Going to Diesel/Heavy Equip School

[Sri Ram]

Ty, are you a Cat field mechanic? I talked to Dl5treez this weekend and he spoke very highly of them…Got guts wearing white coveralls!

 

[TyThompson]

Sri Ram, I'm actually a field mechanic for a gas field construction company, we build all the roads and locations for the drilling rigs, as well as do reclamation work. In the picture I posted, my truck is sitting on a recently pioneered road, still not finished (dozer broke before he could finish it).

So I'm not a Cat- employed field mechanic, but we have mostly all Cat equipment, around 30 dozers, including D7's, D8's and D9's, as well as 14 cat motor graders, 8 cat front end loaders, about 20 cat hoes (and a couple john deere's) a cat scraper, a cat articulated truck, and a couple john deere backhoes, and some other miscellaneous equipment (as well as dump trucks and lowboys).

So we're not near as big as some companies, but a lot bigger than we used to be.

In addition to our 3 service trucks and one "oil changer" truck, we have a Cat field mechanic assigned to us. Most Cat mechanics I know are pretty good, I have a buddy that works for Cat, but in the truck shop.



If you like working with your hands, and a new challenge every day, I'd say go for it! Of course there's always the downsides of working in mud, snow, dust storms, heat, etc, but it's fun.



And we wear blue coveralls.



Sorry for the long post...

 

[Dl5treez]

Ty, are you a Cat field mechanic? I talked to Dl5treez this weekend and he spoke very highly of them…Got guts wearing white coveralls!

You still don't believe me about the coveralls, do ya. :-laf



We wear safety orange, hard to tell just how much I look like a pumpkin in this picture, as the 'alls are an old pair, but in fresh new ones I look like a road cone.

 

[Sri Ram]

I'd look more like a carrot than a pumpkin! :-laf



Just got a new multi-meter…hopefully one that will see me through school…and made right here in Washington state!:

 

[Mhannink]

Check into the Caterpillar "Think Big" program. If has a strict plan. It is sponsored by Caterpillar and the local Cat dealers. Cat always donates equipment and components right from the proving grounds so most all of the stuff is current or only a couple years out of date. I went thru it and is is heavy into electronics. Although it is Caterpillar specific all of the fundimentals are the same with all makes. The cool thing about it is that you get to intern at the dealer for 4 eight week internships and the dealer pays you. I cannot remember if there is a school around your area that offers the program. It would be worth looking into.

i can vouch for this program i just recently got accepted and have not yet started it is a strict program but its a very good intense and on the cutting edge. as far as i know its only in california but might be else where too by now.



big yellow where are you loctated?



i also went to wyotech and i agree w/ Dl5treez there are 2 types there are the ones that come out knowing it all and those who want to learn it all. also like he said i could have gotten the same or better localy at a jc or a good 4 year. its cheaper and would have given me more.

 

[Sri Ram]

Mhannink, I looked into the ThinkBig program and it is availible at accredited schools all over. The closest ones to me are Seattle Community College (60mi) or Portland Community College (100mi). Bates, however, is only 30mi and will give me what I need to get a job. Good luck on your education!

 

[Sri Ram]

Update: Next week is my last at work. I've been training my replacement for the last week and a half, putting in overtime to get a couple of big paychecks before I'm out of work for the school year. Also gonna cash out all that vacation time I never use… :-laf



I've been getting all my ducks in a row at home, finishing the projects, painting everything, getting the truck ready for the commute. I took that ladder rack off thinking a headache rack would create less drag on the highway.



I've got three out of four books:

Heavy Duty Truck Systems, 4th ed

Hydraulics, John Deere

Electrical & Electronics, John Deere



I need Engines, also by Deere, and a little book on welding. But I can pick those up when we get to them.



I'll admit, I'm a little nervous, but also excited to be learning more about the trade. Any words of encouragement are welcome! Oo.

 

[DValentine]

Go for it... . Study seriously, ask questions... you will do fine.







Dave

 

[nickleinonen]

the john deere FOS books are very nice. . i got 2 of them when i was in school [hydraulics and powertrains] but i think the vickers [eaton now] hydraulics book was better [i had it too]

take a look on ebay for those JD FOS books. i got a bunch of the 1st edition ones for like $25. . [welding, engines, electrical, hydraulics, powertrains, tracks & tires, shop tools & safety practices] there was very little difference between the older and newer books for the basic principals and mechanical stuff

i have heavy duty truck systems 3rd edition from when i was in school. .

i was pretty lucky though. .
1. my work paid for my schooling [wages, tuition, books, food, travel] when i went back to do my apprentiship
2. sean bennett [the guy who wrote the hd truck systems books and others] was one of the instructors [i had him for engines & fuel systems] at centennial college where i went. . he knows his stuff real well

 

[Sri Ram]

First week is done. I'm in A/C and electrical for the next 13 weeks. First impression: I've never heard so much bellyaching about nothing in my life! It looks like a long haul to turn these guys and gals into reliable workers.



We have a Cat 3406(?) mated to an Eaton Auto-Shift, and we have a complete dash assy and wiring harness out of a Peterbilt. My job the last couple of days has been to get the dash mounted on a solid frame at a reasonable height. Then, we'll hook up the dash, etc to the engine and trans ECU's.



Tomorrow, it's show and tell time! The A/C is out on my Mercedes and the teacher asked if I would bring her in.

 

[DValentine]

Go baby, Go. Don't get bogged down by the crybabies. They may call you teachers pet but see who does better in the long run. Let us know how things go...



Dave

 

[John - K5AWO]

Screw the cry babies. You don't need their baggage. Just tell 'em that if they don't want to shut up and learn, that they can go somewhere else and not to be messing up your day.

Best of luck to you on your learning experience. I took a 2 year Associates degree course back in the '60s to get my start and it worked well. I'm in electronics, but the theory of learning is the same. Get your feet wet, be willing to listen and apply what you learn.

 

[rbattelle]

Just to echo others' comments, don't let your peers dictate your behavior. Just work hard and do your best on everything you're assigned, and it will pay off later.

Ryan

 

[Sri Ram]

Yeah, I agree with all of you. Sometimes you can cut the lethargy in the classroom with a knife. Just gotta keep an open mind and stay focused (is that contrdictory?).



My teacher is finding out that the more he gives me to do, the more he has to give me to do! I'm done with the dash assy. My Mercedes had no refrigerant, so I leak tested it and found the leak on the receiver/dryer. Pulled it, o-ringed the fittings, put it back in and charged it with nitrogen for the weekend. We'll see how it holds the charge. The new R/D is on the way for Monday ($70!!!).



Next up, I'm supposed to find mating terminals for the Peterbilt wiring harness. If not, I'm to cut the terminals and create some kind of board to land them on, then run wires to the engine and trans.



After that, I'm told to commandeer a forklift from the welding program, pull the starter and flywheel, flip the ring gear and put a new starter in. We'll see how that goes.



BTW, I aced the first quiz on A/C systemsOo.

 

[JApol]

After that, I'm told to commandeer a forklift from the welding program

That has fun written ALL over it.

 

[Sri Ram]

That has fun written ALL over it.

Yah, those welders ought to take real kindly to that, right?!

I didn't know I was going to get 50% of Snap-On tools while I'm in school! Don't they know I don't have any money right now?

 

[Dl5treez]

Yah, those welders ought to take real kindly to that, right?!



I didn't know I was going to get 50% of Snap-On tools while I'm in school! Don't they know I don't have any money right now?

Muhahahahahahaha... ... . like a drug pusher, them Snappy guys are sly. :-laf

 

[Sri Ram]

Muhahahahahahaha... ... . like a drug pusher, them Snappy guys are sly.

Yah, they wanna get me hooked now so I can't live without when I'm on the job! I'm thinking I'll build my home tool set with mid-range tools while I'm in school. Then, just before it's time to go to work I'll get a pro set with my student discount.



I put a new receiver/drier in my Mercedes today. I pulled a vacuum for about 35 min, but like a doofus I forgot to add the polyolester oil beforehand! I'll have to bring her back in tomorrow to convert to r-134a. Still, she held the vacuum for a 5 min leakdown test…



I've been tearning apart an x-ray machine from the 1950's for parts: resistors, terminals, potentiometers, etc. We'll use these for practice with digital multimeters. I wish I'd taken a picture of the wiring harness on this thing! I found a 1947 penny inside, so at least I'm getting paid…

 

[PToombs]

Sounds like they're keeping you busy. Watch those welder guys, they might sneak in and weld your box to a overhead beam or something.

I'm a tech for a Case Industrial dealer, love it! I get to play with new toys all the time. Everything from a skidsteer to BIG dozers, to excavators, to pavers. The pavers are another brand we handle.

If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?

 

[nickleinonen]

they might sneak in and weld your box to a overhead beam or something.

hmm. . that is a good idea. . i have welded a tool box to a post before, and i have welded 2 tool boxes face to face before. and have run screws through the wheels so they don't turn, but never have i thought about welding a box to an overhead beam. .

this idea is going to get me in trouble someday :-laf