Hello all,
Let me start off by saying that this new fear does not have to do with jobs or negative feedback from family, friends, or strangers. The new fear is by the many moving parts found under the hood of ones car.
After getting socked with an $800 repair bill with $350 of that bill being labor cost at the mechanics, I decided to take on doing my own engine repairs. My car had stopped running and when I got it back, not all the issues seemed to be fixed. I took the car back and they attempted to fix what I was complaining about. However, I was still having problems with the car stalling while starting out from a dead stop.
While working on the engine, I had to do some tasks with the engine running. This new fear for my hair, was having it get caught in the engine's drive belt as I started to lean over the engine to work on it. I doubt there could be nothing worse or more painful then getting your tail caught in something spinning at 800 RPM with 98 horsepower driving it. OUCH! That would indeed hurt indeed LOL. I made sure I was extra careful in this situation.
I was successful in fixing the stalling issue. I replaced a number of sensors and the fuel filter.
Thought I would pass my running thoughts up here. :-)
Mike
EDSI-80
I always wear a cap and wear my hair tucked beneath a shirt or jacket when doing repairs. Would be nothing worse than having hair jerked out or singed with hot oil or other
automotive fluids.
Glad you were successful with your car repairs!
peace, jonalbear
Sorry to hear about your car problems. I can relate... I used to work on my vehicles quite a bit. As long as it doesn't mess up any of the computers, I'll still consider doing my own work...
I always think of that when I work on my truck. If I'm running the engine with the hood up, I always tail my hair. Most of the time, I'm underneath... doing oil changes. Definitely keep the hair away from that!
--Rick
Rick,
I always tail my hair when working on the car, but my tail is long enough to get caught in something. Maybe I should bind the tail over it self to keep it shorter.
Nothing like getting oil and transmission fluid in your hair. LOL
Mike
Not the best way to keep your hair soft!
--Rick
Hi Mike,
Your fear is a valid one, and as jonalbear said, tucking your hair up under a cap or hat, or tucking your ponytail down inside your shirt is only being safety-conscious. Also putting your hair in a bun to me is not so much a "style" thing; but something I do many times over on my job, or even at home, out of practical necessity.
Hope this helps!
- Ken
My job often has me around heavy equipment with open moving parts (drilling and mining). We have women and men with long hair and that is a serious safety concern. Fashion is not important on the job, so lash that hair down, tuck it under a hat or in your shirt.....not only could you lose your hair, but your life !!
Thanks for bringing up an important topic for long hair !
Walter White Tail
When I was in Technical College we had a machine lab where we had laths, drill presses and other twirling machines. Because this was the 70's there were a number of guys that had long hair, one that had waist length hair. If we learned anything from Professor Engel (no, not our Professor Engel), it was keep your hair restrained at all times or risk having it a) ripped form your head, or b) not having it ripped from your head but having your head mutilated by the previously mentioned twirling machine. The images he described are burned in my memory forever! So gentlemen (and ladies), if you have to wear your hair in a beehive bun pinned to the top of your head, do it! Remember safety first.
Take care,
Bruce
Hi Mike and congratulations on being able to fix on your car what the mechanics seemed unable to do.Actually I find it impossible to work on a modern car today as almost everything is controlled by the onboard computer regarding emissions, transmission reponse ,etc.Without the analyzers needed to check vital functions I don't know how the average person can do anything except change their own oil!LOL.As for the labor cost that just goes with the territiory.From what I can remember the dealer for my car charges $112.00 / hr.for their service.Ouch!!
Now take it from an expert who works in the HVAC field and deals with spinning pulleys and other devious components that are just looking to catch some longhair and wear it tied up under a ball cap.Thats how I've avoided getting my hair caught up in such a manner especially as long as I keep it.I could never wear loose hair at work as I couldn't go five minutes without a major catastrophy like that happening.Anyway I'm glad you got your car fixed and didn't loose any hair in the process.Longhaired Kudos to you my friend.Mark
Mark,
I know what you mean by modern cars being all computer controlled. My car is an 89 Pontiac 6000 LE, which was very modern in it's day with it's distributer less ignition system. At least it is under standable, and I don't need all that fancy equipment to repair the engine.
Mike
Auto Zone will do computer diagnostics for free, if you have them in your area. It is also possible to buy a diagnostic tool yourself, although not for all makes.
That's a fear of mine, too, ever since reading a post on the LHC a couple of years ago about a friend of another member having her waist-length hair pulled off in a go-kart engine. Had a scalp transplant and everything.
I've had my hair caught in a 3 horsepower industrial fan, but it didn't pull me in or spin me around luckily! It snapped a chunk of hair, but it was quick and painless for the most part. I did suffer a little emotional pain from the loss.
I'll check the oil and other fluids and that's it. I can imagine your fear though. I know a longhaired mechanic in Indiana he wears a stocking cap and all his hair pulled under it and held in place with a hair pin. His hair was to lower back and looked amazing.
Kevin
Anyone which hair which can be combed is at risk.
Wear a base ball cap/beanie or bandana to remove the risk. Its hardly good reason to shave which is the only sure way to prevent it!
I was working on my truck two weeks ago and was worried about a different hair dilemma, fuels and oil in the hair. I was replacing the fuel pump and had diesel fuel, which is actually an oil, on the ground where I was laying. I know I got a little diesel on my hair. Upon finishing I showered and washed my hair three times, along with plenty of conditioner. Thankfully it appears undamaged. With long hair tying it up is part of the answer. You also should tuck it under a shirt collar or something that will secure it behind you. I don't even wanna think about getting pulled into a moving fan or engine belts. Doing your own repairs is much more satisfying, IMO, than letting someone else do them. I -will- have someone else do the work for something big, like tranny work, balljoints, or serious engine work.
--
Splat
My kitchen has plenty of moving parts, like the big Kitchen Aid mixer. I wouldn't want to get a braid or tail caught in the whisk at the power 10 setting, or sucked onto the grinder accessory. There are times that you need to take that tail/braid, and fold it up and secure it to your head.
Carol