"Most people have made that mistake at one time or another."

Amen.

I did recently - 'bout a year ago. Lucked out I guess. No shorted diode in the alternator then, and so far, no latent injuries to the not inconsiderable array of electronics in a late 240. :)

The "character" of the sparks occurring when that final connection was attempted caused a fast-enough reflex. Guess my cerebral part of the brain is on the slippery edge of the bathtub curve ahead of the reptilian part.
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

"I have to use an 18 to 24 inch *1/2 inch drive extension* powering a flex-socket
-this is ONE INSTANCE where a "snap together chain" of universals and sockets
WILL NOT WORK you need to get ALL OF THE TORQUE you can into the bolt
and NOT 'soaked up by the chain of floppies'...drive THAT with an 18" cheater and
throw down on the friggin bolt...be CAREFUL...it will be 'tighter 'n crabs ass'
until just before it lets go - at which point it will *POP* and come loose carving
deep blue ripples in the tissues of your mind...Uh OH...flashback...."
- TrickMick