango. Easy, peasy, cause I can see it and had plenty of room to work. I took out a fan cover, removed the five bolts, got the new one in place and hand started all five bolts. As I am starting to tighten the bolts one of them still has a half inch to go but starts getting hard to turn. I figured that the pump was a little cockeyed and would settle into place. I heard a clunk, then the bolt easily turned and tightened into place. I made sure all the bolts were tight, replace the fan cover and gave it a crank.

A HORRIBLE sound comes from under the hood and it won't fire. Towed it to the shop, where 2 days and $1,700 later I find out that 2 of the 5 bolts are a little longer than the others, and IF you put a long bolt into a short bolt hole, it lands on the timing gear. If you break that gear, you bend rods, break chains, etc. etc. It could have been a lot worse, so they say.

 

[amassi]

Went to the gym I worked at to build some 20x24” plyo boxes and some broad was parked in front of the roll up door so I couldn’t back into the gym and unload tools and lumber. Anyway, we’ve been married 15 years


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