What's your worst wound wrenching around on the car?
#1
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What's your worst wound wrenching around on the car?
Well I had a lovely morning. Working on dropping my exhaust so I could get a second o2 bung welded in on the cheap I was wrenching out the stock o2 as I have a dozen times and the wrench let go (rounded off the bolt?) and my arm jerked back and hit something in the engine bay (normally I go from the bottom but I had everything out). I thought I scraped my arm pretty badly but looking down I had a 2-3 inch deep, deep gash. I had to look twice. After running in and telling the wife I needed to go to the hospital I passed out. Next thing I know EMTs are on the way and I'm laying on my back in our entry (I have a thing for passing out when things puncture my skin, it's silly).
All said and done, ~17 stitches I'd guess and no second o2 bung for the ol LC-1. =( So freaking absurd. And from the o2 sensor no less. Sheeesh.
So what's your worst wound when working on a car?
All said and done, ~17 stitches I'd guess and no second o2 bung for the ol LC-1. =( So freaking absurd. And from the o2 sensor no less. Sheeesh.
So what's your worst wound when working on a car?
#9
mine is a moment of epic stupidity that i will share for you all. I was working under the car with the car positioned on four jackstands. I was pulling the transmission in preparation for a clutch job. I was trying to loosen one of the bellhousing bolts that was sealed by the right hand of the Allmighty when my ratchet slipped, sending my elbow into a crossmember. This set off a Rube Goldberg style chain of events that I will describe:
slipped wrench
busted elbow into crossmember
reflex action from pulling my arm back from that caused me to jerk my arm hard away from the crossmember, jamming my fist into the razor sharp side of the block, gashing my first knuckle.
simultaneously, the pain from that made me jump up, slamming my forehead into the transmission housing, ultimately leaving a bruise the size of south korea.
the reflex from that caused me to slam the back of my head on the concrete, giving me a ready-made do-it-yourself home concussion kit.
by the time i made inside to tend to my elbow, hand and forehead, i came to the realization that that was the worst I had ever lost a fight to an inanimate object.
slipped wrench
busted elbow into crossmember
reflex action from pulling my arm back from that caused me to jerk my arm hard away from the crossmember, jamming my fist into the razor sharp side of the block, gashing my first knuckle.
simultaneously, the pain from that made me jump up, slamming my forehead into the transmission housing, ultimately leaving a bruise the size of south korea.
the reflex from that caused me to slam the back of my head on the concrete, giving me a ready-made do-it-yourself home concussion kit.
by the time i made inside to tend to my elbow, hand and forehead, i came to the realization that that was the worst I had ever lost a fight to an inanimate object.
#10
Two stereo install stories:
1) I was installing a stereo into my Triumph Spitfire and laid a soldering iron on the ground. When I went to get out of the car I stepped on it, of course I was barefoot at the time, and due to the awkward position I was in I ended up standing on the iron in a weird "couldn't stand up all the way and didn't want to fall backwards into the car". Branded the hell out of the bottom of my foot - the pain was incredible.
2) There was a guy at work who was helping his brother install a stereo. His brother was using a razor blade to cut some wire loom under his dash when a fly started buzzing around him. Reflexes got the best of him and he brushed the fly off his face with the hand holding the razor blade (of course, he sliced the **** out of his face). I never got to see it but I heard it was pretty bad.
1) I was installing a stereo into my Triumph Spitfire and laid a soldering iron on the ground. When I went to get out of the car I stepped on it, of course I was barefoot at the time, and due to the awkward position I was in I ended up standing on the iron in a weird "couldn't stand up all the way and didn't want to fall backwards into the car". Branded the hell out of the bottom of my foot - the pain was incredible.
2) There was a guy at work who was helping his brother install a stereo. His brother was using a razor blade to cut some wire loom under his dash when a fly started buzzing around him. Reflexes got the best of him and he brushed the fly off his face with the hand holding the razor blade (of course, he sliced the **** out of his face). I never got to see it but I heard it was pretty bad.
#11
2) There was a guy at work who was helping his brother install a stereo. His brother was using a razor blade to cut some wire loom under his dash when a fly started buzzing around him. Reflexes got the best of him and he brushed the fly off his face with the hand holding the razor blade (of course, he sliced the **** out of his face). I never got to see it but I heard it was pretty bad.
#12
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Never anything bad enough to need a hospital visit, but I did manage to burn a patch of skin the size of a silver dollar away from the top of my right wrist while I was wrenching on the kart during an endurance race. Didn't really hurt after it happened, but it took 3 months to heal. Burned a solid .5mm of skin away.
#13
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I've been lucky and have only had your standard fare occasional smashed finger. My dad, who is a mechanic, has had several broken bones (particularly hands), 3rd degree burns, and really awful cuts.
#14
mine is a moment of epic stupidity that i will share for you all. I was working under the car with the car positioned on four jackstands. I was pulling the transmission in preparation for a clutch job. I was trying to loosen one of the bellhousing bolts that was sealed by the right hand of the Allmighty when my ratchet slipped, sending my elbow into a crossmember. This set off a Rube Goldberg style chain of events that I will describe:
slipped wrench
busted elbow into crossmember
reflex action from pulling my arm back from that caused me to jerk my arm hard away from the crossmember, jamming my fist into the razor sharp side of the block, gashing my first knuckle.
simultaneously, the pain from that made me jump up, slamming my forehead into the transmission housing, ultimately leaving a bruise the size of south korea.
the reflex from that caused me to slam the back of my head on the concrete, giving me a ready-made do-it-yourself home concussion kit.
by the time i made inside to tend to my elbow, hand and forehead, i came to the realization that that was the worst I had ever lost a fight to an inanimate object.
slipped wrench
busted elbow into crossmember
reflex action from pulling my arm back from that caused me to jerk my arm hard away from the crossmember, jamming my fist into the razor sharp side of the block, gashing my first knuckle.
simultaneously, the pain from that made me jump up, slamming my forehead into the transmission housing, ultimately leaving a bruise the size of south korea.
the reflex from that caused me to slam the back of my head on the concrete, giving me a ready-made do-it-yourself home concussion kit.
by the time i made inside to tend to my elbow, hand and forehead, i came to the realization that that was the worst I had ever lost a fight to an inanimate object.
#15
No trips (yet) to the ER, though I have had the obligatory cuts, gashes, divots, burns and bruises needed to "baptize" my various vehicles.
I expect the worst injury could have been worse than it was.
I was installing a new clutch/pressure plate assembly in an '84 Mustang GT. While under the car, I had the 35(+) pound held in place with my right hand and the clutch alignment tool in place when I reached behind me (over my head) to get the first bolt to anchor the plate.
Unfortunately, as my arm moved, the side of my hand brushed the alignment tool. (Please note, this was not one of the plastic alignment tools used on Miatae, but instead about 5lbs of carbon steel.) It wiggled loose and dropped, bouncing off my forehead. Thankfully I had the survival instinct *not* to move my right hand, otherwise I would have bounced the clutch and pressure plate off my chest.
After a (long) stream of colorful anglo-saxon and germanic metaphors while waiting for my vision to clear, I (safely) lowered the clutch assembly and found the nearest mirror to marvel at the slight dent and early bruising.
Once the concussion and bruising went away, I haven't noticed any ill effects. (Though I did gain an appreciation of British humor...)
- L
I expect the worst injury could have been worse than it was.
I was installing a new clutch/pressure plate assembly in an '84 Mustang GT. While under the car, I had the 35(+) pound held in place with my right hand and the clutch alignment tool in place when I reached behind me (over my head) to get the first bolt to anchor the plate.
Unfortunately, as my arm moved, the side of my hand brushed the alignment tool. (Please note, this was not one of the plastic alignment tools used on Miatae, but instead about 5lbs of carbon steel.) It wiggled loose and dropped, bouncing off my forehead. Thankfully I had the survival instinct *not* to move my right hand, otherwise I would have bounced the clutch and pressure plate off my chest.
After a (long) stream of colorful anglo-saxon and germanic metaphors while waiting for my vision to clear, I (safely) lowered the clutch assembly and found the nearest mirror to marvel at the slight dent and early bruising.
Once the concussion and bruising went away, I haven't noticed any ill effects. (Though I did gain an appreciation of British humor...)
- L
#18
January 2003, I was removing the radiator from a 20,000LB Hyster forklift. This radiator weighed approximately 120 LB, and was located in a very awkward position. Wile removing it, my left foot slipped, I twisted to the left, and the radiator rode me to the ground. I herniated L4 and L5, and was unable to work for over a year. I still have a lot of trouble with lower back issues.
#19
mine is a moment of epic stupidity that i will share for you all. I was working under the car with the car positioned on four jackstands. I was pulling the transmission in preparation for a clutch job. I was trying to loosen one of the bellhousing bolts that was sealed by the right hand of the Allmighty when my ratchet slipped, sending my elbow into a crossmember. This set off a Rube Goldberg style chain of events that I will describe:
slipped wrench
busted elbow into crossmember
reflex action from pulling my arm back from that caused me to jerk my arm hard away from the crossmember, jamming my fist into the razor sharp side of the block, gashing my first knuckle.
simultaneously, the pain from that made me jump up, slamming my forehead into the transmission housing, ultimately leaving a bruise the size of south korea.
the reflex from that caused me to slam the back of my head on the concrete, giving me a ready-made do-it-yourself home concussion kit.
by the time i made inside to tend to my elbow, hand and forehead, i came to the realization that that was the worst I had ever lost a fight to an inanimate object.
slipped wrench
busted elbow into crossmember
reflex action from pulling my arm back from that caused me to jerk my arm hard away from the crossmember, jamming my fist into the razor sharp side of the block, gashing my first knuckle.
simultaneously, the pain from that made me jump up, slamming my forehead into the transmission housing, ultimately leaving a bruise the size of south korea.
the reflex from that caused me to slam the back of my head on the concrete, giving me a ready-made do-it-yourself home concussion kit.
by the time i made inside to tend to my elbow, hand and forehead, i came to the realization that that was the worst I had ever lost a fight to an inanimate object.
i was swapping the clutch, car was on 4 jack stands, i was under it,
i was taking the bolt off the speed sensor thingy off, when it slipped sending my hand into the tranny, the reflex sent my elbow into the side of the car,
i jumped, sending my head into the exhaust line, reaction, i reflexed right into the ground,
i just lay there for a few minutes, while everyone around me was laughing