help an apprentice out?

[young_buck]

as some of you may know I am going to work on getting my first year apprenticeship through a program at my high school. I just found out, a week before I was supposed to go off to a shop, that they took too many guys on and I got moved to another shop where I may be required to bring my own tools.

The shop I am headed to has mostly Caterpillar equipment but I may be working on Ford pickups (F-150's up to F-450 service trucks) as well as dump trucks and other field/construction equipment, A lot of the work i will doing in the first few weeks is Preventable Maintenance (fluid and filter changes) and after a month or two I will be doing other, larger jobs with my journeyman

So my question is this, what would you recommend for an apprentice diesel and heavy duty tech to have in the tool box? any specialty tools? tools you diesel techs use every day or more than twice a week?

I have combo wrenches in Metric and SAE (metric from 6mm to 24mm and SAE from 1/4" to 1"), 3/8" sockets in metric and SAE (deep and standard), Some 1/2" sockets in metric and SAE, 1/4" deep and standard metric and SAE sockets, between 2-6 ratchets for each drive, two 1/2" breaker bars, pliers and vise grips, screwdrivers, picks, pipe wrenches (8", 10" and 14"), a 1/2" torque wrench, bell pein and club hammers, pry bars, hex keys and bit sockets, flashlights, 1/2" impact sockets and and impact gun (corded), angle grinder, ratcheting wrenches (regular and stubby metric and SAE), cordless 18V drill and an air tool set (impact gun, ratchet, air hammer and die grinder) and i'm sure there is more I am leaving out.

Whether you are a diesel tech, auto tech, or just a shade tree D.I.Y'er all input is welcome and greatly appreciated

 

[CWP1616L]

KD Swivoil oil filter wrenches. Get all four sizes.

 

[Sloasszx3]

Im guessing you would need a few larger sized wrenches and sockets. I'm just a regular tech but even then cars show up with larger bolts and nuts.

 

[96snma]

You know where you're gong to be placed right? One lunch hour or right after school go there and talk to your boss or supervisor. They'll know what you need better than anyone here.

No point in going and buying 1"-2" wrenches right away if they supply them. Sounds like you've got enough to get by on your first day if nothing else until you can determine if there is anything that you can't live without

 

[CWP1616L]

You're not gonna know exactly what you need until you start working there.

 

[young_buck]

I am going to meet the shop supervisor tomorrow, and fill out some paperwork. I don't believe they supply anything except for the 1" stuff and air, I may be mistaken but I will have to ask him then. I do know I need to get a full set of 1/2" sockets as I don't have a lot of them (haven't needed them yet) and a set of plus size wrenches. I am going to town on Friday to pick up a few more tools but I only have $200 left to get what I need so I am just going to get a few essential sockets and wrenches to fill voids until I get my paycheck. I may stop at Napa and look around

 

[Gmonkee]

I'm working in that same situation plus doing the less exact mechanical stuff, no motors rebuilt by me basically.

Get filter wrenches 5" and down, and then wait until you start working there to see what you need to borrow. Buy that stuff after the 2nd time you have to borrow it.
Your kit is actually about the same as mine if not a bit wider ranged. I haven't needed to buy much the last 3 years either.

Do not let anyone convince you that you need huge wrenches and specialty tools except those that you will be working with directly. Its a lot of money for a tool you may use suprisingly little. Let real life experience guide those dollars out of your pocket, not a forum.

 

[young_buck]

Let real life experience guide those dollars out of your pocket, not a forum.

Real life experience hasn't let me down yet I was just looking for some input, I have an idea of what I will need as I did a 3 week placement in the summer doing PM, diagnostics and an axle rebuild. I was just hoping that the fine members of GJ could point me in the right direction and maybe mention something that I had in mind but wasn't sure about.

I appreciate this advice

 

[young_buck]

The filter wrenches that have been recommended, would the filter pliers from channellock work as well? I have also been looking at the nylon strap wrenches

 

[Gmonkee]

Hardline tools you are nearly there and a bit past my actual needs in areas. That is good.

I've been at this 6 years now. I do keep a slew of other tools at home just in case, and almost never need them. I could sell them all and still do my job equally well. It is my little luxury in life to just keep them however. Your turn will come for that excess stuff later, no need to rush that at all. It just happens somehow.

The most important 'tool' is the one between your ears. Eyes and mind wide open, mouth shut. Watch and learn from everybody you can.
I somehow feel you will do well in the field.


The pliers and the strap wrench in the 3rd pic work well. Steel band wrenches too. I have the adjustable one with the bike chain in my tool bag with the pliers type. The one in the middle pic doesn't do greasy filters very well.

 

[young_buck]

I somehow feel you will do well in the field.

Much obliged

 

[young_buck]

do the chain wrenches usually damage the filters? I have seen them used before and it cut right into the filter

 

[ddo]

Id second the notion of sticking with what you got. Theres a lot of things besides to tools in your set that determine how well its going to go. Bust *** while your there, do quality work, maintain a clean workspace and dont get in the way or step on any toes. Going to work the first day is a big deal for you, try not to make it a big deal for anybody else. Recognize youre starting at the bottom and earn respect with the work you do and the effort you put in while edging the fine line of working hard and not making anyone else look like theyre not working as hard as you. Success at any job comes from working hard and understanding the politics. They know youre just starting out so if youre missing a few odds and ends its not gonna be a huge shocker to them.

 

[dsmnickk90]

What do your 1/2" drive sockets top out at?
I didn't see impact sockets on your list. I would Imagine brake tools would be used quite a bit.

 

[young_buck]

I believe my 1/2" impacts stop at 7/8 and 21mm and my chrome sockets are about the same but there are gaps between sizes

 

[Hal]

do the chain wrenches usually damage the filters? I have seen them used before and it cut right into the filter

If you mean spin on filters, do you even care if it does? The filter is headed for the trash anyway. If you are talking about cartridge filters, the housing is usually retained by a a through bolt, or something similar, and you won't be trying to turn the housing itself.

If you are just concerned about a mess when you damage a spin on, if the filter is that tight, you are going to destroy it and make a mess anyway.

 

[dsmnickk90]

I believe my 1/2" impacts stop at 7/8 and 21mm and my chrome sockets are about the same but there are gaps between sizes

Your gonna want to expand a little here. With bigger trucks I'd go all the way to 1-1/2" and 36mm in impact

 

[smothers33]

you got a real good start with your tools. you pretty much described what i have in my toolcart(which is where i keep all the tools i use all the time). im the shop guy for a forklift company so i do all the big jobs(engine, trans, axles, etc..) and i can do a majority of my work with the tools in my cart. yeah i got 2 other large boxes filled with all the other tools and specialty tools and such but youd be suprised how much you can do with the basics. especially if your gonna do PM's for the first couple weeks. no need to rush to spend cash on tools you wont be using till later on anyway. but ill let you know some things to keep in mind

larger pipe wrenches up to 24" or more
1/2 and 3/4 sockets
wrenches to at least 1 1/2 and 36mm
snap ring pliers
gear pullers and bearing splitters
wire strippers and crimper
multimeter
tap and die set
extractor set(bolt extractors and multispline extractors are awesome for rounded allen bolts)
chains, straps, bungees
flex ratchets, wobble etensions, and swivel sockets
hand impact driver
pucnhes and chisels

theres more but like i said you have more than enough to do pm's and most smaller jobs so dont rush into spending money yet

 

[steel 35]

Hold off on most of those filter wrenches, the square one with a ******** it can be very useful but the others and the chain wrench i would save the money they waste space. Here are a few of mine for the bigger stuff I think they all say blue point and I am a cheap basterd.

 

[Gmonkee]

I too am a cheapo on the filter tools. Both of them are the AutoZone common stuff. The pliers work great on the smaller and the other is a steel band type that adjusts to size with a 6" bike chain and hook.
It replaced 3 others to cover the same range.

It saves space in the bags because it can cover 7" to 3.5" filters. It also grips like the devil on those stubborn ones covered in dirt and oil. Yes it is an expendable due to not being all that well made. But if I get two years out of it before it folds over, its paid for itself.

 

[crewchief888]

fwiw

no shop supervisor, sevice manager, or lead mechanic expects a (young) apprentice to have everythig he's gonna need the 1st day.

my understanding of the canadian apprentice programs, is that you wont be working alone or unsupervised by your journeyman for a while.
he'll be the one to ask questions to for the tools you'll need, and for his advise what "works" and doesnt "work".

doing PM's you'll probably not need much more than what you already have.
and what you do already, have you'll find the weaknesses (if any) fairly quick.

i started busting tires and doing PM's nearly 30 years ago at a bobcat dealer, with approximately the amount of tools you already have. within a couple weeks, i found the limits of the tools i had.

good luck

 

[jmm]

Measurement tools: caliper (learn to read one!), a couple different designs of leaf gauges, straight edge. A basic puller set. Extra flashlights, shop light and a headlamp. If I remember correctly, you'll need a 1 5/16" wrench and socket(s). Besides that one, you'll see lots of large SAE stuff. Welding safety stuff. Drilling hammers (I like a 3 lb, lots of guys use 5 lb). Bigger pipe wrench (at least 18"). Make sure you have long pry bars, and if you can't afford them, just get a heavy piece of long round stock. Punches and chisels.