tools

[carhartted]

I am a diesel mechanic and have training in auto mechanics as well. I received most of my expeirence working at Fort Knox Gold Mine, I work on the type of Haul Trucks and Shovels seen on the Discovery channel, mostly CAT 785 and 777's. I also work on high sprocket D-10's, graders, and water trucks. Keep in mind this is from my expeirence and may not pertain to you, but here goes.

Don't go out and spend huge sums of money for name brand tools before you get into the field. Go to Sears or Home Depot and get one of their all in one tool sets. I personally like Husky brand tools from Home Depot, they are good quality, low price, and have a lifetime warranty. If you are going into diesel work I would suggest buying the best 1/2 and 3/4 inch impact wrench. I have found that the new IR composites to prefrom very well. You will need a set of 1/2 in impact swivel sockets. With a good set of from Matco, CAT hydralic hoses almost come off by themselves.

From my expeirence I do not use my 3/4 drive socket set nearly has much as I thought I would. Most fastners on heavy equipment is pretty standard size. My most used sockets are 3/4 and 15/16. I do use my 3/4 impact set almost every day. I have a Stanley 3/4 drive socket set, although it looks suspicially like the $40 Chinese sets it works well for me.

If you do any feild work you will need a almost a second set of tools in a hand box that you can just grab and go out the door. For this I just have the cheapest set of wrenches I could find, 3/8 thru 1-1/4. A good 1/2 drive impact impact set on a metal rack with 24 in swivel head driver, and good 3/8 impact set on rail with driver, 15 in cresent, a 6 in cresent, screwdrivers, wire brush, four pound hammer, a good wire stripper/cutter/crimper, a set of torqs, slip joint and needle nose pliers. A good 24 in cresent comes in real handy but gets heavy and most likely won't fit in your box.

Hope this helps
Jonathan
Fairbanks, AK

 

[carhartted]

The only Stanley tools I have is my 3/4 in socket set, the quality seems OK but I do not use it very much. You can make anything work, if all you can aford is Stanley tools then by allmeans buy the Stanley tools. In the begining I would go for quanity over quality. The right cheap tool will work much better than a more expensive tool that was not meant for the job at hand.

That said, I would try and buy a tool with a warranty, I nver think twice about putting the cheater pipe on any of my Husky sockets, because if it breaks and can just stop by and get one on my way home from the mine. But if I had to buy another socket to replace a broken I would hesitate.

BTW I have noticed that most shops will have a set of specialty tools and large 3/4 and 1 inch tools. But even though the shop may provide them some guys still buy their own.

Some shops may have a program where they give the mechanics a tool allowence, where the company will buy you tools up to a certain dallor amount if you agree to work for them for a set number of years or something like that. Others may buy tools for you then garnish some of your paycheck to repay themselves, this works well when just starting out since you need some although not all your tools when just starting out.

As to votech school, I recived both an AAS and a certificate in Diesel and Auto mechanics, I then went on to get my BT, I am a glutton for punishment I guess. What I found was I learned more in my first summer working than the four years I spent in school. School is good because it gives you a place to try out your new semi skills in a risk free enviroment. You can time the injection pump wrong in the shop before having to do it in the feild with the peice of equipment not making money.

BTW I was just over at ***************** and saw a picture of a 785 Hual truck with what appears two blown rear tires or a broken axle. I would hate to be the one who was responsiblr for that one. The picture looks much like Fort Knox with the open pit in the background. If anyone cares.

 

[bwalker]

Carharted,I believe stanley tools now owns snap-on fwiw.

 

[Tzed250]

Stanley

Stanley owns MAC.

 

[Korn]

Mac tools and Stanley are the same company. The tool truck that comes to my shop has all kinds of Stanley carpentry tools on is as well as the usual mechanics tools.

 

[mikek711]

Beginner,
Stanley tools(not that they are bad),torx wrenches,3/4 drive ratchet an sockets.Throw in a few line wrenches which may or may not not have been mentioned yet and you've got my stomach killing me from laughing so hard!!!
You guys that are taking this post seriously are killing me too!
What a hillarious post begginer.Keep it going.
Mike.

 

[dbabcock]

"he is 18 years old and has 4 kids."

Yup, that's about how I pictured things down there in general.

"...I bet you can squeal like a pig."

 

[bwalker]

Beginner's use of english almost sounds like someone who grew up speaking another language

My second cousin lives in LA and Im pretty sure he speaks a differant language. Sounds like a cross between Boomhower of King of The Hill and Jeff Foxworthy.

 

[bwalker]

"sure got a perty mouth"

 

[gatkeper1]

MAC and Proto are owned by Stanley, Husky tools are made by them. Also until the mid 90's they also produced Craftsman tools for Sears
Kobalt is made by JH Williams which is owned by Snap-On
Craftsman are now made by Danaher who also makes MatCo tools

 

[dbabcock]

In La, second cousins could also be mothers and sisters, brothers and fathers....all at the same time.

 

[Tzed250]

Remember

Don't forget your metric adjustable and a henway.

 

[bwalker]

Don't forget your metric adjustable and a henway

Or a adjustabe cockfor.

 

[Bill G]

Ok John.

It is time to fess up and admit you are "beginner". You have had your fun but it is time.

Bill

 

[Bill G]

I just remembered a tool that has not been mentioned. A good mechanic always has a B.F.H. With that they can fix anything. They also can use them when something isn't broke. If it isn't broke, use your BFH to break it so you can fix it. Instant job security for mechanics.

Bill

 

[mikek711]

Beginner,
Let me know when your class subject gets into the care and general maintainence of aluminum muffler bearings.I have a
re-acurring problem with mine that I just cant seem to fix.
I was told that a adjustment from a B.F.H. was probably needed but I wanted to find out from you first.
Mike.

 

[ClearH20Scott]

Aluminum muffler bearings require a rebar stretcher, chrome
muffler bearings require a feazile pin. That's how I fix 'em.
When all else fails, use brute force.

 

[Bill G]

this reminds me of the days at the auto parts store when guys would ask for a catalytic converter belt.

Bill

 

[Gypo Logger]

When should I take the Summer air out my tires and put Winter air in?
Thanks in advance
John

 

[Mike mandry]

Hey beginner, let me first say that i dont make my living with a saw. I do however work on a lot of them. Mostly for friends & my own. I primarily cut a lot of firewood & do "odd jobs" on the side for extra cash when I have the time.

I am currently fixing up some old homelites (SXl & the like)

I am looking for a piston return spring removal tool. I thought you might have one at your tech school that I could borrow. I have seen them in my snap on catalog at work.

If you don't have one, perhaps you could talk your teacher into getting one for the class.

i don't know of a competent mechanic that does not have one.