Ever had something set in garage and break

[Gary Fowler]

A few days ago I found the battery in my boat completely dead and wouldn't take a charge so I bought a new battery and hooked it up. I didn't check to see if it would start at that time. A day or so later, I came back to the shop where boat is stored and found a nav light burning which had ran the battery down considerably. Power trim worked but wouldn't start. Hooked up the charger and let it slow charge for 2 days. Came back- still wouldn't start. I started tearing it apart, fuses all good, connections tight, power hot to starter. Finally found a broken switch but couldn't find any listing for it in owners manual. Got to a boat repair place and found out it was a neutral safety switch.
Got a new one ordered and since control cables were a bit stiff and always were too long so ordered them also. About $125 later, got everything coming. I dont know how that switch broke. It was inside the cowling and no way was it hit by anything. I guess it just hardened and broke from age. It worked fine last summer when I last tested the battery charge. Boat is 1999 and only has 101 hours on it so not used much.

This thing reminds me of the airplane I owned once, it could set at the airport and something would have to be fixed prior to flying almost every time I went to use it.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Forgot to mention, when I said break, I didn't mean quit working, it actual broke the end off the contact switch. Almost couldn't believe the price either, a thumb nail sized on/off push button switch $42 + 9.95 shipping. Shipping-another rip-off. That switch weights maybe an ounce and USPS wouldn't cost more than one stamp to mail.

 

[90cummins]

Yup!
I have a son and blame him for anything thats broken or can not find even if he has not been home in months.
That is my right as a DAD!

90cummins

 

[oosik]

I just seem to be lucky. Nothing around here breaks MYSTERIOUSLY. It's always been due to some stupid thing I've done.

 

[fidowanttobe]

What about the things that mysteriously disappear or move to an illogical spot??
Dogs don't have thumbs, . . .
daughter hasn't been home, . . .
gotta be the ancient burial ground I always suspected we had on the place!!!

 

[oosik]

However - many years ago - before something ate my barn cats - one got accidentally shut up in my work shop. Took me a week to pick up and clean up the mess that cat made. And he was only in there for two days. Subsequently - I've cut a small swinging door at the bottom of the main door. Fortunately - nothing vicious nor evil has entered the work shop. Knock on wood........

 

[CobyRupert]

Not in a garage, but I once towed a wagon running gear loaded with logs a few miles to a neighbors to get it milled.
It sat there for a few months until one day they heard a cannon go off next to it.....or so they thought.
The front tire had decided to explode out of the blue. Just sitting there.

You say the boat was in a shop, but does heating cycle or sunlight (through a window) shine on it?
Sometimes things "just sitting there" can have tremendous expansion and contraction forces acting on them caused by heat/sunlight/cooling cycles. When the tire exploded it was good maple syrup sugaring weather (sunny days, cool nights) and those steel belts were cycling until a few let go...and then the rest let go...suddenly.

...or maybe gremlins.

 

[the old grind]

.... Almost couldn't believe the price either, a thumb nail sized on/off push button switch $42 + 9.95 shipping. Shipping-another rip-off. That switch weights maybe an ounce and USPS wouldn't cost more than one stamp to mail.

It wasn't a Terramite part like a quarter-sized face seal that looks like an o-ring at arms length for $42.55 and $14.95 to ship/mail in a 9" x 12" bubble envelope and arrive 9 days after order confirmation.

6 lb ultrasonic cleaner sold an hour from here but no customer pickup, FedEx only. Package is picked up after two days and shipped across Wayne county. Two days later it is trucked to Toledo where it is delivered to USPS and then mailed. Product was $60, shipping $8.95.

"Your order is being processed." = We approved your credit card and will look around to see if we have one to ship out to ya.

As for parts breaking while in storage, I don't suppose snowmobiles are all that common in Arkansas.

 

[Thomas]

Had oils and cleaners just start leaking thru seams.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

When I was working in the research lab, I had a rather strange experience. I was alone in the stock room to retrieve some chemical or another, and heard something go "POW" and glass tinkle. I got to looking, and there was a small jar that had exploded. It contained a very fine metallic powder, and some how managed to explode. I figured that it had taken on some moisture; some finely powdered metals will form Hydrogen with water, and if contained, it will build up pressure. I assume something like that happened. Hydrogen is of course flammable and will explode, if subjected to a spark. My old boss told me about a container of powdered Thorium (highly radioactive) exploding on a loading dock. Quite a clean up job for someone...