If you've never heard guys warn to be careful around heavy equipment then let me be the first to tell you.  I've been working on this 1963 4000-D Select-O-Speed for about a year now.  My friend Chuck Piper did the rebuild on the transmission.  He and I just finished adjusting the bands and the shifter earlier in the day.  I test drove is and all gears (10 forward and 2 reverse) worked perfectly. Chuck left satisfied that his rebuild was a succces.  I continued to work on other small issues one of which was the power steering that had not been tested yet.  I topped off the fluid and got the jumper cables to start the engine.  With the engine at about half throttle and the transmission in park (or at least I thought so) I applied power to the starter. The diesel engine started and the tractor took off in reverse. There was no space between the left side of the tractor and the shelves in the garage to jump out of the way. In the second or so I had while standing upright I was not able to reach the throttle. Before I knew it my left foot was under the front wheel and there was no escape.  I fell to the ground to avoid having my leg broken. From my new position on the ground the only thought I had was to find a way to shut off the engine but nothing on the left side of a diesel engine would help me. The tractor continued in reverse for several feet before it struck my Ford 641-D. After the impact the tractors rear tires continued to spin and the whole tractor bucked wildly. In that time I had thoughts of being killed by the now out of control tractor. About 30 seconds into the situation I was able to get my body to the center of the tractor and my left leg free except for my foot.  It was then that I realized that it was now or never, so I pulled hard and was able to get my foot out of the  sneaker I was wearing.  Once free I flew out from under the tractor between the two front wheels and shut the engine off. 

Fortunately the only bruises I have are on my left leg and no bones were broken. I have reflected on this accident for several days and realize now that I could have gotten the situation under control even once I was on the ground If I had only though to pull the inching peddle down.  The answer was right there but the only thing I could think of was to shut down the engine.  I hope others will read this story and realize this hobby can be dangerous.  Please be safe with everything you do and remember where ever possible to have an exit strategy incase something goes wrong unexpectedly.