Heavy Duty Mechanic - A Professional?

A Heavy Duty Mechanic - Is Yours, the best fit?

There are so many Commercial Truck Mechanics out there... from people who have a day time job and do work "on the side" to the trunk slamming semi-professional heavy-duty technicians not really qualified to work on your gear, or the "back yard mechanic" as well as many variations in between.

It can be hard to find the best fit at a reasonable rate.The Heavy Duty Technician who does the job right the first time, to save you time and money in the short and long haul.

Here are some questions to ask yourself and just as importantly, your heavy-duty mechanic

Does he have the right gear to safely and professionally work on your truck?

Do you carry all the tools needed to do a repair either in sop on the side of the highway?

What accreditations do you have to work on my semi-truck?

Do you have your heavy-duty journeymen certificate?

Do you carry common spare parts to save not only you but me expensive downtime? 

These are just some of the qualifying questions I would ask a potential heavy-duty mechanics or their heavy-duty shop. 

 

Is your Heavy Duty Technician Have The Tools of the Trade? (Items they Require to properly perform services)

Basic Hand Tools (Heavy Duty Repair)*

½, ¼, ¾ and 3/8 inch drive socket sets	adjustable wrenches	battery post and clamp cleaner, battery terminal nut
brass drift	center punch	chisels
convertible 2/3 jaw puller	cutting equipment: side cutter, tube cutter, wire cutter, plier cutters, shears	digital multimeter
feeler gauge set, metric and imperial steel rule	H puller	hacksaw
half round file	hammers: impact, rubber, sledge, air, slide	hex key set, metric and imperial
jumper wires	magnetic pick-up tool, telescopic, flex	micrometer
pin punches	pipe wrench	pliers, battery terminal nut
pliers: insulator, snap ring, torque, multipliers	pry/aligning bar	punches
round file	scraper	screwdriver
sockets	tape measure	test light
tool chest	torque wrench	torx bits
universal joint	utility knife	vernier calliper
wire brush	wire crimper and stripper	wrench set, combination, metric & imperial
wrench set, flare nut, metric & imperial

Measuring Tools, Gauges and Equipment (Heavy Duty Repair)*

air gauge	ammeter	belt tension gauge
boost gauge	boroscope	compression gauge
cylinder bore gauge	depth micrometer	dial gauge
electric pressure gauge	flowmeter	fuel pressure gauge
holding gauge	hydraulic pressure testing gauges/fittings	hydrometer
inside micrometer	levels	manifold gauge
measuring rods	mechanical pressure gauge	meter stick
non-magnetic feeler gauge	oil temperature gauge	pinion angle gauge
plasti-gauge	pressure gauge	pull-type scale
pyrometer	small hole gauge	spectroscope
spring scale	steel rules	stethoscope
straightedge	suspension measuring device	tachometer
telescoping gauge	test leads	test light
thermometer	timing gauge	timing light
tire gauge	torquemeter

Hoisting, Rigging and Holding Equipment (Heavy Duty Repair)*

axle stand	bottle/axle jack	cable hoist
chain hoist	clamps	clevises
dolly	engine crane	engine repair stand
floor crane	floor hoist	ground strap
hydraulic floor jack	hydraulic guards	hydraulic hand jack/porta-power
portable engine crane	repair stand	shims/blocking
single post hoist	slings/cables/chains	spreader bars
support stand	tire guards	transmission jack
vices

Cleaning Equipment (Heavy Duty Repair)*

air blowguns	brake cleaning equipment	caustic cleaning tank
cleaning cloth	cleaning gloves	crocus cloth
glass bead machine	hot tank degreaser	parts cleaning solvent
pressure washer	soft brush	solvent washer
steam cleaner	wire brush

Does your Heavy Duty Mechanic Have a Shop? Tools they should have*

¾ - 1 inch power bars/torque wrenches	air compressor	air line adapters
alignment tool	analyzers: four-gas, gas, infra-red gas, vibration meter	battery charger
battery load/starting system tester	bearing heater	black light
bleeding equipment	booster cables	brake lathe
break out box	butane torch	calibrated vessel
coolant recycling unit	cooling system/pressure tester	crack detecting equipment
crimping tools	cutting and welding torch set	cylinder cart/kit/tank
diagnostic equipment	drift	drills: bench, hand drivers, twist, air
exhaust expanders	extension cord/trouble light	fast charger
files	flaring tool	fluid containers
flushing kit	fuel quality test kit	fuel recovery and storage system
funnels	grease gun	grinders: bench, hand, valve
hand pump	harness tester	honing equipment
hot air gun	labelling kit	leak detection equipment
leakdown tester	level protractor	magnaflux equipment
module tester	nitrogen charging equipment	overhaul tools
presses: arbor, swing, hydraulic, bushing, shop, mechanical, hand	pry bars	pullers: bearing, gear, heavy duty, mechanical, torque ratchet
reamers	recycling unit	callipers: outside, inside
carburetor tools	chemical agitator	chisels: air, electric, hand
clutch alignment tool	component heating or cooling equipment	compressors: air, mechanical spring, piston ring, pneumatic spring, spring, valve spring
computer equipment: terminals, on-board computer, portable diagnostic computer, printer	connecting rod aligner	containers
continuity tester	refractometer	replacement tools
retrieval and storage equipment	ridge reamer	sandblaster
sanders	saws: jigsaw, hacksaw, hole saw	scanning tools
seal driver	shims	shop vacuum
soldering iron/gun	spacers	spark lighter
splicing clips	steering tools	straight edge
strobe light/tachometer	stud extractor	suction cups
tap and die sets	temperature reader	thermostat tester
thread file	thread inserts	tire bar
tire depth indicator	tire machine	torque angle tool, torque wrench
torque multiplier	tube bender	vacuum pump
valve and seat grinding equipment	valve guide service kit	valve lapping block
valve spring tester	vapour degreaser	vices
welding equipment

Safety Equipment (Heavy Duty Repair)*

apron	communication devices	CPR accessories (disposable)
ear protection	emergency backup lighting	eye wash station
face shield	fall arrest equipment	fire extinguishers
fireproof blanket	first aid station	gas mask
gloves	goggles	hand shields
ladders	leather gloves	leggings
manlift	Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)	respirators
safety boots	safety cage	safety glasses
safety hats	splash suit	sprinkler systems
stretcher

Heavy Duty Mechanic Glossary or Frequent Terminology*

Accesspories

non-essential components added to the machine to enhance the operation or extend machine longevity; for example greasing systems, radio, air conditioning, and extra lights. Although some accessories are non-essential to the machine operation, they are sometimes required in extreme operating environments.

Attachments

components added to the machine that are integral to its operation to perform a specific job; for example ripper, winch, thumb, hammer, tamper or forks.

Basic Engine

assembled block and head including internal components and gear trains.

Break-In

a controlled operation specified by the manufacturer on new or repaired components to maximize service life.

Heavy Truck Cold Weather Package

accessories used to aid machine start-up and operation in cold weather environments; may include fluid heaters, extra batteries, glow plug systems, ether injection systems, heating pads, and inlet air heaters.

Truck Driveline

the drive connection between a power source and a driven component.

Heavy Duty Truck Drive train

the mechanical portion of the driveline from the flywheel to the tires or the track excluding hydrostatic systems.

Electrical Systems

starting, charging, lighting and accessory circuits without computer control modules.

electronic Systems

electrical systems operated via computerized electronic control modules and related sensors and wiring.

FOPS

Falling Object Protective Structure.

Heavy Truck Hydrostatic System

a hydraulic system which uses fluid under pressure to transmit power through tubes or hoses to machine drive components such as wheel or track drives.

Operator Station

interface between the operator and the equipment’s other systems that enables operation and monitoring of the machine.

Overhaul

rebuild or repair to like new condition.

Commercial Truck Powertrain

includes the drive train plus the engine (including hydrostatic systems).

ROPS

Roll-Over Protective Structure.

Heavy Duty Technician Sensory Inspection Process

diagnosing or inspecting using sight, sound, smell and feel.

Heavy Duty Truck Start-Up

a specific procedure to begin operation of a machine or system.

Commercial Truck Structural Components

components that make up the integral structure of the machine; for example: frame, lift arms, booms, sticks, loader frames, counterweights, ROPS and FOPS.

Heavy-Duty Suspension

components that support the main frame from the ground and may include undercarriage, axle and wheel assemblies.

Heavy Truck Undercarriage

track type components required to support the machine and transmit power from the final drive to the ground.

Heavy Duty Truck wheel assembly

wheel or rim assembly, tire and attaching hardware.

*All the above Abbreviations, tools list and resoures provided by:

Provided by the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program National Occupational Analysis (NOA) http://www.red-seal.ca

Here at Coppertop Truck Heavy Duty Truck Repair is our passion! call us today!