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Trucker
11-24-2004 19:14:00
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Re: tools for disel mechanics in reply to randy martin jr , 11-23-2004 18:23:42
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I think you ought to spend money on tools first ,box later.Since you allready know some about what you are doing you know what you need for most stuff,wrenches,and that means good quality wrenches,get as big a set as you can,at least up to 1 inch,and then get a set of really big ones from Sears.You dont use the real big ones as much,and Craftsman work good for these.Then I would have a good set of high quality sockets 3/8 drive short,and deep both,inch and metric.After that,a set of 1/2 drive short and deep impact sockets,inch and metric.I would buy as powerfull of a 1/2 inch drive impact as I could afford,also a 3/8 drive impact and set of short inch and metric sockets for it.I think you would want a brass punch,a set of punches fairly long,a couple of chisels,and a holder for the chisels.A good 2 pound hammer,and a couple of ball pein hammers.I would look at Harbor Freight or some place for a set of line wrenches that fit on a rachet,and some long extensions.I would buy a good set of line wrenches from Snap on or Mac.Also if you can buy your main wrenches like a set up to 3/4 from Snap on or Mac.All the rest can come from Craftsman except you may want to invest in Snap on or Mac for your 3/8 drive sockets,and maybe for the short 1/2 inch set.Rachets from Craftsman actually held up better for me than Snap on.I would think about a 1/2 inch drive air rachet,a few oil filter wrenches,and a set of those sockets that fit odd size plugs you find on diesel engines.Another thing that saves a lot of greif is a set of metric and inch thread chasers,inside and out.A thread file works too but its a lot slower,and to be a mechanic today you need to be fast,and good.Mostly use an impact anywhere you can,but use good sockets so you dont loose time with rounded bolt heads.Craftsman makes good sockets,but if I broke a Craftsman on anything,I would replace it with a Snap on if I could afford it.You need to put back money each week for tools for about 3 years,then after I felt like I had all the tools I needed,I might buy a high dollar box.You might get lucky and catch a box on sale,or somebody that wants to quit being a mechanic for a lot less sometime in the 3 years you are buying more tools. As I once had a shop of my own,and if I saw the tools I mentioned in your toolbox,and you need to organize everything as good as you can,I wouldnt care much what your toolbox looked like,I would know you were serious about being a mechanic. You can have a fancy box and a bunch of tools that you never use and spend lots of money on stuff you dont need,and still not be a good mechanic. The method you do a job from start to finish,the attention you pay to it,no matter how hard the work is,or what time it is,and whether or not you take pride in your work,and your tools,is what makes you a mechanic or not.Plus a lot of feel for what you are doing,a little luck doesnt hurt either. I took time to torque every bolt I thought needed it,then start it up and run it,shut it down and torque it again. Stuff like that,and trying to figure out what went wrong in the first place,then fix that if I could,makes a big difference in what you have when you get done,Rework costs too much. You still have to be fast,and you still need to do things as good as you can to make it. You allways have to learn,and have the ability to admit when you are wrong.Lots of people are allright mechanics,but you cant tell them anything,as time goes on they become bad mechanics.They can do the work,but they are so slow they arent any good.About every shop has a guy like that.They keep him around because he has experience,but they count on somebody else to make them money. Also school is good,but in real life you learn by doing.Unless you have a good teacher,and you are in tune with what you are learning,it could be a waste of time.The best way to learn is by working with a good mechanic. That might not allways be possible,but I could write the proceedure for overhauling a Detroit Diesel engine here,or how to rebuild a 10 speed Roadranger,but if you saw me do it what I wrote wouldnt look like what I do. Its a lot of hard work to be a mechanic,not a job that a lot of people can do. It sure makes you feel good when you take a piece of junk and turn it into something as good or better than it was to start with.
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