Going to Diesel/Heavy Equip School

[PToombs]

Not too hijack too much, but I have a bunch of 'em! I worked for a maintenance company, worked in factories all over. Guys telling stories... .

Mason keeps spraying the guys tools, mechanic asks him to pay attention, stop, etc. Mason laughs. Mason leaves for lunch. Guy walks over, fills masons toolbox from wheel barrow of concrete. Chinks it down in there good with a trowel. Leaves! :-laf



Take a grease fitting, drill and tap front of toolbox. Install fitting. Take power grease gun, fill locked $2k Snap-On box with grease.



That's enough for now!

 

[Sri Ram]

Not too hijack too much, but I have a bunch of 'em! I worked for a maintenance company, worked in factories all over. Guys telling stories... .

Mason keeps spraying the guys tools, mechanic asks him to pay attention, stop, etc. Mason laughs. Mason leaves for lunch. Guy walks over, fills masons toolbox from wheel barrow of concrete. Chinks it down in there good with a trowel. Leaves!



Take a grease fitting, drill and tap front of toolbox. Install fitting. Take power grease gun, fill locked $2k Snap-On box with grease.



That's enough for now!

:-laf:-laf:-laf ROFLMAO!!! I hope no one does that to MY box.



Worked on my Benz again today. Teacher says I'm pulling the class at a faster pace, which I find incredulous 'cause I'm such a greenie. PToombs, I'm 31, so I guess I'm a little more focused than the folks who are fresh out of high school.



The Benz has an 'acc monovalve' which shuts off coolant flow to the heater core when the A/C is on. It weren't working, so I got a new one on order. Sure is great to be fixing my car at school.

 

[PToombs]

Sri Ram, I was curious because at 33 my wife decided to go to nursing school. I know it's harder when you're older. I get sent to school for work about once a year. In the winter when it's slow, we get sent to the manufacturers schools to learn on the machines we handle. Most are 1 week of intensive partying, I mean training! They do cram alot of info in a week. And the after hours drinking is unbelieveable! I think this is the only time some of these guys get out away from their wives!



On the car, vice grips on the hose are cheaper than that valve!



Pete,

Dealer Trained Technician :-laf

 

[Sri Ram]

On the car, vice grips on the hose are cheaper than that valve!

Yah, I put vice grips on it when I removed the valve for testing. While vice grips would get the heater core colder, I'd have to stop an' take 'em off when I want heat. I'd like to get the system working right.



I aced the final test on A/C today and sent in my ASE Refrigeration/Recovery/Recycling Quiz for certification. It's not much of a challenge when the tests are open book.



As for partying, I'm trying to keep my head on straight during this schooling. No partying for me except for the occasional brew after school. Plus, I live 30 miles from school!



I think I have a distinct advantage over the younger folks in the program. I know what it is to live in the real world and to have people--like my family--counting on me for a paycheck. So, I have no problem taking this seriously.

 

[PToombs]

At the schools I go to, you're usually outta state, no wheels, at the hotel. Besides, we have jobs, this is just training. Not like real school, where you are, trying to improve youself. More power to ya!

The A/C test is kinda a joke huh? Need that Cert though.



Glad you're doing good!



And Yeah, I know about the real world / paycheck thing. :{

 

[Dl5treez]

**UPDATE**



Between Portland, OR and Lynnwood, WA I know of six heavy equipment/diesel positions that are paying somewhere around $20/hr to start... . these aren't fly-by-night outfits either. BIG construction companies, trucking companies, and truck/equipment dealers with great reputations.



The northwest market for wrench turners has never been better, and with the forecasts of more demand vs. less qualified people in the industry, prices are on an upward swing. Snap-on tools will be very affordable in the near future.

 

[Sri Ram]

Whew! It's been a busy couple of weeks as I've been filling in at my old job in the afternoons.



Had a test today on fundamentals of electricity. Aced it. It almost feels like cheating when it's open book…:-laf



STILL working intermittently on the death-trap Toyota forklift. Got it back together after tune up and found e-brake inoperable. Pulled left wheel cylinder to find it brand new! 'cause someone had bent the auto-adjuster out of the way. All this time, it's been driven around with only one brake. Duh. Then while I had it apart, someone thought it would be funny to disappear one of the springs. Ha ha.



Next week, I've got two afternoons and evenings with Tacoma Commercial Brake and Clutch's Cliff Welch for a class on air- and anti-lock brakes. We'll see how it goes…



The Matco man, Rick Beck, gave a presentation on Tuesday. Dang, they give us students 60% off and free shipping with no minimum. It really is like crack for fledgling techs who have no tools--or money. I never realized how big Danaher is. For those who don't know, Danaher owns Matco, Craftsman, K-D, Jacobs, Gearwrench, Sata, and many others. They are huge.

 

[Sri Ram]

Commercial Brake and Clutch presentation went well although it ended early on Thurs due to high winds and power outages in the area. Bendix gave a talk on their new air disc brakes for heavy duty trucks, buses, etc. Very cool! I think we're going to be seeing a lot of them.



Seems everybody's got to have a nickname at school. I got mine in the first week: Team Leader. Could be worse…

 

[Dl5treez]

So are you Team Leader to your face and Butt Kisser behind your back or????





j/k





:-laf





Sounds like things are going well, congratulations on a good start--keep it up!!!

 

[Sri Ram]

So are you Team Leader to your face and Butt Kisser behind your back or????

Can't say for sure, but the chances are good:-laf



The winter rains have started here and I'm getting some water in my cab. I tracked it to the top of the windshield. It leaks over or under the gutter along the top of the windshield (remember, this is a 1991), behind the gasket at the top of the windshield, and then down the a-pillar onto the floor. I've been slathering on the silicone, but so far no luck. Am I gonna have to replace my windshield?



Got one side of the forklift buttoned up now. With three to five guys on the project, things go a lot slower than they could with one or two, cause everyone needs to see how it's done. E-brake works now. I used a drum gauge to dial in the pads prior to putting the drums back on. Now there's a handy special tool.



I'm getting my buddy's Honda Accord V-tec thingy up and running after a battery went dead. He's in Iraq for while longer and I offered to run his rig every now and then to keep it in shape. I'm making all kinds of friends now that I have a few tools and a teacher/mentor to guide me. Oo.

 

[PToombs]

Team Kisser? On the windshield thing, mine leaked and rotted out the floor. Until you get it fixed, if you can, park with the front uphill. The water runs off, not over the drip edge. I figured this out by when I got a wet lap! I tried to silicone mine, filled the top corner, no luck. I think the best fix is to have the WS removed, glue the gasket to the frame, and reinstall. You may need a new gasket and seal, (lock or whatever it's called) if it's stiff. If you shoot over to the 1st gen forum, DPuckett just had an experience with a WS. When I do my cab swap, I'm going with the glue and new gaskets. (WS too, mines all pitted)

Good luck, keep us informed!

pete

 

[Dl5treez]

The winter rains have started here...

Dude! You call that monsoon hurricane typhoon cross thing that happened the other night rain? Try working in it! LMAO

 

[Sri Ram]

Until you get it fixed, if you can, park with the front uphill. The water runs off, not over the drip edge.

Yeah, that's just what I've been doing. What prices have you seen for a WS swap? I'm not sure I can afford it right now.



Dl5Treez, the last couple of days have made up for that storm, don't you think?

 

[PToombs]

I think it was about $250 for a new one here, with gaskets. I priced it several months ago, to do after the cab swap. Did you check the thread on DP's experience? I think he had a price in there.

 

[Dl5treez]

Sri,



Sure has... ... days like these I love working field service. woohoo!





Job market still looks awesome, projecting out for a long time. Keep on keepin' on and you'll be in a great position.



Overall, how do you like your choice in schools?

 

[Sri Ram]

Did you check the thread on DP's experience? I think he had a price in there.

Yes, it did. Sounds like a new gasket is the way to go, just make sure the dang installers put one in there. I got a quote a year ago for around the same price.



DL5treez, I really have no complaints about Bates except for those listed earlier in this thread. Namely, all the bleep-heads that aren't serious about learning as much as they can while their (or their parents, or our gov't) money goes bye-bye. While I'm only a-month-and-a-half into it, I like the facility, the variety, the teachers, and the campus. There are probably more intensive programs elsewhere, but I think I'll get what I need at Bates to make a good start in the industry.

 

[Sri Ram]

On Fri took a tour of Husky International truck dealer/service center, Volvo truck service center, and Clyde West, a Volvo heavy equip dealer/service center. I wasn't all that impressed with Husky's service center (hope there aren't any potential future employers reading ). It was busy, but dark and crowded. They did have a diesel-electric hybrid toe truck there, however.



The Volvo truck shop was one of the most well-lit shops I've seen.



At Clyde West they let us crawl all over the rigs, sit in the cabs, etc. That stuff is very cool!



Each place on the tour was eager to get entry level people in the door "as soon as you graduate!!!" They were also realistic that the new guy is gonna be on the wash rack for a while.



I asked at each place on the tour what tools they recommended. Husky and the Volvo truck shop said not to spend your money on any of the professional brands but instead to buy Craftsman. Only Clyde West recommended buying Snap-On and Mac tools exclusively. Could it be that Craftsman holds up on trucks but not on heavy equipment?

 

[PToombs]

I work on heavy eguipment. My tools are a good cross section on what's out there. Craftsman, Snap-on, Mac, HF, (harbor freight) Popular Mechanics, Williams, S&K, etc. Wrenches and sockets, get what you like. Sometimes you gotta get special sockets or wrenches from Mac or S-O, because you can't get them elsewhere. I learned the hard way, if you buy hex drives, torx, or the special bit tools, buy top quality, Mac or S-O. Usually no questions asked, they'll replace if worn, starting to twist, or broken.



My $. 04! :-laf

 

[DValentine]

I turned wrenches for a while. I agree with Pete. There are tools you will use every day. You will quickly figure out which ones. Spend the money on those tools. I bought a nice set of SK SAE wrenches. I really like them. I didn't need much for metric... so they are Craftsman. I bought a couple of 1/2 in drive air guns upgrading as I went. I needed a set of off set open ended wrenches and I couldn't justify the money for Snap-On so I went again with SK. I would recommend just getting a good basic set of tools and buy what you need as you go, once you get a job. You, i am sure have seen the guys who already have 5000 dollar tool bill in school. I paid 100 for a Mac 3/8 drive that spins on an offset axis and locks in various positions. I thought I wouldn't use it much. I use it a lot. Another thought get a good muli meter. You will use it. The Mac tool man talked me out of getting the $350 Fluke, and got a 100 dollar one. I really appreciated his honesty and help.

Dave

 

[PToombs]

I forgot about air tools! My opinion, spend the money once and be done! I had an Alltrade, (BJ's special), it wouldn't even loosen lug nuts on a car! Ingersol Rand and Mac are the same guns, I bought an IR 244 from HF, it works just as good as my coworkers Mac, and it was $100 cheaper.