Good Samaritan correcting my stupidity (no jackstands)

[DaveInIreland]

A few years ago I was servicing my car and after re-starting it, was examining the alternator belt. For some reason decided to check the security of the wiring harness adjacent to the alternator.
My loose shirt cuff got caught in the belt and I immediately pulled it away, hard. If I'd been unlucky my hand would have got seriously injured.
Forty years ago, such a thing would have earned me a good boot up the backside, as it was drummed into us how to do things safely.
I got complacent and careless, as I'd been away from professional workshops for too long.

 

[Sprintcar26]

I knew a couple of guys who were killed by that scenario. Both should have known better, but for some reason had ultimately fatal lapses in judgement.

One of those incidents made the news: https://www.foxnews.com/story/florida-man-crushed-to-death-by-his-welding-truck

RIP, Chris

In 1957 or '58 (can't remember which) Pontiac had kind of a three piece front bumper-a wrap-around piece at each outer end, and in the center, an upper piece (kind of a flattened, inverted "u" shape. In the early 60's when I was about 21ish, and dumb as a bag of rocks, me and a buddy were trying to rebuild the engine on one of these (in the car!) So I jacked it up on a bumper jack, and for "safety" I wedged a spare tire/wheel under the inverted center bumper. While under the car with the crankshaft and rods in my face, the bumper jack let go, my buddy yelled, and the only thing between me and death was the wheel/tire shakily holding up the car. As I scrambled out, that spare tire popped out! I think we closed up the garage and went to get a beer! Every time I'm underneath a car (65 years later) I still think about that!

 

[JunkdrawerDog]

Shortly after moving into my previous home in 1987, a neighbor was crushed to death while working under a car. He had the car up on cement blocks but had them orientated the wrong way. One of the blocks collapsed, causing the vehicle to fall, killing him.

 

[CleanSump]

In 1957 or '58 (can't remember which) Pontiac had kind of a three piece front bumper-a wrap-around piece at each outer end, and in the center, an upper piece (kind of a flattened, inverted "u" shape. In the early 60's when I was about 21ish, and dumb as a bag of rocks, me and a buddy were trying to rebuild the engine on one of these (in the car!) So I jacked it up on a bumper jack, and for "safety" I wedged a spare tire/wheel under the inverted center bumper. While under the car with the crankshaft and rods in my face, the bumper jack let go, my buddy yelled, and the only thing between me and death was the wheel/tire shakily holding up the car. As I scrambled out, that spare tire popped out! I think we closed up the garage and went to get a beer! Every time I'm underneath a car (65 years later) I still think about that!

Bumper jacks! I remember some chrome bumpers bending upwards as you pumped the ratchet up and the car could always sway with one wheel up in the air.
And then there were times when you went to lower the car and when you flipped the switch to ratchet down it would slip and just drop.