Morris Minor Owners Club

Been preparing my Morris for the MOT test, had not used it for two weeks and unusually it did not start first time but fired and died, knew something was "different" but could not put my finger on it. started checking cap, leads points, spark plugs and convinced myself I needed to clean and re set the points, using the starting handle I moved the opening to the correct position then got distracted by postman bringing a package to be signed for and taking said package indoors, had then a senior moment of what was I doing last and thinking I had adjusted everything decided to start car with the key, as soon as it started to turn over realised handle was still attached to drive dog- not a good idea, fortunately no harm done as let go of key with tremendous speed, in fact quite the opposite as the"shock" through the car had "adjusted" the fuel pump which now ticked over and was the cause of the non starting.this was the something I realised with the aid of hindsight
Subsequently have passed MOT with no advisories, can`t recommend the above method of shocking a fuel pump into action to any fellow members but I am going to buy lottery ticket today :

That is why the starter dog has the screw in type engagement with the starter handle. As soon as the engine starts the starting handle is thrown out. It may rattle but that is all.
Once years ago when starting a Lister diesel engine driving a compressor & fitted into a mobile workshop with only one access door; the engine started the ratchet type but removable starting handle would not release and so could not be removed so it flew round and round. Could not get out of the door quick enough. The engine had to be stopped and after due consideration re-entered the mobile workshop and managed to get round the back of the lister engine and shut off the fuel. The handle could have flown in any direction but as luck would have it did not . The starting handle, end of the crankshaft and ratchet were well lubricated after that incident.

I left a chuck key in a big lathe a college .

Out into the big bad world the next day then?

lowride stepside wrote:I left a chuck key in a big lathe a college .

I still bear the scar of a lathe chuck key on my forehead from one hitting me when I was an apprentice fortunately I was close enough when I pushed the clutch lever for it not to gather speed and do some serious damage to me.
I always made sure it was out of the chuck before starting the lathe from then on......

The first thing I was taught on a lathe was to NEVER leave the chuck key in. Second thing was to never lean on any part of that or any machine tool.

I got shocked off a milling machine at college ... best part was it was off the safety interlock switch!