Using common sense while working on a car

[Sunny]

I figured I'd make a post, just to remind everyone [especially with spring coming] BE SAFE!
Two owners of different performance shops around here have passed away because they didn't take an extra minute.

The first one had his car running in his garage with the door closed, and his wife found him unconscious.. I'm really surprised, he was an INCREDIBLY smart guy.  Even if you are going to run the car for a minute, open the garage door or if you have an exhaust vent, use it.

I also just learned that a guy I went to highschool with's brother, who owns a performance shop was killed the other day, he wasn't using jack stands and the jack either slipped, or didn't hold pressure and the car came down ontop of him.


Just a reminder, use common  sense and be safe!

and make sure to use safe equipment

About a month ago, one of the hydraulic lines blew on one of the hoists, and they didn't have the locks engaged, the car dropped straight to the ground. The locks sometimes stuck on, so the guy using it had actually bypassed the locks some time ago, and nobody noticed.

it only takes a few extra minutes, and it could save your life.

[shanebo]

Ill second that Sunny!!!...I work in the funeral buisness and Ive seen ALOT of people that died in very preventable shop related mishaps...a few months ago we had a guy who crawled into a large grain auger, while running, to pull out an abstruction...not pretty!!

[83Eagle!]

I would also have to agree with this.  I was changing a tire at my old job a couple of years ago.  I was doing a favor for a coworker.  Since I did not have my Eagle with me I was using a bottle jack the company had.  And I did not have anything to use to chock the rear tires.  Never going to do that again.  Although I engaged the parking brake the car rolled off the jack as soon as I lifted the front wheel off the ground.  Luckily it just slowly set the car back on the wheel. 

So I repositioned the jack and tried again.  This time it was fine.  Fine until I got the wheel off.  As soon as I did it rolled again.  Luckily I still had the spare under the hub assembly.  All it did was set down.  Could have been a lot of damage.

I also go out to my buddy Kenny's 90% of the time I work on my cars.  Anyone who was at the Omaha meet has seen his shed and understands.  He always tells me to go ahead and use it whenever I want; including if they are not home.  A generous offer, however I always make sure he or his wife are home when I go out there especially when changing oil and rotating tires.  I never lift a vehicle without someone else there.  Besides they are good at distracting Morgan who would like nothing more than to "Help Daddy fix it."

[IowaEagle]

EGGcellent advice.

[BenM]

I picked up a cheap plastic pair of wheel chocks a little while ago. They nest together. I keep them in my trunk.

[83Eagle!]

I picked up a cheap plastic pair of wheel chocks a little while ago. They nest together. I keep them in my trunk.

I have a set of those in all three cars.  The ones in the Eagle are a little more substantial.  They are solid rubber.

[max98059]

all i have to say is beware of the bmw jacks. i changed a tire on one for a lady a while back. i am lucky i had the wheels blocked and my bottle jack was to big for the lil bmw. needless to see the bmw jack folded in half just as i was pulling the tire off, smashing my right arm between the rear fender and tire.

[eaglefreek]

all i have to say is beware of the bmw jacks. i changed a tire on one for a lady a while back. i am lucky i had the wheels blocked and my bottle jack was to big for the lil bmw. needless to see the bmw jack folded in half just as i was pulling the tire off, smashing my right arm between the rear fender and tire.

That's horrible. Hope your injury isn't too bad.


Here's a short list of my safety guidelines.

1. Wear eye protection! When grinding or cutting metal wear safery glasses and a face shield.
2. Make sure vehicle is secure on jackstands before going under it.
Shake the car hard to make sure it will stay on the stands.
3. Always have a fire extinguisher within reach.
4. Disconnect the battery. I can't remember which forum I read it, but a guy had his front jacked up withe rear tires on the ground. It was a manual transmission car with the solenoid on the stater. He jumped the solenoid on accident with a wrench and the car lurched forward and came off the stands.

Take a minute to think, "What can happen?" And then take the appropriate actions to stay safe.