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Are You Ever Amazed?

B y r o n

B y r o n

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
    • Nov 8, 2004
    1,058
    705
    Western Kentucky
    #1
    So, some time ago I was working on a new build and launched the buffer retainer and spring. I was able to find the buffer retainer but try as I may I was unable to locate the spring. I checked my bench, I checked and double checked open boxes around the bench. I don't know how long I spent on my hands and knees with flash light and magnets looking under the bench and everywhere else within reason with the room. I finally gave up and borrowed a spring from another lower parts kit to finish my build.

    So tonight I'm assembling parts for another build and pulled out the lower parts kit that I borrowed the spring from. I decided to give it another try and broke out a flash light and magnet. I went back through the boxes and was ready to get down on my hands and knees and look under everything. I was at the corner of the bench where the spring went flying months earlier and looked down and what do you think I saw? You guessed it, the buffer pin spring laying in plain sight on the carpet! I couldn't believe it. Since loosing it I've worked on several projects in the same area and never saw it. Tonight it was right there, how could I have missed it.

    Have you ever had a similar experience be it a spring, small roll pin or anything else?
     
    Last edited:
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    #2
    B y r o n said:
    So, some time ago I was working on a new build and launched the buffer retainer and spring. I was able to find the buffer retainer but try as I may I was unable to locate the spring. I checked my bench, I checked and double checked open boxes around the bench. I don't know how long I spent on my hands and knees with flash light and magnets looking under the bench and everywhere else within reason with the room. I finally gave up and borrowed a spring from another lower parts kit to finish my build.

    So tonight I'm assembling parts for another build and pulled out the lower parts kit that I borrowed the spring from. I decided to give it another try and broke out a flash light and magnet. I went back through the boxes and was ready to get down on my hands and knees and look under everything. I was at the corner of the bench where the spring went flying months earlier and looked down and what do you think I saw? You guessed it, the buffer pin spring laying in plain sight on the carpet! I couldn't believe it. Since loosing it I've worked on several projects in the same area and never saw it. Tonight it was right there, how could I have missed it.

    Have you ever had a similar experience be it a spring, small roll pin or anything else?
    Click to expand...

    Try dropping/losing a screw or apex while working on one of Uncle Sam's aircraft. It's even worse if there is snow on the ground
    You don't get to just replace it. You HAVE to find it.

    One of our maintainers dropped an apex while working within the tail of a B-1B while we were at Diego Garcia. (Yes, I can still recall the tail number)

    A cursory inspection failed to find it.
    Things got serious and a detailed inspection began, to include removal of all access panels, top to bottom.

    Still no apex.

    We sent for x-ray equipment which took a week to get there.
    The entire tail section was x-rayed, twice.
    The apex was never found.
    Permanent notes were placed in the aircraft forms in case it was ever located.

    Total down time was >5 weeks.


    With shit like that, you get really, really good at finding stuff that decides to launch itself.
     
    #3
    Those tiny spring-loaded parts that fly away, go to that same place between dimensions that socks go when you put them in the clothes dryer. Modern man has not yet discovered how to transit to that dimension ... hence my purchase of multiple tiny parts every time I only need one. They go into my "Dimension-Resistant" plastic tiny-parts bin until needed.
     
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    #4
    Things like this made me realize that I was pretty good making an AK flash hider pin from an AR trigger/hammer pin-more than once. Sucks after you make one --and launch it!
     
    #6
    rustyinbend said:
    Those tiny spring-loaded parts that fly away, go to that same place between dimensions that socks go when you put them in the clothes dryer. Modern man has not yet discovered how to transit to that dimension ... hence my purchase of multiple tiny parts every time I only need one. They go into my "Dimension-Resistant" plastic tiny-parts bin until needed.
    Click to expand...
    You would be surprised on the number of takedown/pivot pin detents I have on hand, springs also. In a pinch one can be made from music wire and they last.
     
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    #7
    I’ve only lost one, found it a year later. I lost a 1911 spring plug in a cleaning/parts room one day years ago…that was fun to find and of course it went into a big box of parts.
     
    #10
    Tricks I've picked up here and from others.
    1) Assemble/Disassemble in a large clear bag.
    Note:This is best done, the first time, before you launch the little fecker.
    2) Put a stocking over a ship vac nozzle.
    Note: not usually available to bachelors or single men unless left behind by a booty call or are one of the weirdos in the Bear pit. Dirty D prolly has a lifetime supply from a single hog.
    3) Turn out the lights, get down on the floor with a flashlight and slowly sweep and watch for the glint of shiny metal.
    Note: aka "Carpet Cruising"

    I find it amazing that you can differentiate the perceived sound of the offending projectile bouncing off the bench, the drywall, tile floor, etc.

    Never underestimate the distance it can travel.
    "How the fuck did it get clear over here?" Often hours,days, weeks later.
     
    #11
    Have used a metal detector in the yard looking for a clip , after a spring got away from me. Working outside on the picnic table/ drove 10 miles over to a buddies house to borrow. Found and was back up and ready that same day.
     
    #12
    rustyinbend said:
    Those tiny spring-loaded parts that fly away, go to that same place between dimensions that socks go when you put them in the clothes dryer. Modern man has not yet discovered how to transit to that dimension ... hence my purchase of multiple tiny parts every time I only need one. They go into my "Dimension-Resistant" plastic tiny-parts bin until needed.
    Click to expand...

    Another barely related trick. Buy all same color socks. That way you never again lose socks in a dryer. You only find an extra one.

    Had one of the M1A bolt springs go thru a light weight plastic bag. Bought thicker bags.

    Thank you,
    MrSmith
     
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    #16
    Sitting around years ago assembling my first AR over the weekend in my underwear. I launched a detent and spring. I found the detent right away but I looked everywhere for the spring for two days and finally found it in the front flap of my underwear that Sunday night.
     
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    #19
    The floor in my garage is an extension of the Bermuda Triangle (and its where my benches are located). Anything that hits the floor is instantly transported to another parallel universe...never to be seen again. Truly.
     
    #20
    Halfnutz said:
    Tricks I've picked up here and from others.
    1) Assemble/Disassemble in a large clear bag.
    Note:This is best done, the first time, before you launch the little fecker.
    2) Put a stocking over a ship vac nozzle.
    Note: not usually available to bachelors or single men unless left behind by a booty call or are one of the weirdos in the Bear pit. Dirty D prolly has a lifetime supply from a single hog.
    3) Turn out the lights, get down on the floor with a flashlight and slowly sweep and watch for the glint of shiny metal.
    Note: aka "Carpet Cruising"

    I find it amazing that you can differentiate the perceived sound of the offending projectile bouncing off the bench, the drywall, tile floor, etc.

    Never underestimate the distance it can travel.
    "How the fuck did it get clear over here?" Often hours,days, weeks later.
    Click to expand...

    #3.
    It's very effective to turn the lights out and set the flashlight on the floor.
    Sweep it slowly in a circle and look for the shadow produced by the missing item.
     
    #23
    Mike Casselton said:
    Try dropping/losing a screw or apex while working on one of Uncle Sam's aircraft. It's even worse if there is snow on the ground
    You don't get to just replace it. You HAVE to find it.

    One of our maintainers dropped an apex while working within the tail of a B-1B while we were at Diego Garcia. (Yes, I can still recall the tail number)

    A cursory inspection failed to find it.
    Things got serious and a detailed inspection began, to include removal of all access panels, top to bottom.

    Still no apex.

    We sent for x-ray equipment which took a week to get there.
    The entire tail section was x-rayed, twice.
    The apex was never found.
    Permanent notes were placed in the aircraft forms in case it was ever located.

    Total down time was >5 weeks.


    With shit like that, you get really, really good at finding stuff that decides to launch itself.
    Click to expand...

    Years ago (early 2000's) an A&P/IA friend of mine who runs the FBO at the Greenville, AL airport watched a BRAND NEW Lancair Columbia 300 (or it might have been a Cirrus SR22 - they're very similar and I've forgotten, but as I remember it was a Lancair) come in on short final, make a nice landing, then depart the centerline and roll off into the grass coming to a very rough stop. Fortunately it wasn't damaged. My friend hops in his cart to go assist. The owner was upset, and said as soon as he touched down the rudder pedals locked up and he had no directional control. HE HAD JUST PICKED THE AIRCRAFT UP AT THE FACTORY AND IT WAS ON ITS MAIDEN VOYAGE TO THE OWNER'S HOME (Greenville was just a fuel stop for him). My friend towed it back to his hangar and started investigating. Being a brand new design, he had to figure it out as he went since he wasn't familiar with them. The owner and his wife got a hotel room and he took them there while he went back and worked on the problem. Eventually, he found a pair of needle nose pliers (with a serial number imprinted on them) under the floorboard that had worked its way into the rudder cable linkage and jammed it - probably happened when it got jostled at touchdown, because the owner hadn't experience any problems on the earlier legs of his flight. He removed them and everything checked out, so he got it put back together and ready for them to depart the next day. Those pliers were left there by a FACTORY worker, and were inventoried (serial number), and like every tool used were required to be accounted for before the aircraft was released from the production line, but...didn't happen. I happened to fly in the next day to visit my friend as the couple were getting ready to depart, and they all told me the story. My friend was clearly their hero!
     
    #25
    Colt Gold Cup series 70 has a tiny spring in the trigger group and sure enough while assembling
    the trigger it launched somewhere.

    Looked for it but could not find it so the next day I drove four hours and bought a couple of them.

    When I got home I found the damn spring, what a bitch.
     
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    #26
    whatsupdoc said:
    Colt Gold Cup series 70 has a tiny spring in the trigger group and sure enough while assembling
    the trigger it launched somewhere.

    Looked for it but could not find it so the next day I drove four hours and bought a couple of them.

    When I got home I found the damn spring, what a bitch.
    Click to expand...
    My Golden Rule Of Lost Things: "The quickest way to find a lost object is to buy a replacement for it." Works like magic.
     
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