amancalledpony's blog post - It was a simple home repair

The pin holding one end of a door closer in place sheered off the other day. I only noticed it when I went to lock the patio door in place to bring the mower out. Well this is an easy fix. Or so I thought.
I had another pin. Pull the plunger out a little bit, slip connecting pin in place. Viola, done. Open door and this pin explodes. Door closer is swinging in the wind. OK, looks like a a bolt and nut is in order.
Go into shed, find the right size bolt. Hell I even have a nut and washers to match. Go back to the patio. Pull plunger out again, use vise grips to lock in place as the bolt is just exactly the right size so I need both hands to work it through. Put washer on bolt, get bolt through the holes, other washer and nut. Tighten. Done. I am feeling like Wiley E. Coyote, supergenius. Open door, reach for door hold open washer. NO DOOR HOLD OPEN WASHER!! Damn thing must have fallen off when the pin exploded. Shit. Grab rake. Move leaves and find the missing piece. @$%#&!
Have a beer. Undo nut. Bolt turns. What SOB put the fucking nut on this tight. Get wrench to hold bolt. Scrape knuckles in process as it is a confined space to work in. Undo nut and remove bolt. Put door hold open washer on plunger shaft. Pull plunger out and lock vise grips back on. Make sure hold open washer is still in place. Work bolt/washer back through holes, put washer/nut on. Tighten down. Open door, lock door open. Big sigh of relief. Now to put a new closer on the other patio door. Ummm maybe not today.