# Damn The Manly Muscles! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 24, 2007, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347 "2007-05-24T14:31:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/1 "2007-05-24T14:31:26Z")
Mr. K gassed up the lawn mower a couple weeks ago. Nice of him, huh? So I’ve been mowing along like a dutiful homeowner. I decided to mow before work today since there is a chance of thunderstorms later today and all weekend, and I didn’t want to look at ugly-ass long grass all weekend. So I got about 7/8 of the way through my mowing and I ran out of gas. AND I CAN’T GET THE FUCKIN’ CAP OFF TO REFILL IT! AAAAARRRGGGHHH! He puts _al_l caps on so motherin’ tight that only superheroes with jackhammers can get the fucking things off. Drives me insane!!! So there my mower sits…in the yard with the mohawk…FUCK. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/2 "2007-05-24T14:34:21Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Mr. K gassed up the lawn mower a couple weeks ago. Nice of him, huh? So I’ve been mowing along like a dutiful homeowner. I decided to mow before work today since there is a chance of thunderstorms later today and all weekend, and I didn’t want to look at ugly-ass long grass all weekend. So I got about 7/8 of the way through my mowing and I ran out of gas. AND I CAN’T GET THE FUCKIN’ CAP OFF TO REFILL IT! AAAAARRRGGGHHH! He puts _al_l caps on so motherin’ tight that only superheroes with jackhammers can get the fucking things off. Drives me insane!!! So there my mower sits…in the yard with the mohawk…FUCK. [/QUOTE] Do you have a monkey wrench? That’s what I would use. My husband does this kind of thing, too. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/3 "2007-05-24T14:35:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Do you have a monkey wrench? That’s what I would use. My husband does this kind of thing, too. On the gas tank cap or on your husband? ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/4 "2007-05-24T14:41:23Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] On the gas tank cap or on your husband? [/QUOTE] FIRST the gas cap, THEN my husband. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/5 "2007-05-24T14:49:34Z")
Very early in my driving career, I realized that all the knowledge about how to properly change a tire doesn’t mean shit if you can’t get off the stinkin’ lug nuts. My heart goes out to you. My behemoth husband always closes jars/lids/caps as if they hold the secret to life. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/6 "2007-05-24T15:34:01Z")
Yeah, my husband didn’t fill the mower, either. Fortunately he didn’t tighten the cap beyond what I can manage, though he has before. ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/7 "2007-05-24T15:55:38Z")
I won’t put the cap on very tight if any of you would like to stop by and mow my lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/8 "2007-05-24T16:09:54Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] So there my mower sits…in the yard with the mohawk…FUCK. [/QUOTE] Give it a piercing - problem solved! ---
**Author:** ![Like\_Fry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@Like\_Fry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Like_Fry)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/9 "2007-05-24T16:15:46Z")
I have the bad habit of closing lids for my GF way too tight, I dont notice except when she goes to drink my soda and cant open the cap. It really doesnt feel tight to me at all, but I always feel bad, especially when I got to drink her drink, and she glares at me when I screw the cap down for all time without even thinking of it. Did you know you can tighten those caps so tight they come loose again? Fry ---
**Author:** ![lonih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4af34b/32.png) [@lonih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lonih)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/10 "2007-05-24T17:17:52Z")
There are plenty of tools to unscrew tight caps. I have a drawerful for things like pickle and jam jars. If you use plyers on that gas cap and make it look all jagged and no longer new, then Mr. K will have a reminder every time he mows. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/11 "2007-05-24T17:26:53Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] Do you have a monkey wrench? That’s what I would use. My husband does this kind of thing, too. [/QUOTE] A monkey wrench like a [crescent or like a pipe wrench](http://zo-d.com/stuff/images/channel-lock-pliers-s.jpg)? A crescent may if your gas cap is “nut-shaped” but, otherwise, not enough of a clenching grip mechanism. Pipe wrench would just fine. What might work too if you have them are [channel locks](http://zo-d.com/stuff/images/channel-lock-pliers-s.jpg). You can wrap a dry rag around the cap if you don’t wish it to scuff. You watch, now Kal will get 'em off just fine with a crescent. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/12 "2007-05-24T17:34:44Z")
Tip the thing on it’s side, pour nearly-boiling water over it and twist as soon as possible. I’ve done it once or twice, after my (mechanic) father screwed it on too tight. I was a nerdy kid, so I used the methods at my disposal 😉 (Of course, be careful) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/13 "2007-05-24T17:41:26Z")
[QUOTE=Auntbeast] My heart goes out to you. My behemoth husband always closes jars/lids/caps as if they hold the secret to life. [/QUOTE] We learned our lesson after Pandora’s Box! ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/14 "2007-05-24T17:41:27Z")
Kal, apparently one of our neighbors thinks the best way for a woman to cut small sections of one’s yard is with a pair of scissors while you’re in your bathrobe. From what I can tell, a cat is suppossed to assist. Just sayin’… ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/15 "2007-05-24T17:47:04Z")
Yard with a mohawk? Not so bad…I just wish my yard were Emo, so it would cut itself. what? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Monstera\_deliciosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monstera_deliciosa/32/109_2.png) [@Monstera\_deliciosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstera_deliciosa)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/16 "2007-05-24T17:52:27Z")
Everyone whose husband (like my **BobPi** for instance) insists on putting on lids too tight needs one of [these.](http://images.google.com/images?um=1&tab=wi&client=firefox-a&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=strap+wrench) You can get the most tightly screwed lids off without marring them. Of course, Bob’s equal and opposite complaint is that I never fasten anything, and thus the contents of whatever he’s grabbed that I’ve used last ends up all over the floor. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/17 "2007-05-24T17:59:13Z")
[QUOTE=Auntbeast] Very early in my driving career, I realized that all the knowledge about how to properly change a tire doesn’t mean shit if you can’t get off the stinkin’ lug nuts. [/QUOTE] That, and you look silly jumping up and down on the lever trying to get them to move. But as bad as it is when someone else does it, it’s worse than when you know that you were the last one to screw whatever on, and you did it to yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Zambini57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4491bb/32.png) [@Zambini57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zambini57)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/18 "2007-05-24T18:03:54Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Mr. K gassed up the lawn mower a couple weeks ago. Nice of him, huh? So I’ve been mowing along like a dutiful homeowner. I decided to mow before work today since there is a chance of thunderstorms later today and all weekend, and I didn’t want to look at ugly-ass long grass all weekend. So I got about 7/8 of the way through my mowing and I ran out of gas. AND I CAN’T GET THE FUCKIN’ CAP OFF TO REFILL IT! AAAAARRRGGGHHH! He puts _al_l caps on so motherin’ tight that only superheroes with jackhammers can get the fucking things off. Drives me insane!!! So there my mower sits…in the yard with the mohawk…FUCK. [/QUOTE] I run into this alot at work. I’m an aircraft mechanic for a “large domestic airline” (in other words, “outsource meat”). But yeah, my cow-orkers tend to over-tighten things , like oil filter canisters. Never mind that the maintenance manual specifies the proper torque, the mentality seems to be “Tighten that sucker down hard! Otherwise, it’s a smokin’ hole!” Just use the torque wrench, dummy. (Not your husband, this is a vent post.) ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/19 "2007-05-24T18:37:50Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] Do you have a monkey wrench? That’s what I would use. My husband does this kind of thing, too. [/QUOTE] Great idea! I’m gonna try that! (Why don’t I think of these things?) ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2007, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347/20 "2007-05-24T18:42:48Z")
[QUOTE=Bobotheoptimist] I won’t put the cap on very tight if any of you would like to stop by and mow my lawn. [/QUOTE] If I could get my trusty John Deere there, I’d do it for you! 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-the-manly-muscles/405347.md?page=2)