I keep getting the wrong tools...

Yesterday I ordered a timing gun from a local Hungarian auto-parts store and when I tried to use it on my Impala today it turns out that the Felix-Wankel'n auto parts store had sold me a METRIC TIMING GUN!

I remember the last time this happened to me I had inadvertently bought a left handed crescent wrench from Shucks auto supply, and I couldn't get the catastrophic converter off my truck in time for a date I had planned... That night turned out to be a... (wait for it)... Catastrophe!

I know I can't be the only one with this problem... can I?

Oh man, I hear ya. My Trabant has a speedometer that reads in Furlongs/Fortnight so I have to keep pulling over at every speed limit sign to convert units.

doesn't matter GPS.. your Trabant is STILL not speeding

I keep meaning to update the radio in my 1985 MR2 from the original head unit. How many times can I listen to Wham! and Madonna?!?!?

There are no WRONG tools!

If you have ever had to remove a lost retainer from a vintage Australian popcorn machine with your arm in a cast you will understand!

Bruce

I keep having problems with not having the right tool for the job, too.

The thing is, my tools are great, but I keep having to do the wrong jobs.

I've got a Millermatic 175 welder and an engine hoist standing by, but I keep having to do crap like change the fuel tank out on my pickup, or chase an ignition problem on a friend's Accord. Boring, annoying, and/or filthy stuff. Wasn't I supposed to be able so just start doing fun stuff once I got the right tools?

I've had to ride my bike to the local Sears to buy tools that I forgot I needed and then had my car in 472 pieces in my driveway.

Twice.

In a day.

I got the set of wrenches that only take things apart. I think I need the set that puts stuff back together.

The other day I did not have the correct tool, so I used two pipe wrenches.

Anyone want to buy a Whitworth adjustable wrench? Never used, thrown once

In reply to Wally:

I wonder whether I could make that work. My graduated C-clamp's all seized up...

Wally wrote: Anyone want to buy a Whitworth adjustable wrench? Never used, thrown once

I may need one here shortly. I just dropped my last one in a bucket of compression last week while doing a muffler bearing install on my wife's Volvo.

ransom wrote: In reply to Wally: I wonder whether I could make that work. My graduated C-clamp's all seized up...

No, no... that is completely normal. The knurls are there so the pipe wrench can get a better bite.

What's wrong with metric timing guns? I used one the other day to set my base timing at PI/12 radians!

--Ian