Taming the Wobbly Crank

A chunky black knob was jutting boldly off the side of a mounted garden hose reel! Sufferin' succotash—it looked like an unruly steering wheel waiting for an operator! I scrambled onto the raised brick foundation, locked both gloved paws onto the grooved plastic grip, and threw my entire weight into an almighty downward tug! *Creak-whirrr-clack!* The whole plastic drum lurched half a turn, dragging a heavy ribbed rubber coil with a squeak! The sudden jerk snapped the handle out of my grip and tapped my knee, sending me tumbling backward flat onto a bed of damp wood chips. I dusted off my knees, grinning at the coiled green serpent obediently cinched an inch tighter!