I was trying to get the jeep to start. Fire at the points but not the plug. I finally (after setting the timing twice by removing the distributor) removed the cap and noticed electrical tape and crimp on ring connectors on the coil wires. I decided to remove the distributor one more time (it will only take a second anyway - I can do it with my eyes closed now). I cut the switch off and started loosening the distributor hold down screw when WHAM, FLASH! - my ring finger was burning like $&%
. I ran around swinging my finger trying to cool it down 'til I could manage to slide the ring off before it started swelling. I grabbed a beer to cool it down, then opened it and thought about my stupidity (this was my first beer of the day, by the way).I had become complacent in removing and replacing the distributor. After checking out the scene of the accident, I realized that even though the distributor didn't have power going to it because the switch was off, the starter is always hot. When I was loosening the hold down bolt, my ring touched the starter contact strap or post and grounded through the wrench to the distributor hold down bolt to the block!
Now my ring finger has a nice little fluid filled sac on the bottom and still burns. It will be a while before I can wear my ring again (I haven't taken it off more than a couple of times in 10 years), but I can guarantee I won't be wearing it when doing any electrical work again! My ring will keep the memory alive though - you can just see the part I couldn't sand down.
Be careful out there ya'll
[/b]
