The Diecast Zone · Model Car Club Since 1997
Diecast Collector Forums
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You can't be too safe. I wonder how many friends it took to raise the car.
An "OUCH" just waiting to happen!
John Bono
North Jersey
That scares the bejesus outta me! In 1985 I needed to replace a wheel bearing/race (right front) on my ‘71 Chrysler. I had loaned out my jack stands & figured that I could tackle the job from “outside” the car, so I (brilliantly) used the bumper jack to lift the car to do the repair.
I was tightening the last bolt (job completed) when the jack failed & the car fell…ON ME! Turns out I had (magically) forgotten to remain “outside” the car & was sitting on the ground with my legs under the frame & the brake rotor squarely ‘tween my legs….the fender came down on my shoulders & neck & compressed me like I was a squish ball. The brake rotor landed just millimeters from “big Jim & the twins”…I came extremely close to being a double-amputeed, emasculated quadriplegic.
I ended up breaking lumbar vertebrae L-2 through L-5…although I recovered, it’s been a difficult journey…and the older I get, the more problems I have.
I consider myself lucky even though I’m handicapped with mobility issues…but I carry on as best I can.
Zeeky Banutski
The People’s Republic of Maryland
... I lost a friend in high school. He foolishly worked under his car that was supported only by a bumper jack. When he attached power to the starter, the car jolted suddenly. It was a fatal mistake.
Make that four. A lucky escape Terry despite the lasting consequences.
You guy's would die if you saw the ways I worker on cars as a kid. Once I got into my 20's I was able to afford more than a bumper jack and logs and cement blocks and could afford safety, as a teenager I had no access to money. Floor jacks and jack stands were well beyond my reach as was a decent car, most were freebies people were junking and we made work with the old bailing wire & bubble gum method, I was contently working on them, not to mention friends junks. Most were unregistered junks we drove in the woods & fields and looking back EXTREMELY LUCKY but fun & memories most people never had. BUT NO FLIP FLOPS.
You guy's would die if you saw the ways I worker on cars as a kid.
Wow! I suspect we were ALL lucky as we did "stupid" things. I always tried to be extra safe - but there were a few exceptions. Thank God nothing serious happened.

