Keep hands in pockets.

[Anthony]

On a recent drive between Warri and Nappa where a section of the road passes through gibber country and the road surface is rough by any ones standard, and understandably most drivers travel at a reduced speed out of sheer respect for their vehicle, it was on this road when I imagined a strange noise coming from the left hand front that I just could not place, so I stopped and looked underneath, but saw nothing hanging down, so then looked at the shockabsorber, which looked OK, it was then that I was gripped by a moment of madness brought on by a touch of cabin fever or something similar, I stupidly reached under and took hold of the shocker to check how tight it was. That was a big mistake, but I do plead temporary insanity. That shocker was incredibly hot, it was pointed out to me at the time that I shouldn't have felt a thing as "No brains no feeling". Eventually at home I took the shocker off and pumped it up and down and the resistance was quite powerful.I now understand why good quality shockers cost so much, the temperature they have to withstand while still doing their job is quite enormous. I learned a lesson, touch no moving parts even if they arn't moving. No reply necessary.

[Peter @ Aawen4x4]

How bad was the burn? Blisters? Lost skin? Or just red hand (and face!!)?

[Troppo]

Anthony, did you type out the post one handed?

I guess what happened to you was that cognitively-based knowledge became experientially or kinesthetically based knowledge. In other words, some people have heard that shocks get hot, you truly know they do.

[-BJ-]

What shocks were they ? What shocks will you get now ?

[Boxa]

You learn from your mistakes. LOL

[Anthony]

Before that particular trip we were debating the merits of buying a 12V car fridge, and I vetoed the idea because of lack of space, any how , if I could've wrapped my blistered ego around a cold tinnie I'm sure it would've eased the acute embarrassment I was suffering at the time . A 12V car fridge is definitely back on the list , but I don't intend grabbing hold of any more shockers , hot or cold.

[Anthony]

I still don't know what brand the shocker is as the name has worn off long ago , the ome shockers were replaced by the original owner of the car , and that could've happened 15 years ago , and long before I bought the car , the colour is Orange and they do a very good job is all I can say .

[nqgu]

A mate of mine who was in the 1979 Repco Round Australia Trial melted parts of several sets of Bilstiens near Maralinga he was probably driving at 160kph or more though :o ;D

[nqgu]

I still don't know what brand the shocker is as the name has worn off long ago , the ome shockers were replaced by the original owner of the car , and that could've happened 15 years ago , and long before I bought the car , the colour is Orange and they do a very good job is all I can say .


Orange could be DeCarbon and probably a few other brands. If they are DeCarbon, they are a damn fine shock.

[dhula]

One thing you did learn is that shocks have a very important role to play in keeping it comfortable in the cabin.

you also learned that shocks change kinetic energy (up and down) in to heat energy (burned hand)

Now at least you can hold your (burnt) hand on your heart and tell others how a shock works and what happens to it when it is worked real hard.

;D

so what was the noise you heard?

[Anthony]

I never did find out what that noise was, actually I lost interest in the noise after grabbing that shocker, but I did get to sit in the passenger seat for the remainder of the day, my excuse was that I could no longer change gears as my hand hurt. Life can be fun .... I think. AJ.

[Peter @ Aawen4x4]

It was probly just the shocker squirting boiling hot, foamy, oil thru its valving under pressure and a short stop plus transferring a significant amount of heat into your hand cooled it down enough to reduce the overall temp and the noise probly stopped! :o :o Whadda ya reckon?? ??? ;D

[Anthony]

Hi Peter, yes that's a good explanation .... I think that's what happened. Actually there are always more questions than answers, and the question from this experience is. Is it easier on the vehicle to drive rough roads fast or slow ? I've always taken them slow, and felt every bump, but may be that's not the way to go ? AJ.

[hando]

I reckon the best for the vehicle is slow. The shocks would get much hotter if you drove fast.

[crustyundies]

I just read your post then had a chuckle to myself as I walked off to cook tea. I had the oven pre-heating so I took the tray out to put chips on it(with a tea towl of course) then grabed the tray like it was never even in the oven :o
I tell you what, the missus had a good laugh and the dog liked frozen chips. lol

[Anthony]

Yes it's quite amazing how the mind can suddenly and inexplicably wander off on it's own, do we actually lose concentration or does the brain decide that what we're doing isn't worth focusing on, so then goes off in a different direction and leaves us floundering with burnt fingers ? So many questions, I think I should go on up to the Clubhouse and tease this thought out a little further, over a drink or two. Cheers. AJ.

[crustyundies]

Its like driving the same road for 5 years or so. you get so used to doing something that your brain shuts down and goes into auto pilot. Some days I cant remember much of the trip to or from work.

[Anthony]

Hi Crusty, "Auto pilot" good word. But boredom ? How do we combat it ? I can't help thinking that the brain was meant for bigger and better things, Havn't worked it out yet but I'm still working on it. Cheers AJ.

[OlTroopy]

I would never had even thought a shock would be hot but it makes sense now that someone mentions it. Probably one of those things people wouldn't consider (at least not overly technically minded people.) Probably just averted some 2nd degree burns, cheers ;)

[Alistair]

i tell ya whats bad with hot things and grabin them ---- ME lol

i weld alot at work, i remnber a few months ago i was having to weld this part, but cause of its shape and crap it required to be welded, then grinded and welded again a few times, then the same on the other side, so im welding it, and have done one side, then welding again, and just finnished grinding did the last run and moved to the next prat(which was attached to this pice of steel, then i put my hand down on the spot i had jsut finnished welding, i jumped up quick, but the worst part ws that it wa a 40 degree dayin summer, and i was already sweating, so b4 being able to cheak out my hand i had to get my sweat filled glasses off and wipe my head lol. but jsut as that happend one of the blokes gave me a nice clod can of coke, needless to say it wa used as an ice pack for ten mins first :P



ive got a burn on my arm from a welld stick falling on it while i was welding a hand rail at work, iit was an intresting pain lol...

[djd2]

Sort of did the same thing at tech one day.I was oxy cutting and welding black mild steel together in a vice.I had just finished the job took it out of the vice to check it, turned around to walk, and whammo, strait into the vice with my right forearm.Needless to say 7 years on, I can still see the reminder every time I have a shower. :P

[BushBoy]

I have come unstuck with welding at work a few times, i have a nice burn on my right wrist from when someone did a weld and it cooled just below red hot and i climbed up using the handle and rested my arm right on the opposite site of the 3.0mm mild steel to the weld, had a red hot bit of mig wire go into my finger the other day, touched a bit of stainless where i had just been sanding with the 4 1/2" oowyy.