Posted by Michael Hernke (MO) [162.158.75.145] on Sunday, April 08, 2018 at 12:28:53 :
I have owned manual transmission vehicles since I was 16 and my daily driver diesel pickup is still a stick. Yesterday working on my m37 in the garage I changed oil in the power steering system and went to start the engine. I banged the shifter standing next to the truck and it moved like it was in nuetral so I hit the starter. The 4bt being a 4bt starting instantly and turns out the truck was not out of gear the shifter just has a little slop in it. Luckily the truck was in low range but not 4 wheel drive, which is possible in my truck. Either way the truck happily crushed the stair rail on the small stair leading into my house and mangled a shelf that was in front of truck. The damage would have been worse but the front tire hit the lower step and the combination a dust and smooth concrete the back tires actually started to spin before I was able to shut the truck off. If it had been in 4 wheel drive I think it would have drove through the back wall. Overall I think I was lucky and the total damage was about a sheet of dry wall, a stud, one stair tread, and the stair stringer. Probably around $100 in material, 8-10 hours in time, and incalculable lost pride. Figure it is worth posting to maybe make someone double or triple check the shifter before hitting the starter. Especially with a low gears and easy starting engine.
For the record a Cummins engine will not pull the house down! At least not in two wheel drive at idle....
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