By the time I had opened the shop 14 years ago, I had already developed what I called Mark’s three rules of working on Landcruisers. Rule #1: plan on even routine jobs taking three times as long as they should. Rule #2: plan on about 1/3 of sheetmetal bolts to break before they unscrew. Rule #3: each and every time you work on your cruiser, it will draw blood. If you have these rules in mind before you walk towards the truck, you will be in a better frame of mind as the inevitable situations develop.

I have had better than average luck with the third rule lately, possibly because of experience, possibly because of karma. Until tonight.

So the day was going pretty well until 7pm. Had a nice morning visit with Rat70FJ (Kent Kaiser) and Eric on their way to ASU. Got a bunch of stuff cleaned up, finally changed a faulty circuit breaker, finished rebuilding an Aisan 2bbl to replace the one I sold last week, started on IDAVE’s 1bbl, made some progress on the 69 engine job. Like I said, a pretty productive day.

Just before closing time, I decided to get a head start on Monday’s shipping and went into the back room to pull down some doors. Well you guessed it: Mr. California who is prolly the only mechanic to work in sandals (yah, like Deep South Cruisers weedeats barefoot) drops the door on my foot! Right side, big toe, to be exact. Cut a chunk of skin and nail the size of a nickel almost completely off.

So after I hopped across the shop in agony to get some bandages, I had to get my wife to drive down and pick me up in the Suburban and get my buddy Jeff to come down and drive the three on the tree45 home for me. Well, needless to say, not many have had the luxury of driving a fully-balanced, line-bored F135, and he couldn’t resist the temptation. My wife was doing 65, and we definitely were not catching him. When we got home, he was already there with a big grin on his face. Said he was sorry I had hurt myself, but not to hesitate if I needed the truck moved again!

Even with the foot elevated for 17 hrs now, it will not stop bleeding. Laying on a hardwood floor looking up at a monitor (and a heavily bandaged toe that will not stop bleeding) is an experience I do not recommend.

I should be laughing but as I droped the hood of my 45 on my thumb yesterday(yep the 13th) and its still numb(and black and blue) and nailed my funny bone on the hood of the 60..............I aint laughing ;)

not cruiser related, but i just put an 2000 BMW M roadster S52 engine back together again and cranked it up on friday (bent rods) at work from a guy that tore it apart a month before, then got fired.....turns out he forgot to put in the oil jet squirters in (they go UNDER the top main bearing)......so today i got to pull the crank out and put those little buggers in....whee!!! especially when he flagged all the damn time on the ticket too......i love cleaning up work from idiots..lol

Surgeon's golden rule: "All bleeding stops." :flipoff2:

Is Mr. Californians name JASON?

Shop safety 101: Always wear boots, steel toed that much better. I don't know how many time I have dropped stuff on my feet....tip #2 always take off your rings, #3 and last but not least wear gloves as much as you can.

I wish this thread was around before I had to learn those rules on my own. (I had blue durabak hands for like two weeks) :D

- Rico.

Well after having EVERYONE yap at me, I went to the doctor. X-Rays revealed that the only reason I hadn't completely guillotined the end of my toe off was that the door hit and broke the bone in my toe! :eek:

At least they got the bleeding to stop, almost. :eek:

Scratch the normal Sunday itinerary. It's internet, vicodin and guitar playing for pegleg!

Is Mr. Californians name JASON?
Huh???

I am betting that you will play your best with that combo ;)

Wow Mark, what a drag. Hopefully you heal quick. If the bleeding will not stop, try Dow Corning 795 weatherproofing sealant. I'd go with bronze to match that California tan you've got. :flipoff2: I know the sandals are cool, but you might think about some boots while at work. I dropped a tool box across all 5 toes on my right foot about 10 years ago. Been living in boots ever since. Anyhow, take it easy and heal fast.

I'll call you and talk to about what this does to your schedule. I tried to get by Friday, but worked late.

Wow Mark, what a drag. Hopefully you heal quick. If the bleeding will not stop, try Dow Corning 795 weatherproofing sealant. I'd go with bronze to match that California tan you've got. :flipoff2: I know the sandals are cool, but you might think about some boots while at work. I dropped a tool box across all 5 toes on my right foot about 10 years ago. Been living in boots ever since. Anyhow, take it easy and heal fast.

I'll call you and talk to about what this does to your schedule. I tried to get by Friday, but worked late.

Sitting in the office, leg propped up, rebuilding carburetors! :D

Okay, I'll be by Monday. :) I'll call first to see if you need some fuel (Burger King).

Ahh, well. Perhaps there is a silver lining......after all! (Well, for someone) :D .

Update: I'm back behind the wheel of the 45. Look out world!

Mark, I've always said no job is done til you bleed on it. Here's hoping you heal up fast;)

much like weedeating barefooted without safety glasses you MUST be prepared to appreciate the pain and suffering without anyone feeling sorry for you BECAUSE... you chose comfort over safety :D

I was Herculining the FJ45 the other night in flip-flops and shorts and got a little too rapid with the roller and speckeled myself from the waist down :rolleyes:

Same kinda experience on Sat. I went with another Cruiser head from our club to pick up the 40 I'm redoing for my father. Cruiser loaded & I'm picking up the extra hood & as I turned around there was a role of bailing wire under my foot I thought I stepped over but was wrong needless to say I fell over, my palm landing with all my weight on the hindge bolts for the hood, looking down I realized the bolt had went through my glove & into the palm. I will save the blood & guts story. :barf:
In the end, after I was fixed up sitting on the side of the trailer, the only thing I could think of "did I dent the hood??" :confused:
Morals were in the right place. :flipoff2:

funny. on friday the 13th I had this dickhead show up at the shop bitching about a sunken jet ski rebuild costing him $600. (that's practically free, he's a return/repeat customer)....so, on the note of his bad day, I told him to come out side, I grabbed his double ski'd trailer, picked it up at the tongue to put it on his hitch, and gouged the skin off my middle finger/knuckle. Not a broken toe at all, but I almost eliminated the guy from any future schedule. He stopped his bitching after that.

Good Luck Mark.

Ahh, well. Perhaps there is a silver lining......after all! (Well, for someone) :D .

One ugly duckling rescued! Pics tomorrow!

Gene, you'd better bring along some of the Dow Corning you were talking about. It still bleeds when I try to put shoes on! :barf:

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I've got a pair of loppers that'll fix that right up.....

I've got a pair of loppers that'll fix that right up.....

Gee thanks! I'll be right over!















NOT! :flipoff2:

And it's not like you didn't benefit from some extra free detailing on your carb while I was laid up. :shaking: :shaking: :shaking:

Just trying to be helpful, Mark!

Mark, I initially started a new thread because I couldn't find this one by the title. Anyway, found it., and closed the other. So...

How's the foot? Still tender, limping, all better?

1.Still bandaged, wrapped?

2. Wearing real shoes yet? Or even Steel Toed Boots?

3. Still risking open toed sandals at work? or open toed pumps?:D

I'd like to know. Never heard how your foot/toe is doin' since you brought it up here. :)

Walt<><