50/50/90 rule
Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 8:32 pm
Are you familiar with this rule? It states if you have to make a blind choice, with a 50/50 chance of being right, you will be wrong 90% of the time. And it came true for me again today. Now that I have my stove humming, I decided to install an emergency high-temp shut-off. And while I was at it, a friend noticed I did not have an easy access clean-out "tee" fitting in the 3/8" tubing that connects the carb to the burner pot. So I elected to install one. Especially since the tube was plugged when I went to relight the stove.
So, trip to hardware store to pick up 3/8" flare nuts, etc. And I should know better. The new flare nuts indeed fit 3/8" tubing, and thread on the fitting. But only once I had them installed finger tight did I learn the wrenches wouldn't fit them. In between 3/4" and 11/16". (China, anybody?) So, crescent wrench. Except. Crescent wrench won't fit where I put them. Right under the burner pot. Absent knowing the wrenches would not fit, I could have got lucky and put the OLD flare nuts in the inaccessible place. But no, I happened to put them right below the carb. 50/50/90 rule. (Of course I re-used the old flare nuts because I was raised by depression-era parents.) So I had to back up, cut off the flares, switch around flare nuts. Another hour lost. Is it only me that has to fight EVERY project tooth and nail?
Finally got connected with no leaks. Of course I have been unable to get my emergency shut-off to trip as per the directions. But that is a different issue.
So, trip to hardware store to pick up 3/8" flare nuts, etc. And I should know better. The new flare nuts indeed fit 3/8" tubing, and thread on the fitting. But only once I had them installed finger tight did I learn the wrenches wouldn't fit them. In between 3/4" and 11/16". (China, anybody?) So, crescent wrench. Except. Crescent wrench won't fit where I put them. Right under the burner pot. Absent knowing the wrenches would not fit, I could have got lucky and put the OLD flare nuts in the inaccessible place. But no, I happened to put them right below the carb. 50/50/90 rule. (Of course I re-used the old flare nuts because I was raised by depression-era parents.) So I had to back up, cut off the flares, switch around flare nuts. Another hour lost. Is it only me that has to fight EVERY project tooth and nail?
Finally got connected with no leaks. Of course I have been unable to get my emergency shut-off to trip as per the directions. But that is a different issue.