Be carefull doing repairs on the water

[briguy2817]

My boat died out on the water this morning. I was only about 20 feet from the shoreline/dock so I decided to take the cover off of the outboard. I had my wife crank the otor while I tried to figure out what was wrong. Somehow, during this process, she felt it would start up while my hand was resting on the starter. The starter drive gear took my index finger and smashed it and ripped it through the flywheel, taking the nail and a good chunk of flesh with it.

Surprisingly, it didn't hurt but was bleeding real bad. I always carry a first aid kit on the boat so I was able to wrap the mangled digit up and continue repairing the motor. Turns out the needle was sticking in the upper carb and I pulled the float bowl off and got it unstuck. Wrapped my finger a couple more times and took the kids tubing. Figured if I couldn't get it to stop bleeding in a week or so, I'll see the doctor.

So, to make a long story short, make sure you have good communication with the person holding the key to the ignition while working on the motor.

Brian

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

If my hand is on the starter, the key is in my pocket or the battery is disconnected. Fingers don't grow back.

Having passed between two fixed gears in that way, your lucky to still have all 10 attached.

 

[fabrimacator21]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

agreed

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

If my hand is on the starter, the key is in my pocket or the battery is disconnected. Fingers don't grow back.

Having passed between two fixed gears in that way, your lucky to still have all 10 attached.

My prescription is this - read these words 50 times and don't ever do what you did again.

Your birthday is hereby revoked for two years and, yes, you are incredibly lucky that you still have all of your fingers.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

running 200hp check temp, reached up to feel head temp. middle finger caught the teeth on the flywheel. hunk of flesh was gone, did not hurt, 14 stitches, and 3 months later mostly healed, and getting feeling back.

 

[briguy2817]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

I agree that the key should have been my pocket. At work everything is locked out before working on it. For some reason, I placed my hand up there. With the wind blowing as hard as it was yesterday, communication was sketchy. I should have been paying more attention to where I placed my hand though, and don't blame my wife.

Lucky I am.

Brian

 

[briguy2817]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

running 200hp check temp, reached up to feel head temp. middle finger caught the teeth on the flywheel. hunk of flesh was gone, did not hurt, 14 stitches, and 3 months later mostly healed, and getting feeling back.

Ohhh, you beat me with the scar length. I bet that was a fun three months where you couldn't really use the finger, except to give the bird.

Brian

 

[briguy2817]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

My prescription is this - read these words 50 times and don't ever do what you did again.

Your birthday is hereby revoked for two years and, yes, you are incredibly lucky that you still have all of your fingers.

Hmmmm, if one finger is two birthdays, with all the other cuts and bruises I have, I'd be about 10 today!

And, I have a birthday coming up in two weeks.

Brian

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

Came in from duck hunting one morning and a friend and I were "under the hood" on a cranky motor. He had his duck call dangling right next to the fly wheel when he said, "turn it over." I got him to remove the call first, but I still get queasy thinking about what could have happened, if the lanyard got caught and his face was pulled down into the flywheel.
I find it's when you're tired, or rushed, these things happen. I tell myself "slow down or get hurt."

 

[rp23g7]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

While working on a 73 Mustang, with a 351, timing the engine, the Distributer wrench slipped off and my hand went right between the fan and the timing cover. Shaved a layer of flesh off, got lucky on that one.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

And, I have a birthday coming up in two weeks.

Not any more!

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

Yeah when I was young and dumb I was helping a guy out with a jump start, the cables weren't on to good so I did the wiggle thing and said try er now, as soon as he hit the key the battery blew up right in my face. Battery top hit me as did a spray of acid eyes, hair, mouth it was brutal. Some how came out of it fine (well so far anyway) that was about 30 years ago and to this day I am hesitant to give anyone a jump. Still have the shirt I was wearing has about disintegrated by now but kept it as a reminder....

 

[dwhite1031]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

Saw a guy lose an entire toolbox overboard in 70 feet of water while working on his outboard on the lake. He lost his balance and almost followed them in.​

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

HOT DAMN! That really sounds nasty, there is no space between the flywheel and starter gear. My dad lost a finger in the fan of a car when I was a kid. I now disconnect the battery when working on any engine.


Ian

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

Having passed between two fixed gears in that way, your lucky to still have all 10 attached.

Lucky I am.Brian

Glad that you realize the truth to this statement!

Last november i was at work and stopped thinking about what i was doing for 1 second (Thats all it takes!) I connected an electrical meter to live 480 volts that is only supposed to be used on de-energized circuits. It blew up in my hands and tripped the 3000A breaker feeding it! I ended up with 2nd degree burns covering both hands and wrists entirely. Got the next month off with my hands wrapped like boxing gloves and not being able to do anything for my self.

I no longer take any chances on anything. Nor do i trust anyone else, i always double check myself. I will not let anything or anybody rush me. Fingers don't grow back and i am kind of attached to mine. I learned my lesson the hard way on this one but thankfully, there were no long term effects.

Safety First!!!!

 

[briguy2817]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

HOT DAMN! That really sounds nasty, there is no space between the flywheel and starter gear. My dad lost a finger in the fan of a car when I was a kid. I now disconnect the battery when working on any engine.


Ian

The digit is healing up pretty good. I still don't have a lot of pain so that helps. My wife constantly says she's sorry but it wasn't her fault. I should have known better than to place my hand by the starter.

I've replayed that day a thousand times in my head and still can't figure out why I placed my hand there.

I used to always laugh at the Chiltons Manuels when they said to disconnect the battery for any repair, even to replace the floormats.

Brian

 

[briguy2817]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

Glad that you realize the truth to this statement!

Last november i was at work and stopped thinking about what i was doing for 1 second (Thats all it takes!) I connected an electrical meter to live 480 volts that is only supposed to be used on de-energized circuits. It blew up in my hands and tripped the 3000A breaker feeding it! I ended up with 2nd degree burns covering both hands and wrists entirely. Got the next month off with my hands wrapped like boxing gloves and not being able to do anything for my self.

I no longer take any chances on anything. Nor do i trust anyone else, i always double check myself. I will not let anything or anybody rush me. Fingers don't grow back and i am kind of attached to mine. I learned my lesson the hard way on this one but thankfully, there were no long term effects.

Safety First!!!!

Ouch! That had to hurt. I take automotive and boat work for granted because I'm a mechanic and work with these thing all the time. This week has been kind of a PITA because I wrapped my finger and splinted it but it's healing pretty well. I just got distracted, like you, and luckly no permanent damage was done.

When I work on 110 or 220 volt electrical, I always double check everything because I don't work on it on a daily basis. Hopefully someone reads this and takes a couple of extra seconds to stop and think about where their hands are weather on the water or on land.




Brian

 

[briguy2817]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

Saw a guy lose an entire toolbox overboard in 70 feet of water while working on his outboard on the lake. He lost his balance and almost followed them in.​

If that were my tool bx, I'd have hired a diver to retrieve the tools. Everything I own is either Snap-On or Mac. In fact, now that you posted this, I'm going to go out and get some Craftsman tools just for on the boat.

Brian

 

[briguy2817]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

Yeah when I was young and dumb I was helping a guy out with a jump start, the cables weren't on to good so I did the wiggle thing and said try er now, as soon as he hit the key the battery blew up right in my face. Battery top hit me as did a spray of acid eyes, hair, mouth it was brutal. Some how came out of it fine (well so far anyway) that was about 30 years ago and to this day I am hesitant to give anyone a jump. Still have the shirt I was wearing has about disintegrated by now but kept it as a reminder....

I've only seen a battery blow up once but that's enough. Sounded like a 12 guage shotgun going off in my face. You were one lucky guy that nothing permanent happened.


Brian

 

[grego]

Re: Be carefull doing repairs on the water

Home cookin is correct, when pushed or hurried I seem to make mistakes and generally screw things up, AND get hurt in the process. Hurrying to put boat in, I forgot to put plug in boat " usually do it before pulling to lake". When I realized it, I had to do it from the swim ladder and raked a hand across the prop, and drew back a bloody hand.