Just had a cargo door seal decide to impersonate a snake on the ramp in Dallas

The whole thing shot out like a rubber band when I pulled the old one, and my apprentice just stared and said 'I guess it's really done'. Anyone have a trick for keeping those things coiled up during removal?

3 comments

3 Comments

nina1803mo ago

Ever have one of those plastic packing straps snap back at you? I was breaking down a pallet last week and the cut end whipped around and caught me right on the wrist. Left a red mark for two days. Makes you jump ten feet in the air. Sounds like your door seal had that same kind of angry energy.

ryanburns3mo ago

Remember my buddy who got hit in the neck by a bungee cord? @nina180, your story gave me the same flashback. He had a welt for a week and still flinches when he sees one. Those things really do store up some nasty surprise.

reese_bell1mo ago

Did you try talking to it first and telling it you’re not gonna hurt it? That snake impression sounds like it had some serious tension built up. I’ve never had a door seal pull that trick, but I’ve had enough zip ties and ratchet straps snap back to know that kind of surprise. Next time maybe just let the apprentice stand further back and film it for insurance purposes. Seriously though, a quick trick is to cut the seal in a couple spots as you go so it can’t store up all that energy in one long piece. But honestly, whatever you do, just be ready for it to try and take a chunk out of you.