I stepped on a nail once with my big toe. Hurt like a motherf*cker when it happened but it was back to normal after two days.

Then there is the usual cuts and scrapes...

Probably the worst thing that happens somewhat often is catching my fingernail on something and splitting it. Splitting it isn't bad, it's pulling off the loose part that really sucks.

When I worked in HVAC construction, I was at a house, had to cut a hole in the inside ceiling to pass a vent pipe thru, marked my spot, sunk a nail centered so I could see it from above. Spent half an hour then cleaning up the pile of nail-end boards that was next to my ladder, bending over the nails and tossing them away. Went up the ladder, cut out my piece, came down, got 2 steps from the bottom and hopped off....right onto that nail I had sunk into the piece which fell right at the base of my ladder tip up... At least I had the sense to keep a first aid kit in the truck....Murphy was laughing his arse off that day.

Probably the worst thing I did with automotive stuff was to get under a 69 Chevy on a creeper, with a crowbar, and try to pry-lift the cab off of the trans crossmember bolts to get the member out. (the cab mounts were beyond toasted). Needless to say the crowbar of course slipped off and split my lip wide open against my teeth....

__________________
Chris
64 190D R.I.P.
80 240D W/617 engine -for sale
82 240D -for sale

Did almost the exact same thing. I went to take my next step and the board I was standing on went with the foot. I could see the tip of the nail poking out between the laces.

I had almost completely forgotten about it, but years before I was ever interested in cars, my girlfriend's '73 Gremlin overheated. I stupidly opened the radiator cap and it blew up and hit me on the forehead spewing boiling coolant down my face. Ouch.

Rick

__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

I learned in diesel's class about a 1st engineer that got trapped inside the scavenge air plenum on a large crosshead 2 stroke engine.... they found him next port pinned to the side of the liner... THey figured he lived for quite awhile

I was diagnosed with cancer in late 2003. (some of you may remember)
I had about an 8 inch incision on my right side just below my ribcage. During the lengthy recovery process I found an '82 300SD for cheap. I towed it home and used the parts to covert my SD to federal emissions.

Anywho, it is hard to work on a car with a major incision on your belly. My wife found me at the computer at about 3am the next morning. I had a burning pain at my incision so bad I could not sleep. I was wating until she woke so she could drive me to the ER. It seems the car thing was too much and I split open my incision and it got infected.
It was kind of weird watching the ER doctor partially recut my incision to irrigate it.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

Gruesome stories. Makes me feel very, very lucky to have escaped nails in feet and bolts in gut. Haven't lived a bubble life though. Another coolant story. I'm 18 and my Aunt's Cadillac is overheating. I tell her, let's go for a drive and I'll look into how quickly it is overheating. We went 400 yards to the corner gas station and the gauge was pegged. Me, in my youthful confidence and familial bravado, popped the hood, thought it couldn't be that hot that soon, put a towel over the cap, popped it off, and it exploded boiling coolant all over my neck and shoulder. I moved my head away just fast enough to avoid a face full. This from a guy who grew up inside an engine compartment! 2nd and maybe small areas of 3rd degree burns over an area the size of a dinner plate. What the hell was I thinking?????????? There's a reason draft age is 18.

Like everyone else who reported this experience--It hurt like nothing else I've done. Also like most everyone else, I KNEW better, but didn't DO better. Still have scars for sure, luckily not visible with a shirt on.

Otherwise just a huge pile of torn off skin and fingernails and small burns always on my biceps from tugging on wrenches in hot places.

__________________
Where there's a will there's a way
1978 300D