Safety First - Always
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
Safety First - Always
I feel compelled to share this in the hopes that it might make someone think before they crawl under their car to work on it.
Never ever get under your car without jack stands / ramps etc. to protect you. If your stands or ramps are old and at all questionable, PLEASE - replace them. Same with your floor jacks. Spend a few bucks and replace that old jack before something happens, and you or your family wish you would have when you still had the chance.
I lost a friend due to his car falling on him. It wouldn't have mattered if someone was was standing right there to help, it was too late the second it happened.
Think it can't happen to you? Been working on cars for years and you know what you're doing right? Well, so did he, and he was not only a damn good mechanic, but a great guy whose family is now without him.
Again - PLEASE protect yourself, and do it with good equipment.
Gary - you are missed my friend.
Adam
Never ever get under your car without jack stands / ramps etc. to protect you. If your stands or ramps are old and at all questionable, PLEASE - replace them. Same with your floor jacks. Spend a few bucks and replace that old jack before something happens, and you or your family wish you would have when you still had the chance.
I lost a friend due to his car falling on him. It wouldn't have mattered if someone was was standing right there to help, it was too late the second it happened.
Think it can't happen to you? Been working on cars for years and you know what you're doing right? Well, so did he, and he was not only a damn good mechanic, but a great guy whose family is now without him.
Again - PLEASE protect yourself, and do it with good equipment.
Gary - you are missed my friend.
Adam
Last edited by AdamMeh; Oct 19, 2015 at 08:59 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 134
From: Blanco County, TX
A great reminder. I always back up jack stands with a floor jack, and if I have the wheels off, I'll slide them under the frame. I might die in this car, but I refuse to die under it.
I'd like to add that wearing good safety glasses or goggles and ear protection are often forgotten about by the home mechanic. Look for the ANSI Z87 certification on the inside of the temple bar for shatter proof lenses. They only cost a few dollars more than the cheap ones and can easily be bought for less then $10, a miniscule percentage of tool and parts budget.
I'd like to add that wearing good safety glasses or goggles and ear protection are often forgotten about by the home mechanic. Look for the ANSI Z87 certification on the inside of the temple bar for shatter proof lenses. They only cost a few dollars more than the cheap ones and can easily be bought for less then $10, a miniscule percentage of tool and parts budget.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,753
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Another thought for you too
Sorry to hear about your friend.
Another consideration for you too.
I was looking at a C3 the seller had on 4 jack stands on 4 corners and accidently bumped one of the 4 jacks out. So since the frames and or floor is not perfect, you can have a "soft foot" as the machinists say on one of the 4 jacks that is not carrying any load. So good to check each of the 4 jacks to make sure it is tight and then shim as needed if not. I also double jack or put 2 jacks at each of the 4 corners so I have 8 jacks instead of 4 which is likely overkill I know, but makes me feel better in case a jack fails.
Thanks for your post reminding us. My youngest son had a friend working on a car with the engine out and it fell on him but fortunately his head was under the open engine bay, wow, so he was unharmed.
Another consideration for you too.
I was looking at a C3 the seller had on 4 jack stands on 4 corners and accidently bumped one of the 4 jacks out. So since the frames and or floor is not perfect, you can have a "soft foot" as the machinists say on one of the 4 jacks that is not carrying any load. So good to check each of the 4 jacks to make sure it is tight and then shim as needed if not. I also double jack or put 2 jacks at each of the 4 corners so I have 8 jacks instead of 4 which is likely overkill I know, but makes me feel better in case a jack fails.
Thanks for your post reminding us. My youngest son had a friend working on a car with the engine out and it fell on him but fortunately his head was under the open engine bay, wow, so he was unharmed.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,372
Likes: 215
From: Peoria Arizona
Another great idea 20mercury. This is exactly why I posted it. I was hoping it would point out things that we don't pay attention to because we hurry or do it so often we don't think about it.
So glad to hear that your son's friend is OK!
So glad to hear that your son's friend is OK!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Sorry to hear about your friend. 
I myself escaped a very near miss back in my youth. Had a Corvette up on proverbial blocks, removed transmission, car rolled and fell. Fortunately, I had crawled out from underneath about five seconds beforehand. Never have I take safety for granted whenever working under a car since.
I myself escaped a very near miss back in my youth. Had a Corvette up on proverbial blocks, removed transmission, car rolled and fell. Fortunately, I had crawled out from underneath about five seconds beforehand. Never have I take safety for granted whenever working under a car since.