Mechanic apprenticeship programs?

[mikeinaus]

what do you guys think about heavy duty mechanics? from what i can tell they make more money, are in more demand and have more possible job opportunities. looking at the courses from the program it looks like you learn alot more hands on skills. like lathes and machining as well as hydrolics and pneumatic systems

[300zxrb26dett]

I tried it for a little while and i felt it was easier then working on cars sometimes, due to the size of everything, and there seemed to be less electronics, and more mechanical. On the down side the stuff is very heavy, and for the most part I am a small guy, so I struggled with tires and heads, and things like that on semi trucks. You have to be built well to manhandle the stuff sometimes, and I really am not. I would say if it was not for that aspect of it, I would probably still be doing it. The really large stuff though, most decent shops should have what you need for lifting and movings stuff around, and that will make things easier. I also liked the fact that they actually pay you hourly wages to work on the stuff, instead of the incentive to sell things people really dont need, called "flat rate" that auto shops like to pay.

[mikeinaus]

would the heavy duty program eventually trade over to regular mechanic work? im saying if someone was to graduate and become a journeyman heavy duty mechanic would they be able to find a job as a regular mechanic if they so choosed? i dont think it would work the other way around because of all the hydrolics and phenumatic systems involved in heavy duty work but wouldnt the other mechanical aspects of each field be similar? with the main difference being diesel and gasoline engines?

[300zxrb26dett]

That part I am really unsure of. As a diesel mechanic you dont deal with nearly as much electronic systems as you do with cars, now granted semi-trucks are getting more and more electronics all the time, but it was still be no where near the level of cars. I would say as strictly a diesel mechanic, you may have a difficult time with the transition to the electronic systems, how much smaller everything is, complicated intricate parts or systems, far less standardization of part/systems, and now you would have to buy a lot more tools since most every diesel mechanic will only really need SAE tools, as there are very few metric bolts on them, if any.

On the other hand an automotive mechanic may have an easier time due to the opposite being true of the things I listed above, you would have to buy more tools, due to needing much larger SAE sockets and wrenches, specialized tools specific for the diesels. There are more standardized systems in heavy duty stuff, less of the manufacturer specific type of systems to deal with. For example, suspension systems on semi trucks are pretty straight forward, and there are a handful of different types, but for the most part really nothing very complicated, and it does not really matter who makes the truck, mack, volvo, pete, freightliner, navistar/international, etc... you will pretty much see any combination on any manufacturer, since you can order a truck really anyway you want it. Now there are certain things that each manufacturer has that may be exclusive to them, but it happens a lot less then in cars. One that comes to mind are the rear differentials for semi-trucks, everyone else has ring and pinion assembly unbolt out the rear of the housing, but mack has differentials that it comes out the top, which depending on the style of truck your working on is either easier or harder to do. Although I would not be surprised if a "mack style" differential could be ordered on any other truck, or maybe some owner operator converted his international to run mack diffs for example.

Overall air brake systems and hydraulics are basic simple systems, and are not that terribly complicated. An auto mechanic already deals with hydraulics in its simplest form, and thats your brake system. Hydraulics gets complicated when dealing with newer heavy equipment that has electro hydraulic systems, so if something goes wrong, then it could be either system causing the problem. Air brakes systems are similar to car brakes systems except instead of liquid you deal with air, and the system has more valves and switches making it more complicated, since air may be used for anything from an air ride seat , cab, or suspension to operating the auxiliary unit on the back of a 18 speed transmission or even a locking differential.


A diesel engine is a simpler system then a gas engine. It has no throttle body, no spark plugs or ignition system, not nearly as much worry about a specific air/fuel ratio, mechanical direct injection, rarely N/A, as most all of them are turbocharged. No worry about fuel octane and premium fuel with the turbo, or having low compression with a turbo.

Engine speed is controlled with the amount of fuel injected, so when you push a diesel throttle, it is just giving it more fuel. The air fuel mixture is ignited due to the high compression of the engine, and controlled with proper injection timing. Compression ratios can be from about 14:1 to as high as 30:1, then add boost on top of it. The injectors internal parts are lubricated from the diesel fuel since it kind of has a slight oily consistency. The diesel has no vacuum since it has no restriction in the intake like a throttle plate. Cleaner emissions then a gas engine. You do not want to run a diesel out of fuel, if its starts to sputter like its running out, then shut it off immediately. You cant just fill it back up and crank it over a few times like your car. The diesel has no electric pump, and uses a mechanical injection pump, that requires it be primed or it wont pump anything to the engine, and its not fun trying to get it primed with the little hand pump next to the fuel filter or on the fuel line somewhere, then you have to bleed the air from the fuel system. not fun.

Well I hope I gave you something to think about, regarding which path would be best for you. I am getting sleepy, so thats all I can think of for now anyway