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[henryd]

many years ago helping my cousin do some body work on a mk2 fiesta,low speed knock needing radiator,front panel and bonnet,anyway,all painted and fitted up he reversed out of the workshop with the bonnet still up to park behind a chrysler alpine (told you it was a long time ago ). only he didn't see where the alpine was and stuffed its towbar through the new front panel and rad,oh and damaged the new bonnet as well just for good measure

[Marks DTM Calib]

Other than the ones of mine already mentioned:

Re-assembling a fiesta engine and part stripping it again because it wont start.....to then find the rotor arm in the tool box!

Fitting a gearbox to a Nova and getting frustrated because it wont move, turns out then when the end plate was off I had kncoked the selector fork so it engaged 5th gear.....of course selecting 1st and reverse resulted in a locked up gearbox!

Not of my own making but:

Biggest kick in the balls was Jimbobs cambelt tensioner failing shortly after a full top end re-build.

Hunting for an hour to try to find two stat bolts for a V6 only to later discover Laidback66 had them inhis pocket!

Crappy Ford pushrod engines with tapered plug seats....which face forward.....which get wet and covered in salt and grime.....and then corrode....resulting in stuck plug which snaps off......requiring head removal

Anything on a Land Rover

[henryd]

Other than the ones of mine already mentioned:

Re-assembling a fiesta engine and part stripping it again because it wont start.....to then find the rotor arm in the tool box!

Fitting a gearbox to a Nova and getting frustrated because it wont move, turns out then when the end plate was off I had kncoked the selector fork so it engaged 5th gear.....of course selecting 1st and reverse resulted in a locked up gearbox!

Not of my own making but:

Biggest kick in the balls was Jimbobs cambelt tensioner failing shortly after a full top end re-build.

Hunting for an hour to try to find two stat bolts for a V6 only to later discover Laidback66 had them inhis pocket!

Crappy Ford pushrod engines with tapered plug seats....which face forward.....which get wet and covered in salt and grime.....and then corrode....resulting in stuck plug which snaps off......requiring head removal

Anything on a Land Rover

always beaten a spline bit into whats left in the plughole and undone  with a nut gun,not failed me yet

[Entwood]

Many years ago I rebuilt an MGB Roadster, when the job was finished it went for its MOT (without a passenger seat but thats another story) and failed, just the one item. One of the new lever arm shock absorbers was leaking.

Panic phone call as the following weekend we were off to a very big MGOC meet and I wanted to go in the car. Finished the seat and fitted it .. no problems ..new shock absorber arrived Thursday .. we were due to leave Friday PM. Got home from work to find it .. so quick change and get started .. in a rush so grabbed an openended spanner instead of a ring .... it slipped off ... and I break 2 fingers in my right hand.. ring & little    Somehow managed to finish the job -ish - and get it all reassembled before SWMBO drives me to A&E.

Next morning I drive the MG to its MOT (less than a mile to the garage) and the folks all laugh at me with me bandaged hand ... until I ask them to actully do all the nuts up tight for me .. as a favour ... 'cos I couldn't !! They then, kindly, checked all the work, tightened things up and passed it. An hour later we left for the meet with me driving with 2 fingers and a thumb !!

Moral = More haste less speed .. always use the right tools

[aaronjb]

Hunting for an hour to try to find two stat bolts for a V6 only to later discover Laidback66 had them inhis pocket!

I wasn't there.. but a bunch of friends were, and did something similar.

Only it was someones car keys they couldn't find.

They even hunted through the barrel of (used) engine oil in case they'd fallen in there..

Only for them to find them .... in [the key owners] coat pocket. 

[Marks DTM Calib]

always beaten a spline bit into whats left in the plughole and undone  with a nut gun,not failed me yet

Had tried that and had even resorted to an easi out.....no go.....and thats happened three times (on different cars)

[henryd]

always beaten a spline bit into whats left in the plughole and undone  with a nut gun,not failed me yet

Had tried that and had even resorted to an easi out.....no go.....and thats happened three times (on different cars)

I just been lucky then

[omegod]

Well as the OP I feel much better about my balls up's !!  some real funny confessions

[Psychoca]

Changing a wheel on a Fiesta (not mine) and the Jack slipped, pushing a nice dent in the sill before the car came crashing down...

Doing an oil change on the Miggy, drained old oil, replaced the sump plug, fitted new filter, filled with new oil, started the engine, left to tick over for 10 minutes before reversng the car off the ramps...  A strange crunching noise and I realised that I forgot to remove the bucket of oil from under the car...

Blanking the EGR and dropping a bolt straight into the back of the belt tensioner pulley...  Removed said pulley, removed bolt, sheared pulley arm attempting to retension the belt!!!  Replacement pulley arm sourced from a BMW specialist scrap yard as I couldn't find an Omega anywhere...

Changed the brake pads...  Spent 2 hours trying to push the piston back, before realiseing that I was sitting on a G-clamp which enabled me to push piston back in 10 seconds...

Servicing Hand Brake...  Removed caliper, did necessary work, replace caliper, put wheel on, noticed 2 bolts under where the wheel was...  Yes, they were the caliper bolts...

After changing Brake pads, I had no hand brake as the cable had snapped..   I forgot to pump the brake pedal vefore starting the engine, car rolled backwards down the drive and redesigned my garage door with the Tow Bar!!!!

and lots more!!!

[cem_devecioglu]

Changing a wheel on a Fiesta (not mine) and the Jack slipped, pushing a nice dent in the sill before the car came crashing down...

Doing an oil change on the Miggy, drained old oil, replaced the sump plug, fitted new filter, filled with new oil, started the engine, left to tick over for 10 minutes before reversng the car off the ramps...  A strange crunching noise and I realised that I forgot to remove the bucket of oil from under the car...

Blanking the EGR and dropping a bolt straight into the back of the belt tensioner pulley...  Removed said pulley, removed bolt, sheared pulley arm attempting to retension the belt!!!  Replacement pulley arm sourced from a BMW specialist scrap yard as I couldn't find an Omega anywhere...

Changed the brake pads...  Spent 2 hours trying to push the piston back, before realiseing that I was sitting on a G-clamp which enabled me to push piston back in 10 seconds...

Servicing Hand Brake...  Removed caliper, did necessary work, replace caliper, put wheel on, noticed 2 bolts under where the wheel was...  Yes, they were the caliper bolts...

After changing Brake pads, I had no hand brake as the cable had snapped..   I forgot to pump the brake pedal vefore starting the engine, car rolled backwards down the drive and redesigned my garage door with the Tow Bar!!!!

and lots more!!!

  I spilled the tea everywhere sorry

[deltaman]

Not on a car but, after rebuilding a small block chevy engine that was in a boat could not get it to fire up, then found out that as it was in a boat it revolved the other way ro ofset the prop rotation, altered the firing order and away it went.

[neilr]

dropped a polo gearbox on my head while trying to refit after a clutch change blood every where and a very strange feeling. the box slipped off the jack. very first clutch change on an anglia put clutch plate in wrong way round. is there a theme here!!!!

[Kevin Wood]

dropped a polo gearbox on my head while trying to refit after a clutch change blood every where and a very strange feeling. the box slipped off the jack. very first clutch change on an anglia put clutch plate in wrong way round. is there a theme here!!!!

Someone's telling you you need to drive an auto instead.

Kevin

[neilr]

strangley i do now however not the younger members of my family who all come to me with there problems

[Hannah Judes Dad]

I have a front wishbone bolt somewhere in my front subframe, it fell into it

You are not the only one