Talk about puckering up!!!

[SPANISHVETTS]

Those stories pucker me long distance! I am going to need a spatula to release my butt from the chair.:eek

When I was a kid I was helping my Granddad and Uncle work on an old M-F tractor with a bush-hog on it. Someway the thing jumped into gear and took off. The PTO was engaged so the blades were spinning and the tractor was going wherever it wanted to. There was no way to get near the tractor with out getting in the blades so we ran from it. Before it was over a wagon was crushed along with the water and feed troughs.

Our lucky break came when the tractor went over a Louisiana gate, (Not really a gate just some strands of barbwire stapled to a few post and held up by a piece of old rope), the wire tangled in the blades and eventually staled the run-away beast.

If it wasn’t so scary it would be a good scene for a bubba movie.

 

[vettefinderjim]

Glad your not hurt

I owned many repair shops for 35 years John, and witnessed many almost fatal mistakes. One of the worst was a 'reach in a window start', and the car started fine. Once running, the tech left for a 'quick pee' while the engine was running for warm up after a major tune.

The fuel filter had been changed......and you guessed it. In 45 seconds there was almost 3 qt. of gasoline all down the engine, and under the car.

POOF !!!......up in flame and smoke went the car, and within 30 seconds, the othere cars in the adjoing bays were getting severely scorched.

Fortunatly, we got the fire out.......but over $3000 damage to the car ( this was 1977 $$) .

Today, it would have been $10,000.

Since that time, Every one followed a very 'complete' set of rules when starting a car. ALWAYS, GET IN THE CAR........FOOT ON BRAKE, AND VERIFY NETURAL BEFORE TURNING KEY. IF ENGINE WORK HAS BEEN DONE, HAVE ANOTHER PERSON WATCH THE FUEL LINES, WATER LINES ETC. ONCE RUNNING. ALWAYS USE SAFETY BLOCKS UNDER WHEELS, AND HAVE FIRE EXTINGISHER CLOSE BY.

NEVER GET UNDER A CAR ON A FLOOR JACK, WITHOUT PROPERLY PLACED JACK STANDS.

I know three people who are no longer with us who were crushed under a car working without jack stands.......or another helper.

If you are in the car, YOU can stop a run-a-way problem quickly and more safely than reaching in a window.

 

[Dons97]

too late for puckering up......there would have been a mess in my pants for sure....I would have been changing clothes......

Agree...I think I have to change from just reading about it!

 

[Mac]

Glad you weren't hurt, John.

-Mac

 

[studiog]

I just thought of something... John now I'm REALLY glad you didn't get hurt. My project might come to a grinding halt if something happened to you.

 

[Z28Canuck]

I remember years ago my Dad was working on the brakes of his car. He had the wheel off and was right inside the wheel well with his head and chest over the rim. He thought he "felt" the car move slightly and backed out to see if it was OK and just as he cleared it the car dropped off the scissor jack and the car dropped onto the driveway. He was as white as a sheet and you can still see the colour in his face disappear when he talks about it. He surely would have been crushed if he hadn't got out when he did. He was lucky and he stresses safety on any job he does (Especially around the house where we let our guards down sometimes).

I know a lot of us have these kinds of stories and they should be shared if they can save even one of us from a severe or fatal accident. Sometimes in a split second it's over and can't be done over. You guys are the examples everyone follows and thank you for your repeated message.....SAFETY FIRST! You should pat yourselves on the back for the unknown number of people you've helped safely with all your advice

 

[BarryK]

good post Doug and a great point to bring up. always safety FIRST.
most of you know that I don't work on my own car because i don't know how, but I grew up on a large farm and have been around and operating the heavy machinery since i could walk. (learned how to drive originally on the big John Deere tractors when i was about 7yo). One thing that was drilled into me was safety, safety, safety) too many open, moving, and dangerous parts on farm machinery.
Cars are different than farm equipment but the safety factor is all the same and must always come first.
....... kind of ironic that i'm typing this with a broken arm because i got into a situation where the conditions were not safe but things like this remind you of the priorities - always safety first.

John, as bad as it COULD have been, the most important thing is that you are OK.
is your butt unpuckered up yet?