I was trying to adjust the tension spring on a motorcycle rear-shock absorber in the parking lot where I worked. Suddenly I rotated the ratchet past a detent and it sprung with a tremendous force that locked on to my finger—holding it with an iron grip (literally). It's a little difficult to describe the mechanism, but I can tell you the pain was intense and immediate and I struggled with one hand now to try and pull back the steel cap that was holding my fingertips in its spring-loaded vise. I was pretty sure in some amount of time I would have to assume I would lose the finger.

So I looked around the parking lot in desperation and I saw someone leaving their car and head in to work. I had no idea who it was but I shouted "help!" to them.

The guy jogs over to me, looks at the situation and just cooly but quickly asks, "Tell me what you need me to do." (What an engineer, huh? I'm sure this guy was an engineer.)

I explain I need this collar pulled back against the tension of the spring and between the two of us (my one good hand) we just barely get it lifted to where I was able to tear free (yeah, the skin tore) my finger.

Wow.

Crisis averted. I profusely thanked the guy and then he just went on in to work.

Thank you stranger! It was made especially clear to me after the two of us struggled that I had not a prayer on my own.