How do you become a diesel mechanic?

Quietly in my time.

In the State provided run Vocational Rehabilitate. My field was engine rebuilding. I rebuilt three engines, the first and best one being a 1948 Cadillac large V8. Some precision was for the bevel of valve heads head-cylinder surfacing, boring to round (They had become Oval) replace bad pushrods, springs, a touch of carb (Oh the JOY!!!) and so on etc. Valve train, rollers, rings etc. Day in and day out at the salt mines and showing my mettle against the unselected boor who wants to be mad mad and try knots on me. Eventually I was left alone. All three engines with one in particular that needed way more work than the teacher would let be done (Probably money) THAT one with it. The other two ran with some persuasion to warm up. The third got going, but because there was no money, and thus nothing was really fixed it did not have any spirit and would actually try to detonate. I put that engine out of my life. Maybe someone managed to fix it really nice. (I hope they did) But not that year.

Big trucks I worked on myself on sundays rather than going to church prior to running the NE. It was important that whatever the problem was with that oldiron needed to go away... with me before it continued or expanded into a DOT inspection fine etc.

When computers came along that essentially ended my shade tree mechanic work on big trucks which was ultimately nothing that exciting. When we had seriously cool or epic blow ups, I was told to shoo, get out of there let the adults fix the truck. Go home.

they did not know is then, but they sink deep swords into my heart and knowledge and so turned me against them at some point that year.

You have a certain number of years with your fine body. But at that point, it's going to need a awful lot of work to keep you out of bed. Until then is your chance to work hard, save up and stack a bunch of money. So that when your body does break like mine is doing. (Broken Hipjoint along with certain necrosis ongoing in two other areas, that will have to be chopped out then burned out with laser if left untreated it will kill me via septis and several other Kewl ways to die.) and Im not in my mid 50's yet.

 

100% truth. Mechanics at work love or hate you. Treat the mechanics good as yourself. Buy lunch or a simple hi and don't need anything. Our Salty old miserable mechanics is just like us miserable drivers. It's a 2 way street. Be nice and have some humor and food !

Communicate about life, not just the job


#1 Don't lie. These old folks know all the excuses.

 

Start trucking company and buy a truck. Fix things as they fail. You will be a professional mechanic in no time

 

I'm in Canada and our technical trades are pretty well regulated compared to you guys down south. I bypassed the manual labour and went straight into an apprenticeship at 18. I took my grade 12 required courses in grade 11 and spent my grade 12 year at a trade school.

 

We have vocational schools ( trades ) during "high school" it's 2018
The bare bones basic won't do these days. need certification from a real hands on full time schooling or from a union apprenticeship

 

I was kind of "born" with a grease gun in my hands! Gramps, Dad, and uncle's all had trucks. I enlisted in the Army @ 18 and was a Heavy Wheel Vehicle mechanic. After my service, I attended the University of Northwestern Ohio receiving an associate's degree in Diesel Technology. Uncle Sam and the GI Bill paid for my college.
Like others stated, see if you can't find a local shop that would be willing to mentor you. We can never find technicians @ work and have trained many of high schoolers on greasing and pressure washing. Good attitude and a desire to learn and you will have no problem finding work.

 

The guys here have given you great information. Education can come from a school or it can come from learning in a shop.

If you are willing to take the initiative you could probably find a shop where you could help out and eventually move you up. You could also look for a bigger contractor to work for. Some of those guys run a garage almost like a dealership, those repairs never stop ever. That could even open you up to other things like getting your CDL or learning how to run equipment or whatever.

If you can get your foot in the door somewhere the best thing to do is to try to educate yourself on the side. There are so many resources nowadays with the internet and even books
Rthat knowledge is everywhere.

If you were to learn as much as you could on your own, and then go in and ask the guys about what you're learning without driving them crazy, that would show that you have the initiative and most places would be glad to help you out once you got your foot in the door.

Experience if you think about it really just means that you have proven yourself somewhere. If you get your foot in the door you can prove yourself that way. Nothing beats learning from guys that really have the experience.

That is very intelligent of you to come here and ask for guidance.

Best of luck

 

Being a good mechanic isn't just about being able to turn a wrench. You have to have a lot of book smarts if you want to stand out. Electronics are not going anywhere. That's why I always laugh when people just assume mechanics are boneheads. The ability to look at a schematic and understand exactly how the system works is an invaluable skill.

 

I just wanted to give you an idea about how to study on your own if you're interested in getting more information.

I would start out with looking for how do diesel engines work. Then I would look for what the components are to a diesel engine. For example, my big cam Cummins manual shows all of the parts that go on to the engine how to disassemble it how to rebuild it and has schematics for each part. So you can see how the oil cooler comes apart or how the oil pump comes apart or the components that are contained within the heads. Then you can look into fuel systems and how they operate.

Then you can look into engine rebuilding water pump rebuilding how to work the heads over how to Mike a crankshaft or camshaft etc etc.

Then you can look into Transmissions. Roadranger has YouTube videos that are very simple and in maybe 20 minutes or so you can really understand the theory behind how the Transmissions work and with the components are within them. They also have videos of how to install a clutch properly and in 20 minutes or so you can get an idea of the way that it's done.

Then you can do the same thing with the suspension steering systems, air brakes, Etc.

Once you understand the mechanical aspect of things, then I would start looking into the electronics and how they monitor all the mechanical systems.

I think learning is much easier when you have a Target and you group things together logically.

I'm sure that my list isn't absolutely complete but at least it'll give you a little bit of an outline that you can work with.

But when you do get into the shop you need to find that guy that's been there for a long time that really knows what's going on and try to get him to take you under your wing.

Be courteous and be respectful and never be ####y. Any mature person that is good people will be happy to guide you along if you are courteous and respectful and if you really show that you are seriously interested.

 

My son took diesel tech course at community college and was offered apprenticeship upon graduation. Don’t waste time as “helper” in shop. You want to strive towards your jouneyman ticket to recieve the big bucks. Certified techs are in high demand
We outfitted my son for tools from pawn shops, privately and through CL for $1000 including a new GRAY tool chest @80% discount
I see helpers languish for years at discount wages because of lack of education