If I related this following story before I apologize in advance. On the other end of the "SWMBO" spectrum, I was once trying to pry back the rear view mirror in the old 280SE 3.5 coupe. The mirror features a safety device consisting of a 1.25" X .5" heavy duty spring (approx.) in a bracket that allows the mirror to eject when struck with a hard blow (such as when your forehead hits it as you are being launched through the front windshield due to a collision). Presumably, this minimizes the chances of a more serious injury. Anyway, I needed to reinstall this mirror, which had been removed while the two bow-shaped wood pieces were being refinished. I parked the car in the driveway so I had enough light, and after reinstalling the wood I used a heavy duty slotted screwdriver to CAREFULLY leverage the mirror base into the bracket + retaining spring. Naturally, the worst case scenario ensued and I managed to SPROING the spring from the bracket, launching it about 30' through the open window of the coupe into the grass.
Now here is the amazing part. I was tremendously motivated to find that spring (which as a practical matter could not easily be replaced). So I focused my gaze on the exact spot where I thought it had landed, walked the 12 paces or so over to that spot, bent down, and retrieved the spring from the grass on my first attempt. This is the exception that proves the rule, I guess. ALS On Thu, Dec 9, 2010 at 2:43 PM, WILTON <wilt...@nc.rr.com> wrote: > If you drop a screw or nut in the grass, consider it gone. > For several years, I've been trying to put "catcher" paper towels,etc., > under a screw/nut/bolt location to try to "save" 'em if dropped; even then, > I try to every careful not to drop 'em - not as much of a problem now that > my tremor is fairly well gone. Lightly secured to a wrench or socket with > masking or painter's tape helps nicely, too. > > Wilton > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rich Thomas" > <richthomas79td...@constructivity.net> > To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> > Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 1:13 PM > Subject: Re: [MBZ] cold weather conspiracy? > > >> It is a Law of the Universe, the Random Perversity of Nature. It also >> applies to the jelly-side down syndrome, and if you drop something it will >> always bounce or roll to the most inconvenient location. >> >> ---R >> >> On 12/9/2010 1:06 PM, andrew strasfogel wrote: >>> >>> Max' travails illustrate some irrefutable laws of nature: >>> >>> 1. Perfectly functioning cars only become un-roadworthy when driven by >>> SWMBOs. >>> >>> 2. Two perfectly good cars can fail simultaneously when a SWMBO is >>> involved with at lesat one of them. >>> >>> 3. A perfectly functional car without a problem in the previous 12 >>> months will stall out on a major artery on a Friday afternoon rush >>> hour on the hottest day of the year only when - you guessed it - >>> driven by a SWMBO. >>> >>> I think this is all quite unfair. >>> >>> Andrew >>> >>> On Thu, Dec 9, 2010 at 10:42 AM, Max Dillon<meadedil...@bellsouth.net> >>> wrote: >>>> >>>> If the wagon was fully ready for daily service (need all those >>>> suspension parts >>>> you just sent me plus four new tires) I would have had the car towed to >>>> our >>>> house so I could fix at leisure... Next time I certainly hope that will >>>> be the >>>> case! >>>> >>>> -Max >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> ________________________________ >>>> From: Rusty Cullens<buymbpa...@gmail.com> >>>> To: Mercedes Discussion List<mercedes@okiebenz.com> >>>> Sent: Thu, December 9, 2010 10:39:02 AM >>>> Subject: Re: [MBZ] cold weather conspiracy? >>>> >>>> yeah, I have the caliper for $85.00 but it would have been a day away. >>>> Too bad. >>>> maybe next time. >>>> >>>> >>>> Rusty Cullens >>>> BuyMBparts, Inc. >>>> www.buyMBparts.biz >>>> www.buyEUROparts.biz >>>> www.buyASIANparts.biz >>>> Tel/ 1-800-741-5252 >>>> Fax/ 770-454-9745 >>>> ICQ 427542441 >>>> AIM BuyMBparts >>>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Max >>>> Dillon"<meadedil...@bellsouth.net> >>>> To:<mercedes@okiebenz.com> >>>> Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 10:29 AM >>>> Subject: [MBZ] cold weather conspiracy? >>>> >>>> >>>>> Yesterday our household suffered two vehicle casualties. First SWMBO's >>>>> car, a >>>>> '96 Infiniti with about 200k miles, had the left rear caliper lock up >>>>> while >>>> >>>> out >>>>> >>>>> and about in town. She recognized that something was wrong and handled >>>>> it >>>>> pretty well, but the tow company took about 2 hours to get her car >>>>> towed to >>>> >>>> the >>>>> >>>>> tire& brake place (Gerald's in Mount Pleasant) that was about 1 block >>>>> away - >>>>> rather frustrating. I had to leave work and assist to get her home so >>>>> she >>>>> could >>>>> use the '87 300TD which has a child seat mounted (she needed to pick up >>>>> our >>>>> daughter from day care). I dropped her at the house and departed >>>>> quickly to >>>>> get >>>>> back to work, but she called a few minutes later to report that the >>>>> wagon >>>>> wouldn't start - dead battery. I had to divert to the Infiniti >>>>> location, >>>>> retrieve that child car seat, pick the daughter and return to house, >>>>> where I >>>>> put >>>>> the wagon's battery on the charger. Haven't had time to figure out the >>>>> wagon >>>>> yet - I suspect the trickle charger which I'd used on it for several >>>>> weeks ago >>>>> has failed. Infiniti needed a rebuilt rear caliper, which was done by >>>>> 5 p.m. >>>>> for $163. I'm sure I could have done that myself for less, but not by >>>>> 5 p.m. >>>>> >>>>> -Max >>>>> _______________________________________ >>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>>> >>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>>> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> >>>> _______________________________________ >>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> >>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> _______________________________________ >>>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>>> >>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>>> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>>> >>> _______________________________________ >>> http://www.okiebenz.com >>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >>> >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >>> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com >>> >> >> _______________________________________ >> http://www.okiebenz.com >> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ >> >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: >> http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
