Mechanic Jobs

I graduated high school this summer and am planning start an ag diesel program at a local tech school in the fall. I'm a little worried though about finding a job with the economy the way it is. What do you guys think? Stick with it? I love working on farm equipment but am I better off getting into a truck program or something? Thanks

Learn and apply all you can and treat any job you get like you owe the boss a days work rather than he owes you a paycheck. The customer is always right no matter what, your job is to fix the customer's problem and make them want to come back. That means a lot of nodding, smiling, and then traslating a thingamajig into a solenoid then telling them that their diagnosis was just right (you just had to tweek a little), and you'll be popular whichever direction you decide to go. Never make a customer (or a boss) look like a dummy. Have you got the opportunity for an apprenticehip with a good business?

Never sell yourself short. I'd think, in a bad economy, there'd be a lot more fixing what you have than buying new. Good times for a good fixer.


Dave

This lousy economy won't last forever, and there will ALWAYS be a need for someone who knows how to fix farm equipment. Follow your dreams and stay close to your roots. You will be happy.

I have work as mechanic since high school went to military and several mechanic schools.Get all the mechanical training you can get in different fields you can get in to. Jobs are there to get but you may haft to move places you might like to live to make a decent living. Hard to keep with technology it changes so much year to year.Test equipment is very expencive to have.

One piece of advice I have for you is to buy the best tools you can afford. When you leave the classroom, you'll have to have your own hand tools, and probably some air tools. If you can't afford Snap-On, Mac, or Matco, then buy Craftsman or Proto or Blackhawk. But by all means, if you plan to make a living with tools, buy 'em NOW...even if it's only a few at a time. You can never start too soon to accumulate a quality set of tools

And take [and pass] as many ASE tests as you can along the way. A lot of business owners wouldn't know a good mechanic if they saw one, but they know what ASE certifications are, and in a tight economy having that ASE ticket to hang on the dealership wall might make the difference between being hired and being passed over.

Go into "general" diesel mechanics. The truck mechanics start in the $17 range anywhere and work their way up. While $17 may not sound like much to guys working the assembly line (if they still have job) its **** good money in little towns with low costs of living. And as I said its about the base starting wage - if you are good it only goes up from there. Our mechanic in a little town in Kansas makes about $24 an hour and gets bonuses on top of that. We can only keep him because his wife refuses to move, if he wanted he could go east or west (in Kansas) and make $30 an hour without any problem.

Some advice from a rancher and jack of all trades.

I would say,dont stick to long with a single trade job,get experience in mechanics of any kind,not just vehicles or such.But welding,machining and general repair in agriculture and construction equipment as well.
There's to many "specialists" (replacers) these days and not many left who can realy fix things.
That way you can always find work or start your own shop in time.

IMO,There's no money or satisfaction in working for an outfit that charges $120 hr and pay you only 17 to 25 an hr.But,you'll have to start somewhere.

Dont go in the hole on fancy tools either,buy them as you need and them. there'cheaper brands with a liftime warranty like westwards or craftsman,or go to auctions.

Big demand here in the southwest for heavy equipment mechanics.Truck dealerships and Freight lines are next. Can't say about Car dealerships.

I worked as a truck mechanic for 31 years, till back problems and arthritis forced me to stop. Good suggestions from all that answered. Don't get discouraged if you don't get engine rebuilds for a first job. MANY apprentice mechanics began by changing tires, sweeping floors and general grunt work for the experienced mechanics, but OBSERVE and LEARN from each experience you encounter
DO everything to get a solid experience base in engine / transmission electronics.
DO as many ASE tests, (and pass em) as possible.
DO buy top quality tools and equipment.

DO NOT buy tools you will not need.
DO NOT take safety for granted.

Above all, take care of your body being it's the only one you have. AG and TRUCK mechanics involve heavy lifting and some potential dangerous situations, but if you use your head and think ahead, you can stay safe

What Buzzman 72 said on tools. I would suggest you don't go overboard of buying an expensive tool box. Get a less expensive one. A lot of mechanics work areas don't have room for one of those long boxes on rollers that cost several thousand dollars. Get boxes to fit most work areas. You can always sell a tool box or keep it at home to hold tools if you upgrade. Anyway, the tools do the work, the box is just for secure storage.

KEH

My oldest son is in the National Ag sales part of John Deere. He works with the big sprayers. He says they cant get enough good techs.

Like said, you may need to start out doing the floor sweeping and odd jobs, but learn, watch, pay attention, and above all keep your mouth shut. It's hard to listen when you are talking.

Get as much schooling as you can. Your number one goal should be to get enough education and experience to make youself indespensible.

Good luck,, Gene

When buying tools remember one thing that guy who comes buy the shop with tools for sale is getting a huge commission on them.

Personally I like to go to garage sales Estate sales and look for the Old Photo line tools The Black line tool (no chrome) are the top of the line and people with sticky fingers won't pick them up. But they are the best tools I have in my box.
Also find and Older Husky Ratchet these have small heads and tough gears I have used mine with 2 ft. or longer cheater bars and its still going strong.
Don't get all hung up on beauty in your tool box some of the best tools are not so pretty but you will learn to love them.
Snap-om tools are pretty but very slippery when covered in oil and will cause many a busted knuckle. If you are working on tractors then you will need to good tools that don't slip because of the hydraulics, you just can't work on them with out being covered with oil.
Remember those manuals were printed for the mechanics not the do-it yourselfers read and follow them, if some old guy laughs at you then ask him a few questions about how to do some very difficult setup on a new vehicle, he will leave real fast and never bother you again.
Walt (50 years mechanic and counting)

Everyone has given you good advice, here alittle more and a suggestion. My farm is located in Virginia and there are a very few GOOD mechanics here. A lot of replacement specialists, a few slap it together and some patch it till next time. The dealership is very busy and expensive because they do perform quality work and they always push new equipment. The good independent mechanic is very busy, charges about $30/hr and has more then he can do.
So I suggest go for general mechanics, do quality work, work for an established outfit (maybe a dealership) until you build a reputation THEN take a risk and start your own business.

Look on Craigs List and Ebay for your tools and boxes , you'll pay half of the Tool truck price.I like Proto , Craftsman , S-K , and any of the tool truck brands if they are selling cheap !!

Amen , GOOD ADVICE ,Buzz

Good advice ,,except ,,,, Do not even attempt to start your own businese without taking some classes on management , basic bookkeeping , marketing . Lot of people ,me included ,,jumped in with both feet and opened a shop . If I had to do it over again I would sure get some training before hand .

Where are you located?
In MN & ND we have tech schools that you can get into a manufacturer sponsored course, work summers & school breaks for a dealership, & have a gauranteed job when the course is complete.
Good luck.
John Deere ag mechanic course

Bryan is right, definately study management and book keeping. And never ever try to short the taxman, it will bite you in the a$$. BTDT.

REAL good advice. I've known some really good mechanics who opened their own shops, only to discover they didn't have what it takes to run a business...a few only discovering it after they lost everything they'd invested. Running a business isn't instinctive; if it was, everyone could do it. Problem is, nearly everyone THINKS they can do it.

About tools: when I was at the vocational school in '06-'07, I discovered that Snap-On, Matco, S-K, and other tool sellers have a vo-ed [vocational education] program that allows students to purchase tools at a discount while they're in school. [Mac Tools doesn't,and I don't know why.] Snap-On's program allows you 50-55% off retail, with a maximum purchase of $5,000 [unless it's changed since then]. But it's run thru the regional rep, and NOT thru Snap-On's tool truck program. School officials can get all the details for you. It was nice to have the Snap-On and Matco tool reps actually show up at school and make a presentation about their programs.

But even at 50-55% off, $5,000 in tools is barely enough to get you started. Still, it beats paying $10-$11,000 for the same stuff off the tool truck.

Buy your tools at Sears to start with,Craftsman is still good.Or check Craigs list and compare to Sears,if you can buy them cheaper on Craigs list for American Made ones,buy them.Being an AG mechanic might work for you.Other things are welding,truck driving.Actually a good mechanic needs a truck with a welder on it and know how to use it,and a CDL license is always good to have so you can drive your service truck.Also a compressor and torch.Its a good idea to be a mechanic,welder,or truck driver while you are young but you need to stay in school and learn something else while you work if you can.Right now you think you are indestructable.Some day sooner than you think you will wake up and not want to be a mechanic any more.The worst thing about it is if you work for somebody else you cant make enough money usually.Truck driving would pay better especially if you can find a union job.Welding pays good if you are a good welder.Running heavy equipment is good while you are young.Try and save money out of every paycheck.I once was a ASE Certified Master Mechanic in 1987 but I made twice as much more money driving a truck than I ever did being a mechanic and I had my own shop for a while.People around here just dont want to pay a mechanic very well for some reason.I think a service truck is the answer if you want to be an Ag mechanic,but you will have to be good to be successful.A useful person can always find a job unless nobody is working anymore.Especially if he is good and has a good attitude and works hard.Good mechanics are usually busy even in bad times as long as people can keep operating their business.Things dont look good to me.I would say maybe running at 1/2 the rate of 3 years ago,maybe less.If you are a good mechanic,and dont have anything to do,lots of people are not working either.

Where in KS?

I HAVE BEEN A TRUCK DIESEL MECHANIC FOR 34 YRS.IT WAS MORE FUN WHEN I WAS YOUNGER,BUT MAYBE SO WERE A LOT OF THINGS!I AM VERY TIRED, AND ALSO TIRED OF MY COMPANY'S RULES AND SO ON.I ACTUALLY WOULD NOT RECOMEND THIS PROFESSION TO ANYONE EVER.IT IS HARD ON YOUR BODY:CONSTANTLY ON YOUR FEET ON HARD COLD CONCRETE; SOMETIMES OUTSIDE IN WINTER;CLIMBING UP AND DOWN;TWISTING YOUR BODY AND STRAINING YOUR SHOULDERS.(MINE ARE WORE OUT)AND NOW I REALLY ONLY HAVE ONE MAIN JOB SKILL.AND AROUND HERE,GREATER CINCINNATI AREA, MECHANICS/TECHNICIANS ARE BETTER PAID THAN TRUCK DRIVERS.THERE IS A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE OF GOOD TECHNICIANS, HOWEVER, AND THAT DOES MAKE THE LIKELY-HOOD OF ALWAYS HAVING A JOB GOOD.I SAID TECHNICIANS,BECAUSE THE JOB IS 100 TIMES MORE TECHNICAL THAN WHEN I STARTED INTO IT;ENGINES LAST A MILLION MILES, SO WE ALMOST NEVER REBUILD THEM ANYMORE, WHICH WAS ONCE THE STANDARD OF A GOOD MECHANIC. BUT NOW THEY HAVE EGR VALVES,VARIABLE VANE TURBOS,ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTORS,MULTIPLEX WIRING, COMPUTOR CONTROLED DASHES ,CAB COMPONENTS,ABS BRAKES, ALL COMPUTOR CONTROLED.COMPUTORS ARE CALLED ECMS,ESCS,PCMS AND SO ON;ALL OF WHICH CAUSE NEW, HARDER TO FIX PROBLEMS,STRANGE SOMETIMES PROBLEMS. THE REASON I'M TELLING YOU THIS IS IF YOU ARE A GOOD TECH,ESPECIALLY IN ELECTRICS,AND DRIVEABILITY, YOU WILL BE IN HIGH DEMAND.NO ONE WANTS TO LEARN OR DO THIS JOB ANYMORE.YOU HAVE TO BE COMPUTOR SAVY;LEARN TO TYPE IF YOU CAN'T ALSO.ALL MANUALS ARE ON THE SHOP COMPUTOR NOW;NO MORE BOOKS. AND YOU NEED THEM MUCH MORE OFTEN.GOOD LUCK,MARK

It would depend on the qualification of the local school,,, really ,,, some take daddy"s money and pass the student

I would want a list of the past students that they have graduated and still in the trade,,, don"t believe the Bull Chit they will feed ya about their graduates makeing 100K are more,,, their may B one but thats all (one out of a thousand)

I have a problem with this 2 year degree thang they push,,, if they get down to business it does not take 2 fudgen years to learn the basics,,, you are not in public school this should B training for a damm job (trade),,, not play"n around

In 30 years of business ownership I have yet to hire a kid that came out of the local tinker tech (collage) that could change oil if anyone else were around,,, they spent 2 years shoot"n the bull and the only way you could get any work out of them was to put them in solitary confinement

one of my best friends is a real teacher,,, he is the most qualified man I have ever ran into to do the job,,, he has qualifications that don"t even exists yet,,, he goes over and beyond the call to build his resume,,, the local collage fired him cuzz he would not pass all the students that were in automotive technology,,, each student is worth federal dollars to the collage,,, its a shame but Daddy"s money is waisted for tax money.

Long winded BUT you should know what you will get for your money,,,, don"t waist it for a useless degree if all they are interested in is the tax money they will get for you take"n up space...

I was lucky enough to have a wife that could the book keeping, taxes, and payroll. It also helped to buy an established mobile truck tire repair business and built it into a full service MOBILE ONLY for trucks. Very profitable, but I already had 14 years of experience behind me and loved road service. Biggest drawback was being on call 24 / 7 in all types of weather that speeds up the aging process. 14 years of that and I cannot walk completely upright because of arthritis and a reoccurring back injury.
Except for that, I loved being able to fix downed trucks, trailers and equipment with what ever was on hand, some imaginative thinking and pride knowing I could do an almost shop grade job on the road side!