Mechanic Troubleshooting Tales & A Blast From The Past.

When I was a 2nd year apprentice Mechanic in the late 70s I left the mining world and got a job up north at a busy truck shop, the oil patch was booming and Mechanic jobs were easy to find (even for rookies like me). The shop rate was $27/HR and I was pulling in $10/HR. If there was one mechanical problem I resisted (no pun intended)  the most it was electrical faults.

I'll never forget a White Western Star that came in and it had positive ground, you had to reverse your train of thought when it came to thinking through the circuitry. Anyways, back then series parallel switches were very common (12 volts running voltage and 24 volts cranking voltage). You just had to remember how the wiring went back together while the customer was standing there looking at his watch.

Through all that experience up to now and hundreds of shorts, no starts and charging system problems I've come to one conclusion.

Keep it simple and don't over-think the problem. If wiring continuity is disturbed with resistance, short or open circuit you're going to have trouble.  

SIDEBAR: If you ever have one or more circuits either not working or operating sporadically with relays or solenoids clicking on and off, there is a very good chance you have the blue stuff (corrosion) making a home in the connector or inside a module. It's happened to our equipment many times. The environment will take down anything that exposes itself!

If you look at an electrical system and think too broad you'll lose yourself. Think of the fault and the circuit, nothing else. A human friendly wiring diagram is most essential!

Here is a perfect example of a wire that had rubbed through the insulation. Oxygen goes to work fast on this exposure. Luckily this problem was obvious to the human eye and not nestled inside a connector or module.  One other method we use is grab the wiring harness while the fault is active and shake the hell out of it. Sometimes this works to fish out a problem. A short might all of a sudden quit or an open circuit might reconnect while you're at a certain point at the harness or at a connection point.

As Mechanics we can learn and adapt as we go through our training and experiences. Get your hands dirty and you'll get more tuned into any kind of mechanical problem.

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Ford 6.0 Liter Diesel Engine Miss When Hot

I have a question for all you Ford Diesel Mechanics Our fleet has a 2004 F550 with the 6.0 Liter and it developed a miss when hot. I test drove it for 1/2 an hour without the trailer and Bobcat and it took that much time for it to start missing. It comes on suddenly like someone hit a switch. Before that it ran perfectly with tons of jam. It also smoothes out at 2000 rpm.

All the injectors have been replaced along with the EGR. The injection pressure is down 10 psi and I was informed that a low pressure will take out the injectors again eventually. I would love to hear from any mechanics or owners who have come across a similar symptom. Please leave your comment below...much appreciated!

A Mechanic On Mechanics

My Mechanic's Thoughts On The Field Of Mechanics
I never thought that I'd be sitting here blogging about the mechanic's trade 35 years after getting into a Heavy Duty Mechanic Pre-Apprenticeship Course. Back then Heavy Duty Mechanics was an all around trade which involved all heavy equipment including class eight trucks, earth moving equipment and automotive vehicles.

Years later Commercial Transport serving the transport truck field came on board and HD Mechanics became an earth moving / Mining equipment trade. It was information overload back then with all this equipment combined into a 6 month course. No complaints,  it was a welcome handful of knowledge.

Realistically you wouldn't be able to hop around from a truck shop to a Mining site too easily because of the diversity in each industry. working on a P&H shovel is totally different compared to a Class 8 highway truck. I worked for Highland Valley Copper in Logan Lake for a few months (between jobs) and it was policy for new mechanics to start with the Shovel and Drill crew. I had copper mining experience during my apprenticeship but I felt like a newborn climbing up a drill mast on a graveyard shift.

The Mechanic trade is full of new experiences and I have stories I can tell, some are strange and quirky. For example:The GM diesel engine that ran backwards one day and the heat riser valve that trickled down to block the muffler causing grief and embarrassment (ate some hours on that one). But.....If you are human you WILL error.

I had a very nasty Journeyman during my second year apprenticeship and he had minimal time to teach me anything and thought apprentices were a waste of skin. Unfortunate but luckily he was the only low point of my career and until I became certified I had the pleasure of working with very honorable Journeyman.

I couldn't wait to become a Journeyman and teach others, it's rewarding to help others. You look at rich and powerful people who are avid philanthropists who state that giving back is the most satisfying gesture of all. It doesn't have to be cash or cars but sharing your knowledge is priceless.

 I still remember things I was taught that are still with me to this day so keep it in mind when someone asks you a question :)




Remember To Think Safety On The Job...Don't try this at home. These guys in the video below are testing out an air bag. After too many beers.....

Mechanic Careers And How You Can Succeed

Mechanic Careers - How to Succeed & Decide If It's Right For Your Future.

Yes it's true that Mechanic Careers are abundant around the world but getting started is the hard part. You may have a background in the trade which is a bonus. You need to be good with tools and have a certain level of aptitude that gives you the upper hand when assessing each job you receive. Taking a pre-apprenticeship course is a wise investment.

There are thousands of colleges and technical institutes that offer 6 to 10 month courses. The main focus is to learn the basics, why? If you are interviewing with a prospective employer they will smell a rookie from a mile away. Not knowing basic terms and technological lingo will prevent you from selling yourself.

A Mechanic pre-apprenticeship course instructs you on everything from nuts and bolts to tools and the all important theory you need to become confident when you apply for a job.

Successful Mechanics Possess A Great Attitude Attitude Attitude

I've worked with fellow Mechanics (not many) that had bad attitudes. The terms "good enough" or "let's just patch it up and kick it out the door". Your signature needs to be on every job you do. Working in retail will subject you to different personalities.

If you show that you care even the nastiest customer will bow to your compassion and understanding. Think about it...would you rather spend money on a kick butt vacation or pay  $400.00 on a fuel pump on your 10 year old car that's ready for a trade-in?

Most people aren't in the best of moods when they have to open up their wallet. That's why I say attitude is a huge factor when an employer is ready to hire. I believe it's much easier to train someone with a positive attitude compared to the opposite mindset.

Mechanic Careers - My Big Break!

To Succeed with a Mechanic Career all you need is knowledge and the right mindset to catch an employer's eye. The more you apply the odds get better, don't limit yourself to your hometown. I went north as a young man (sounds familiar?) as a total greenhorn.

With a 6 month pre-app and maybe a year of experience in mining I pulled up anchor and worked up North, a 12 hour drive and if I had not taken the challenge to work in a customer truck shop my Mechanic Career would have been extremely limited.

So go for it! get schooled, get out of your comfort zone.... be ready to uproot yourself and start your career with a passion!!

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