Well, now I feel really stupid

[Dr_Zinj]

Had an engine block heater installed in my new tractor before it was delivered. I went over the engine and tractor at least 4 times and couldn't find the darned plug for it. Had to have the dealer come back and point it out to me.

The plug had been tucked under the starter motor were I couldn't see it. The assembly on the engine looked like any other engine temperature or pressure sensor. I'd actually looked at it each time and never clued into it, so I never pulled on the wires to see where they went.

 

[blueriver]

No that was smart ... if your luck is anything like mine you would have pulled on it and it would have disconnected something that would have kept the tractor from starting.

 

[Soundguy]

asking an honest question, especially on new equipment ($$$) is never dumb..

 

[acme97]

LoL. I did something similar. This past spring I bought a brand new, electric start 6500KW generator to use with the camper and as a backup home source. Put it together, charged the battery, remounted the battery. Put some gas in and tried to start with key, no luck. It started right away with pull start, so figured I'd check the manual later. Never got around to checking - since didn't actually use it all summer. Then the other day as I was doing some things to get ready for winter, I thought fire it up. Tried the key again - same results - pull started, fine. Ran it for a little while then turned it off. Stood there looking and fiddeling with it for a few minutes then went into the house laughing. Wife asked what was so funny. I said remember how that new generator wouldn't start? She said yes. I said, well it does now - especially if you remember that you have to connect both the "hot" and "ground" wires to the battery! When I had put the battery on the first time after charging, I had forgot to reconnect the ground wire. I had tucked it up and you couldn't see it. Talk about feeling stupid!

 

[creekbend]

I don't regard any question as being stupid, especially if the correct answer is vital to the issue at hand. One way to learn is to ask questions. And hopefully we can pass our acquired knowledge on and help others.

 

[jbrumberg]

I have not done this one yet, but I probably will some day- forgetting to unplug the power cord after warmup. My power cord bonehead move was to leave the powercord out before an ice/snowstorm event. It got so icebound that I could not retrieve it whole .

And I agree about questions.

 

[chipsndust]

I have not done this one yet, but I probably will some day- forgetting to unplug the power cord after warmup. My power cord bonehead move was to leave the powercord out before an ice/snowstorm event. It got so icebound that I could not retrieve it whole .

And I agree about questions.

I can see myself doing that, too.

I always leave the slack in the extension cord laying up against the cab windshield so I can see it before moving the tractor.

I leave the hood up when the battery tender is hooked up.

So far, I haven't torn anything apart!

 

[Gary Fowler]

I could usually see at least one car going down the street with the block heater extension cord dragging when I lived up in Canada. Easy to do if you dont put some kind of reminder so you remember to unplug.

 

[JoeL4330]

Pricey, but they do make "auto eject" plug-receptacles ... I think this is one reference Kussmaul Electronics Co., Inc. Auto & Air Ejects

to quote "A solenoid wired to the vehicle's starter is energized when the engine is started. This instantaneously drives the plug from the receptacle. This simple reliable device eliminates forever the broken cables which result when drivers forget to remove the shore line before driving away."

Cheap me, I do what others of you do, drape the extension cord over a driver-side view mirror on my trucks, or over the steering wheel of my tractor.

 

[amigauser]

I do the same with both my battery tender and the block heater cord in the winter. I have come close to driving off with one or the other still connected :confused2:

I also ended up putting a flag on the garage door when I have the ROPS up so I don't smash it into the garage. Been there and done that to.

 

[jimmysisson]

In my mechanic days I replaced a worn-out Saab 2-stroke 3-cyl engine with a factory rebuilt, which came with starter, carb, water pump, etc. Transmission stays in car, swap clutch to new flywheel, hook everything up. Hit starter, a slight firing, then nothing. Choke, no choke, check fuel pump, check plugs several times (wet), spark, etc. Wanted to fire, but wouldn't. Late at night, of course. Finally went to get a candy bar or something. Coming back, I noticed the (bright blue) plastic crud cap over the carb. Without that dumb thing, it started immediately. I'd like to think I know better now, but I probably only know better about that one thing.
Jim

 

[Popster]

I left the cord dangling just a bit- no way it could hit the ground...... until I plowed the field and ripped the cord right off. Luckily, the cord parted rather than pulling out of heater. Spliced on a new sealed plug and used Marine Goop and heatshrink to do repair.

Never ever cut corners- they hurt when the bump you.

 

[Bigfoot62]

I could usually see at least one car going down the street with the block heater extension cord dragging when I lived up in Canada. Easy to do if you dont put some kind of reminder so you remember to unplug.

When using a block heater or battery tender, etc, just run the extension cord through the driver's door handle. :thumbsup:

 

[escavader]

Ialways place the key to the machine on the battery tender plug end so i have to remember to unplug

 

[crazyal]

Stupid would have been returning to the repair shop with your push mower after they just repaired it saying it ran great for about 30 minutes and then just quit. To which the repair guy would ask "Did you check the gas?"

My old neighbor repaired small engines on the side. At least 3 or 4 people a season would make that mistake.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

Stupid would have been returning to the repair shop with your push mower after they just repaired it saying it ran great for about 30 minutes and then just quit. To which the repair guy would ask "Did you check the gas?" ... .

Hey! That's the first thing I check when I get calls for computer problems. Is the power cord plugged in? Kind of the opposite of this problem though.

 

[TripleR]

When I bought my second Stihl chain saw, I couldn't get it to start, so being brand new, I took it back immediately. It seems their crack mechanic topped it off with bar oil in the gas and gas in with the bar oil.