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Marshall


As Long As There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer In Public Schools. ;- )

Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 7730

Stupid OPE happenings...................
Original Message   Jan 15, 2005 10:05 pm
OK, we've all done stupid things with a piece of our OPE whether it's trimmers, snowblowers, mowers, blowers, tractors, pressure washers etc. You know, the kind of thing you look around when it's over to see if anyone was watching? 

One of mine involved a slide that's part of a wooden swing set in my backyard. I was mowing on my Snapper RER and was trying to get as close as I could to the end of the slide, pointing toward it, before I would back-up and then mow closely down the side of it.

We'll right when my left foot decided it didn't like being on the clutch, it decided to slip off the clutch which resulted in the thing doing a wheelie and running right up the slide. I was very lucky that it didn't tip over to one side and end up on top of me. Well, I instantly let off the blade engagment with my right foot and while sitting there at a 35-45 degree angle,  feeling so damn stupid, I started looking around to see who all was laughing and pointing. I would have never lived it down.....hey, did you see what dad did........ Hey, did you see what Dad did? I could here it already.

Thankfully, I was not seen, got off and backed the RER down off the slide while feeling very sheepish and acting like I meant to do it, just in case I missed someone. 

What's some of your stupid happenings?
This message was modified Jan 15, 2005 by Marshall
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Geno


51- love God 1st, then OPE

Location: Madison, WI
Joined: Oct 19, 2002
Points: 121

Re: Stupid OPE happenings...................
Reply #6   Jan 16, 2005 9:06 am
very funny stories here.  I bet your wife was in shock Chris!  anyway I don't have any OPE stories, many auto ones like using torch to get hose on gas tank- and I lived, But God gets the credit for that one. but this isn't about autos so I want to just mention what I saw the other day.  my neighbor 'weed wacking' about 1-2 inches of snow off his drive!  strange but it was working!    thanks for the laughs.     Gene
Jonathan


I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house. -Zsa Zsa

Location: Near Albany NY
Joined: Sep 12, 2004
Points: 320

Re: Stupid OPE happenings...................
Reply #7   Jan 16, 2005 1:20 pm
Yes, those swing sets can be a problem, especially mowing under the swings. Ours has the one with two seats facing each other. The vertical pieces stick out about an inch below the floor. I was pushing it up with one hand and pushing the mower under it with the other. I didn't coordinate things quite right and the swing came down on the mower with one end of the vertical pieces going through the sreen on top of the mower and taking out a number of cooling fins.

2004 Ariens 11528LE, Troybilt Horse "Big Red" Tiller (original), Troybilt Tuffy Tiller (original), Sears LT1000 mower, Lawn Boy 7073 21" mower, Stihl FS55 RC trimmer, Poulan Countervibe 3400 chainsaw
Paula


May you have enough happiness to make you sweet,
enough trials to make you strong,
enough sorrow to keep you human and
enough hope to make you happy.


Joined: Apr 30, 2004
Points: 785

Re: Stupid OPE happenings...................
Reply #8   Jan 16, 2005 1:39 pm
I'm going to start a "stupid auto/motorcycle happenings" over in NPT/Chat....and even start it with one of my own embarrassing stories...

Paula

Dave___in___CT


Deliberate often...
...decide once...


Location: West-Central Connecticut
Joined: Sep 17, 2002
Points: 3159

Re: Stupid OPE happenings...................
Reply #9   Jan 16, 2005 5:21 pm
Interesting happenings folks !


ChrisS... didn't check the snowblowing area before the 1st snow... eh ?
(maybe you did)


Used 2x10" planks for a ramp to put the garden tractor into/out of the pickup truck...
Mistake !

Backing off the damp planks... about 1/2 down...
WhoooAAAAA ! 

There I was on the ground with part of the tractor on me...
Luckily only the rear fender got bent...

Soon after... bought aluminum ramps made for this...

Saving the Gravely story for another day...


Dave...

Whether you think you can or you can't... you're right.
Henry Ford

   BCS Tractor & snowblower

ChrisS


Appreciate what you have already been blessed with.


Joined: Sep 16, 2002
Points: 2793

Re: Stupid OPE happenings...................
Reply #10   Jan 16, 2005 10:32 pm
LOL...Yeah Geno she was.

Dave I did not check there because she never put lights on those two front shrubs before.  I think she did it the day I was working and got home late and the storm hit the next day so I never had a chance to see them on to know about them.

Of course she swears to this day that she ALWAYS puts them there but funny thing is...she has never done it since so some tradition huh? lol....

She actually could'nt figure out why she just couldn't re-use them lol....gotta love her lol....I showed her the pieces and then she understood....

C

This message was modified Jan 18, 2005 by ChrisS


Honda 928TA, Ariens 924 STE, Toro single stage S-620, 95 Jeep Wrangler with a 6 foot Fisher Plow, many shovels, one 14 year old boy.  Craftsman 01 1000 LTX pimp Gold LT 20hp Briggs OHV V-twin.  Tough as it is ugly.
lland


Joined: Sep 17, 2002
Points: 605

Re: Stupid OPE happenings...................
Reply #11   Jan 17, 2005 8:17 am
Stupid OPE happenings...................OK, we've all done stupid things...................

Well, not me, unless you count the time I mowed half of my back yard before I realized I never reinstalled the chute from the deck to the bagger sending grass flying out the back like a jet engine?  Luckily, nobody was watching.

LL

This message was modified Jan 17, 2005 by lland


2001 Toro 20023 Personal Pace
2002 John Deere Trimmer/Edger/Blower
2003 Craftsman DYT 4000 - 25HP/48" w/bagger
2003 Toro 826LE Snowblower
2004 Mantis Tiller/Dethatcher/Aerator/Edger
2005 Husqvarna 145BT Backpack Blower
Rubbermaid 10CF Trailer
Craftsman 40" Plug Aerator
pecanmanwill


got a dog named Devon and a cat named Scooter and a She cat named Fluffy

Joined: Dec 3, 2002
Points: 677

Re: Stupid OPE happenings...................
Reply #12   Jan 17, 2005 9:53 am
This happened to one of my students at the Vo Tech . He was at the part of the curriculum where I would let them overhaul engines, etc. . He did a beautiful job of cleaning and disassembling the engine, laid all he pieces on his work bench, installed everything by the book. He just did a beautiful job. Mounted the engine on the Snapper . Then he took it out back where we had a grassy place to test them.. About the time he got out there I could hear the engine slowing down, like it was tightening up, then shortly it stopped. I realized what he had done------he forgot to put the oil in the engine. It can happen and when it does it makes you want to crawl in the ground. You can imagine how the youngster felt----Your friend--Will

Will--sometimes called pecanmanwill
bontaiJoe


If it's free, it's for me!

Location: Saylorsburg, PA
Joined: Jun 4, 2004
Points: 424

Re: Stupid OPE happenings...................
Reply #13   Jan 17, 2005 3:23 pm
It was about 35 years ago when I was still a teenager. My mom had this old (even then) Hahn Eclipse mower that had seen better days. It wouldn't shut down when the throttle was pushed to off, so I got in the habit of carrying a screw driver in my back pocket to ground out the plug. The screw driver came in handy to flick a clog out of the chute, or adjusting or tightening the stuff that was always getting loose on the mower. One day, I was grounding out the plug to shut it down and my finger slipped off the insulated handle and I got hit with the electricity meant for the spark plug........

I opened up my eyes 50 feet away from the mower that was still running, thankful I hadn't landed on the screw driver stabbing my self. I also fixed the mower to properly shut off.

"Man's mind stretched to a new idea, never goes back to its original dimension." -Oliver Wendell Holmes
terrapin24h


The more I learn the less i know

Location: Rochester NY, USA
Joined: Dec 18, 2003
Points: 628

Re: Stupid OPE happenings...................
Reply #14   Jan 17, 2005 3:38 pm
I don't have any such exciting stories, except for forgetting to tighten the return line of my pool filter when hooking it up this past summer, and then turning the filter on after the pool had filled.  Not only did I get about 500 gal of water in the "specials" courtesy of the return outlet and my proximity to the pool, but i also got beat senseless by the return hose flailing about  as the filter pump happily did its job. always check those hose clamps...

--chris
2001 Homelite VacAttack Blower
2001 6hp Toro PPace 22" mower
2001 Ariens 824LE
2002 6hp 2400 PSI Excell Powerwasher
2004 18hp Craftsman 27375 42" mower
2004 42cc Craftsman 18" chainsaw
newjerseybt


You want it done right?...You better learn how to do it yourself!

Ariens 1128DLE
Ariens 8526LE
Honda HRC216
Bosch 3221L
Craftsman DYT4000
Stihl FS90R


Location: Honesdale, PA
Joined: Dec 19, 2004
Points: 171

Re: Stupid OPE happenings...................
Reply #15   Jan 17, 2005 8:43 pm
About 25 years ago  I rented a commercial tiller. It was the first time I laid eyes on one. I thought the drag stake was a kick-stand so I tossed it aside. Big mistake.

My neighbor stood there watching me rev up the engine full throttle. I think the governor was broke. I grabbed both handles and the last thing my neighbor saw was the back of my shoes. I left toe marks about 40 feet as I refused to let go of the handles. By the time I had enough sense to let go of the control handle I was out to the street. My pants had pulled down (had no belt on) and my shirt pockets were full of dirt. I can still taste the small pebbles in my mouth. My neighbor almost wet his pants. Lucky I wasn't killed.. just bruised here and there.

Lesson learned: Don't assume anything. If you don't know anyrthing about  OPE, ask somebody who knows. Second, always wear a belt before tilling.

What I learned was you have to respect power equipment. I figure that I learned the hard way. I want to pass my experiences on, so other folks don't tear up their clothes and maybe get hurt or worse.

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