WARNING! Gas pumps can be potentially dangerous if not handled by trained and qualified personnel…..wait a minute, I’ve handled literally thousands, I should be qualified, I was until I pulled this bone head stunt.
This beast has been waiting patiently for over 20 years, sitting quietly in my shop just waiting for its chance to pounce on an unsuspecting and clumsy victim. I bought this 850 from a Shell jobber in Indy years ago. Underneath the brown paint is the crinkly yellow paint and I found some citrus based paint stripper that works great at taking off one layer at a time. I had been waiting to try it on this pump and last Saturday I said to myself it’s time to try it.
I was trucking it into my paint/wash room – did I say that it was never gutted, it was loaded with everything it had originally. I think the problem was I did not turn on the lights in the room first and somehow I lost my orientation or depth perception and the pump started to come over on me, there was no stopping it and all I could think of was get the hell out from under it before it chased me to the ground. It knocked me flat on my back, my right leg was the only body part that did not make it all the way out. I feel I got lucky with only a broken leg.
I will be at Peotone (but not with this pump, I should sell it but I won’t). John Kramer has most graciously volunteered to come and help me set up. I always had my buddy Deryl to help in the past, miss him everyday.
This story is a reminder to think about what your doing and do not become complacent with simple tasks. I have no one to blame but myself, but maybe the pain and suffering and the arthritis that the doctor mentioned that will come later will be a reminder not to let this happen again.
See everyone at Peotone, Tom.
The Tokheim attacker and mangled foot.
Last edited by tbuckles; Tue Oct 07 2014 05:54 PM. Reason: Spelling
