New apprentice Heavey Equipment Tech - need advice...

[mypov]

Hello everyone,
I am new, and have been on here for a short while, and have enjoyed reading various posts. I am addicted to the new post button, and can't seem to stop looking at all the classified threads - thank you to all members I have purchased tools from - all have arrived exceeding expectations and packaged very well.

Anyway, I have been apprenticing for about 4 months as a heavy equipment tech (have served an apprenticeship in the past for about 6 months as an automotive tech), had a very difficult boss to work for an decided the low wage was not worth the high level of stress/frustration. I also worked as a shop hand intending to get an apprenticeship for another shop for about 4 months (this place also had a very difficult man to work for, and decided to leave that employment). I have met a lot of different mechanics and have learned that everyone seems to have various levels of abilities - though they are all journeymen. It seems that just because one is certified does not necessarily mean they are capable...I have worked as a corrections officer for the last 4 years and gave up a ridiculous salary to take an apprenticeship - but am now worried about becoming one of those techs who is not able to thread a nut (well not that basic), but you get my just.

How do you become not just a good mechanic, but a great mechanic, and or how do you know if you should keep trying, or just accept the fact that I may never be able to reach that goal? I have talked to my journeymen about this and he indicates that it shouldn't be a problem, that he will be able to teach me - but is this trade something that be taught to everyone, or is it one that someone is more gifted towards? I don't want to be a mechanic if I am not worth my weight, and can't do the job.

Sorry for the novel, and thanks for any suggestions.

 

[yost69]

My thoughts on this subject, It takes time, you cant just go in and learn it all in a couple months.

It takes hands on practice to get it down to where you can say Hey that happened to this car and this was the problem lets start our diagnostics there.

Thats why ASE wants you to have two years in before you take the tests.

 

[dittle fart around]

As a journeyman the best way to keep upgrading your skills to teach other apprentices, explaining your work step by step. Keep an open mind and glean ideas off other journeymen. If you don't like where your working it's tough to keep a good attitude about what you're doing. I've worked at a lot of places where the journeyman with the loudest voice becomes the boss. Usually the loudest guy isn't the most skilled.

 

[wornoutoldman]

Do you love working on cars/trucks or whatever it is you will be servicing? To be really sucessful you need to eat, drink, sleep and love what you do. Getting an apprenticeship at the hands of a true master can make a huge difference in how well you do and how much you might learn. Anyone can go thru school and learn the theory but you really need to want to understand how all the sytems interact with one another. Also correct and efficient tool usage is a learned/taught skill. It's not for everyone but those who excell can make bank and have alot of fun too. On the flip side if your working hard and making money your joints will be torn up along with many and varied medical conditions that folks who push pencils will never deal with. Lot's of good opinions here. I'm sure you'll have many to consider. Good luck with whatever path you choose!

 

[elevator joe]

I agree with dittle fart.Hang in there I suspect you're there because you generally like what you're doing.Sometimes individuals like that can be good teachers. So that when it comes your turn to be the journeyman or "teacher"' you'll know what not to do.

 

[larry_g]

What did you do as a kid? Did you skate board, hard rock music and hang out at the mall? Did you build RC cars, model railroad, hotrod the lawn mower? Look back at the child you were. If you had your hands dirty building and tearing up mechanical things then you may do well. What do you do on your time off now? Do you read technical manuals for fun? Study the catalogues? Or do anything but think about the mechanics of the world? Nothing right or wrong with what you do but worn out said you have to live the life a bit. A part of doing a good job is knowing where to come up with the proper information do do the job. That is where reading manuals comes in. Not that you memorize the manual, you know the basic information in there and can acess it without searching all the wrong books or web sites. Its the same as your toolbox. A good mechanic knows what drawer the appropriote tool is in and can almost grab it blindfolded.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[mypov]

I really enjoy what I'm doing, I enjoy looking at the journeyman I am working for, and seeing what he is able to do - He does not just change parts, he takes them apart, looks at what failed, and why, then decides on the route for repair. He's cheap and grew up working in the bush, so if he can patch together a starter (for example) from spares laying around (and the customer gives the okay) he will - instead of just ordering a new one...I realize this isn't always the best way to go - but I like that he's willing to. I enjoy being able to take things apart and put them back together again...I like the fact that this is a trade where if you are needed, then you NEEDED - it's not something that can be put off, and a lot of people don't like getting their hands dirty. I'm just a little leery of not being good, or missing something. I wasn't born with a wrench in my hand, and actually didn't have a lot to do with mechanics growing up - I wrenched on my bike a bit, and learned how to take it apart, overhaul various components and re install - but bicycles are much simpler than heavy equipment. I'm not looking forward to the various health problems mechanics suffer, and part of going heavy equipment or diesel mechanic is the desire not to work flat rate and pound out my joints...
Any further thoughts and tips on how to learn to be the best. I do value your opinions, and thanks for sharing.

 

[tatra]

my limited experience outside of a union shop as a mechanic was that the older guys didn't really want to teach you that much as they would be out the door as soon as you got your tickeat and at a lesser rate............not to mention if they have the tricks and tools to do it quicker and [ hopefully ] better , they wind up with the pick of the jobs..........fleet work you can get good at specializing on certain equipment until the new stuff comes in then it's learn all over again..........personally i would try for the muncipality, untilities etc.............might as well get a pension and benefits while you're at it .........good luck........

 

[garfunkle24]

While there are certainly differences in capabilitise out there, to me, having the right attitude is the key. Skills and knowledge can be taught. An attitude, less so. You seem to be conscientious and ready to learn and that's half the battle. You're ahead of several apprentices I've worked with already.

For me, one key to excelling in the field is to be interested in what you're working on. I have an interest in all things physics and engineering related and this has always made it a little easier to pursue my work to a degree that some techs don't. If you have a good basic understanding of physics, which can be applied universally to hydraulics, electrical, whatever, you can understand how the components and systems work. Only once you know this can you really learn how to fix them.

I could write a lot more but without specific questions I'd be droning on. I'm an Ag and HE journeyman FWIW. Feel free to shoot me a PM or post more questions,

 

[justanengineer]

I think in any trade the keys to success are enjoying what you do, having a willingness to continually learn and improve yourself, and never becoming complacent thinking that you know everything you need to know.

 

[jethro29]

study,pay attention and go to all the training classes you can.ask questions, read books,watch videos,ect.don't be in a hurry,it won't happen over night.it will take five to seven years of doing it every day ,before you are confident and not intimadated by any job.you sound like you have the desire and drive to succeed and i think you'll do fine.a lot of the older techs who are (so so) or just (ok) is because they lack the drive to push themselves to new levels,are to lazy to train or study or just plain think they know it all and in this buisness you will never know it all.the technology changes so rapidly that it requires constant training and studying if you want to stay on top of it.trust me, been doing it for 26 years.good luck.

 

[jhelrey]

Take it for what it is worth...

I never went to school for mechanic, etc. However, I am very mechanical. I work PT at a shop doing mechanic work. The ASE master has showed me along the way. I ask questions when need be, etc. Now, I can slap out cars like no other. They wish they could hire me but don't have room for another mechanic at the moment. He will walk through diagnostics, etc. Very helpful. Listen, and ask questions. And do it!

 

[larry_g]

For me, one key to excelling in the field is to be interested in what you're working on. I have an interest in all things physics and engineering related and this has always made it a little easier to pursue my work to a degree that some techs don't. If you have a good basic understanding of physics, which can be applied universally to hydraulics, electrical, whatever, you can understand how the components and systems work. Only once you know this can you really learn how to fix them.

,

Read the above again. Understanding the theory and basics behind any system on the rig really helps you to trouble shoot the problem and maybe make a fix quick. Read some of Sticks posts about fixes he has done. He is one of the techs here that really understands the systems. Garfunkle24 also has the right idea. If you can read the manual and test for proper voltages, then you can be a mechanic. If you can test for voltages, and understand why they are a percentage off and what kind of a problem would cause that then your a master. One person knows there is a problem, the master knows why there is a problem.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[copterdoctor]

Having been an apprentice, and now a licensed mechanic (A&P). Luckily my apprenticeship was really painless. it's actually the shop I'm in now that has been the most difficult place I've ever worked. A bunch of guys who've been with the company for 25+ years, and have no interest in showing the new guy anything.. it is really sad actually.. but I just keep chuggin along, and slowly, a few of the old salts are starting to come around a bit. It takes a LOT to earn their respect apparently.. and, deservedly I think..
I'm not what I consider a "top tier" mechanic.. But I'm working on it. My wife thinks I'm nuts for reading maintenance manuals on my free time.. but if noone is willing to show me, then I'm gonna teach myself... I just hope I don't become a bitter old @hole mechanic like the ones I have to deal with sometimes.. I think just having the awareness of that will prevent me from turning out like that... i hope. lol
Don't get discouraged. The old guys really like getting a rise out of us youngins... and I've learned that lesson the hard way. lol
there's no real answer to your OP.. just make sure you give it your best.. you'll never know that you're a "master".. and if you are cocky enough to say it WHEN you do become one, then you really are NOT one.. be humble, do your best, and let the young guys determine that when you are an old salt... when you are the guy they keep coming to for advice/help, you'll know you've achieved your goal...

 

[Stick]

How do you become not just a good mechanic, but a great mechanic, and or how do you know if you should keep trying, or just accept the fact that I may never be able to reach that goal? I have talked to my journeymen about this and he indicates that it shouldn't be a problem, that he will be able to teach me - but is this trade something that be taught to everyone, or is it one that someone is more gifted towards? I don't want to be a mechanic if I am not worth my weight, and can't do the job.

Sorry for the novel, and thanks for any suggestions.

In my opinion, the key to becoming a good mechanic is to understand that it's not a job where you ever stop learning. The technology in this industry constantly changes, and it's easy to fall behind and stagnate, falling back on the same routine over and over. Those are the guys you see who are competent mechanics, but not great mechanics. The easiest way to avoid that is to not only learn how individual components or pieces work, but to learn the real nuts and bolts of how things work and why they behave how they do. If you can figure out the "whys", the "hows" become easy.

Anyone can bang out an inframe or hydraulic pump replacement, service manuals have nice step by step guides that show you how to do a job like that. However no step by step guide in the service manual is going to show you why the motor needs to be rebuilt, or why the hydraulic pump failed. That's something that only develops through experience and a need to know, and it's not the type of knowledge that you accumulate overnight.

Read books and trade magazines, watch videos, attend every training session that's offered to you (and sneak into the ones not offered), eat, sleep and breathe this stuff. You obviously didn't switch jobs for the money, I'd wager that it's because you found this type of work interesting, so let your passions develop and use them fully to your advantage.

I worked for several years on heavy equipment and as a contractor on military hardware before I started working on light duty stuff, and if I can can do it, anyone can. Hell, I'm a literal art school dropout.



Oh, and if you think you wrote a novel, you obviously haven't read some of my epic tomes.

 

[nehog]

...
had a very difficult boss to work for an decided the low wage was not worth ...
... place also had a very difficult man to work for, and decided to leave that employment).
...

I'm a bit bothered by these two points. You work for someone but decide they are too difficult to work for, which if it happens one time perhaps isn't a problem, but when it happens twice, one must look and see if there is something else involved.

 

[housey]

Coming from someone who is nearing their 2nd year of an electrical apprentice, and also wanting to make sure they turn out to be a solid worker:

-You'll pick up fairly quickly which guys are the ones who are full of ****, and which ones know their ****. Try to stick around the latter. There are also guys out there who don't want to pass on their knowledge/techniques, try to avoid these guys as well

-Show an interest in your work and a willingness to learn. If you don't come across as interested, or you need something repeated multiple times your supervisor, or "journeyman" as it is in America will be less inclined to show you anything but the basics that he has to.

-Don't complain, don't be late, don't slack off, don't leave early and don't get involved in workplace politics