Going to Diesel/Heavy Equip School

[Sri Ram]

I'm nearing the end of my first quarter at school. I've learned about fundamentals of electricity and of electronics, starting and charging systems, batteries, A/C and climate control, and voltage drops. I've worked on forklifts, vans, pickups, and cars (but no contruction or highway rigs, yet).



This week, I rebuilt a Delco Remy 40MT starter motor. I'm not sure how common these are anymore with gear reduction starters. It's empowering to have the mystery taken out of all this stuff!



Next quarter it's either drivetrains or engines. I'm hoping for drivetrains, but I gotta take both eventually.

 

[BILLUA]

Congrats and keep going! It is very enjoyable to hear you updates!



Cheers, Bill

 

[PToombs]

I replaced a 40MT in a dinosaur Cat 920 last week. Like '68 vintage. Not fun! :{

 

[Sri Ram]

I've been in Powertrains since the beginning of this year. I've disassembled and rebuilt several transmissions: Spicer ES42-5, Eaton/Fuller 9509 and 9513. Yep, they're old, but a good learning experience. I've also torn down an Allison five speed automatic, but have yet to get into the valve body. Next up, torque converters. There's definitely been some frustration in getting the twin countershaft transmissions back together. Other than that an uneventful trimester so far. Yawn.

 

[Dl5treez]

Cool... . sounds like fun.



Want a crack at triple countershafts?

 

[Sri Ram]

Want a crack at triple countershafts?

Yah, my instructor offered that to me, but I've got this valve body to dissect first and then the T/C from the Allison. Maybe after that. Oo.

 

[catdsl]

Ok here is seattle community college



Seattle Maritime Academy



Here is there marine engineering program.



Marine Engineering





another program that is in Astoria OR is this one

Tongue Point Job Corps Center - Welcome!



Tongue Point Job Corps Center - Seamanship





I have guys and gals come straight from these schools and go to work working

On our ships making 50. 000 plus a year to start and that is working 6 months out of the year



These are ship jobs you will be gone for a week or 2 weeks .

chris

where do i sign up for that job?millwright work is getting thin around here.

 

[Dl5treez]

where do i sign up for that job?millwright work is getting thin around here.

Millwrights are in high demand (as always) over here in western WA.

 

[catdsl]

Millwrights are in high demand (as always) over here in western WA.

do they pay travel and perdium?where?

 

[Dl5treez]

Not sure... . most of them are for the actual sawmills.



Weyerhaeuser, Simpson, Sierra Pacific, Murphy, end a few smaller ones.



Some contracting firms, but the most are with the actual mills.



Pay varies... . 99. 9% are union.

 

[JGrefenstette]

well this is exciting reading these posts i have to say. the first of august im moving to NorthCarolina and Lord willing starting a two year 'HEAT' (Heavy Equipment & Transportation Technologies) program. And thank the Lord I also will most likley be starting a job a week prior at a Detroit Diesel / Mercedes Diesel / MTU Diesel / Allison Transmission - certified shop.



ill be wrenching on John Deeres from may-august, then the real fun begins down south just to give you a glimse of my predicted schedule: moday-thursday - class from 7am - 12noon... work from 1pm - 11:30pm. and class on friday. :{ thatll be fun. at least ill have friday-sunday off of work.

 

[Sri Ram]

well this is exciting reading these posts i have to say. the first of august im moving to NorthCarolina and Lord willing starting a two year 'HEAT' (Heavy Equipment & Transportation Technologies) program. And thank the Lord I also will most likley be starting a job a week prior at a Detroit Diesel / Mercedes Diesel / MTU Diesel / Allison Transmission - certified shop.



ill be wrenching on John Deeres from may-august, then the real fun begins down south just to give you a glimse of my predicted schedule: moday-thursday - class from 7am - 12noon... work from 1pm - 11:30pm. and class on friday. thatll be fun. at least ill have friday-sunday off of work.

Good luck to you, Jimmy!



I've just finished disassembling and reassembling a Cat 955K Trackscavator transmission. That's some pretty big stuff, even next to a Mack triple countershaft! Not sure what's next.

 

[JGrefenstette]

Good luck to you, Jimmy!



I've just finished disassembling and reassembling a Cat 955K Trackscavator transmission. That's some pretty big stuff, even next to a Mack triple countershaft! Not sure what's next.

Thanks! thats awesome. was that through the school or at a outside job? is your school part of a co-op program? the one im doing, ill be at school in the a. m. then at work in the p. m. and they will feed off eachother. meaning ill be able to to at work what ive been learning in school to practice.



the last time i visited the school i was in the shop and the students were finishing up their exmas which was to disasemble and i think rebuild then reasemble heavy transportation engines. they had a variety of different ones, one guy had a Cat C-15, one had a Cummins ISM or ISX, another had a detroit 60 series, one was one a MBE400 or somthing, i mean they were workin on all of em. i was like a fat kid in the candy shop :-laf

 

[Sri Ram]

Jimmy, as the thread title states, I am in school. I'm in my sixth month of a 22 month program. The 955K was just busy work to give me something to do while some students finish up their Eaton twin CS transmissions. Dl5treez, you'll be glad to know that yesterday I started a 1970's Mack triple CS Oo. :-laf.

 

[JGrefenstette]

right i understand. but i was wondering if your school is strictly class, or it is also part of an internship? like you go to school, then go to work to practice what youve learned, and the work place has an agreement with the school about your employment.

 

[Sri Ram]

right i understand. but i was wondering if your school is strictly class, or it is also part of an internship? like you go to school, then go to work to practice what youve learned, and the work place has an agreement with the school about your employment.

The short answer is 'both'. We are in class for four trimesters: A/C and electrical, Powertrains, and Engines are in the first year. Hydrualics is the first trimester of the second year. Technically, for the last 750 credit hours of the program, a student can be on the job and receive credit for school. That equates to the last two trimesters or one third of the total program length.

 

[JGrefenstette]

ah, gotcha... very similar to the program im going into in the fall.

out of curiosity, how old are you? if you dont mind me asking.

 

[Sri Ram]

out of curiosity, how old are you? if you dont mind me asking.

It took me thirty years to figure out what I wanted to be.

 

[Dl5treez]

Jimmy, as the thread title states, I am in school. I'm in my sixth month of a 22 month program. The 955K was just busy work to give me something to do while some students finish up their Eaton twin CS transmissions. Dl5treez, you'll be glad to know that yesterday I started a 1970's Mack triple CS Oo. :-laf.

Atta boy!



I'm off to Wenatchee in the morning to play with some Douglas County PUD equipment. Hoping for nice weather... .

 

[Sri Ram]

I'm off to Wenatchee in the morning to play with some Douglas County PUD equipment. Hoping for nice weather... .

Looks like you got it! Finished up the Mack yesterday. Personally, I thought it was easier to deal with than the Eaton twin CS because the main and rear sections split with all components still inside. Plus, you can work on it on end or on its side. The hardest part was keeping the thrust washers in place while installing the three idler shafts.



Tomorrow, test on clutches. I'm a little confused by all of the different travels and clearances, but I'll have them sorted out in time. :-laf