Found my missing socket
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 7,101
Likes: 1,013
I was taking the trailer hitch off one of my company cars when I had to turn it in for a new one. I found the adjustable wrench I had used to install it still on the mounting nut for the hitch up under the bumper. it had been there at least 2 years, never fell off which amazed me, but was pretty darn rusted! LOL
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 959
Likes: 5
From: Oswego, IL
I love this one..... Might have to try it. 👍
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,302
Likes: 274
From: Milton, Delaware
My wife once called me from the car and asked to see if her purse was on the kitchen table. I spent 10 minutes searching the house for it. She finally came back to the house to look. Still didn't find it. I asked if she was sure that she didn't leave it in the back seat of the car. "Of course not!" she said. I went out to check anyway and there it was, on the roof of her car. I have to admit I did enjoy taking her to the door and asking if she could see her car. 
---- Now mine--
I replaced the intake gasket on my Vette. When I put it all back together it just didn't run right. I spent 2 days checking timing, intake leaks, etc. I finally pulled the intake off again, and found the shop rag that I had lost.
It had wrapped itself around a couple of push rods, and bent them. At least it didn't slip down and grab the camshaft instead. Fortunately, there was no other damage, except to my pride.
---- Now mine--
I replaced the intake gasket on my Vette. When I put it all back together it just didn't run right. I spent 2 days checking timing, intake leaks, etc. I finally pulled the intake off again, and found the shop rag that I had lost.
It had wrapped itself around a couple of push rods, and bent them. At least it didn't slip down and grab the camshaft instead. Fortunately, there was no other damage, except to my pride.
Last edited by Deucedog; Jan 8, 2012 at 07:45 PM.
We put the bottom end of a sportster motor together for a guy last summer, he did the top end himself. He called weeks later all pissed off because his motor locked up on him, man he was pissed. Yelling and bitching, blaming us for everything. So we had him bring the bike in for us to tear down, got the top end off, bottom end still wouldn't roll over. So take a look down in it and we see 2 halves of a 9/16" wrench, so I get it out with a magnet. Our service writer calls the guy and tells him that he had good news and bad news for him, the bad news is that his whole bottom end is tore up, the good news is that we found his wrench!! He got all pissed saying it was us that left it in there, we tell him that we wouldn't even have a 9/16 anywhere near the bottom end. He still insists it's our fault, when we told him that his initials were engraved in the wrench he finally admitted that he couldn't find his wrench. When he came to pick up the bike he said that his son must of been playing around and dropped it in there.
Ever drawer in my tool boxes are very well organized, (just for this reason). every tool has a home, I can tell by opening up any drawer within 2 seconds if and what is missing. Every tool goes back in teh box when I wrap up a job, if one is missing, nothing gets started or moved untill I find it. Exhaust nuts are a bitch to find when they fall. Here's a tip, compressed are is a great way to find missing parts, just blow in every crevise and chances are it will pop out of somewhere.
Ever drawer in my tool boxes are very well organized, (just for this reason). every tool has a home, I can tell by opening up any drawer within 2 seconds if and what is missing. Every tool goes back in teh box when I wrap up a job, if one is missing, nothing gets started or moved untill I find it. Exhaust nuts are a bitch to find when they fall. Here's a tip, compressed are is a great way to find missing parts, just blow in every crevise and chances are it will pop out of somewhere.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,806
Likes: 281
From: Green Country Oklahoma
Once I left the whole wrench set on the chassis of my motor home while working on auto stabilizers at a camp ground and then drove it home, after few weeks went to look at the stabilizers problem and found the whole set still there.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 28,842
Likes: 16,580
From: Wisconsin, USA
My son is a volunteer fireman, and has my permission to take my truck when a call comes in, if his truck is blocked in. I make sure I always have my tailgate closed, after the first couple of times I noticed I was always missing stuff. At first I thought I was senile, then I realized tools were flying out the back when he took off. I found all my tools by retracing his path. Glad there was no snow cover.
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Club Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 574
Likes: 37
From: Woodland Twp, NJ
This is a crazy but familiar thread. I was finishing a radiator replacement when my truck ate 3/8 wratcheting box wrench. Could NOT find the sucker! Went back in there 1/2 year later to repace the belt. There's the wrench between the radiator and cowl!
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 32
From: Long Island, NY
I finished up removing all the parts off my bike that I needed to send to the powder coater, and as I was putting my tools away, I went absolutely nuts trying to find a 1/2" - 9/16" open end wrench. I looked all over and I just couldn't find it. I finally gave up, cleaned up for the day and went inside for dinner. I ate dinner, sat on my couch, watched some TV, and finally went upstairs to jump in the shower. Took of my jeans, and flipped them upside down to fold them and throw them on a hanger, and out goes flying the wrench from [probably] my back pocket, nearly took out my bathroom mirror...lol
