What Do Farm Equipment Mechanics Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Farm Equipment Mechanics diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, dairy equipment, and irrigation systems. They also maintain, repair, and overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, and irrigation systems.

Other tasks include:

• Dismantle defective machines for repair, using hand tools.
• Record details of repairs made and parts used.
• Reassemble machines and equipment following repair, testing operation and making adjustments as necessary.
• Clean and lubricate parts.
• Test and replace electrical components and wiring, using test meters, soldering equipment, and hand tools.
• Tune or overhaul engines.

We asked Farm Equipment Mechanics how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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52% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 36% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Farm Equipment Mechanics clean and lubricate parts. They repair or replace defective parts, using hand tools, milling and woodworking machines, lathes, welding equipment, grinders, or saws.

A typical day for a Farm Equipment Mechanic and Service Technician will also include:

• Maintain, repair, and overhaul farm machinery and vehicles, such as tractors, harvesters, and irrigation systems.
• Dismantle defective machines for repair, using hand tools.
• Record details of repairs made and parts used.
• Reassemble machines and equipment following repair, testing operation and making adjustments as necessary.
• Examine and listen to equipment, read inspection reports, and confer with customers to locate and diagnose malfunctions.

We asked some Farm Equipment Mechanics a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	80% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	25% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	68% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	35% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	11% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	52% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Farm Equipment Mechanics also fabricate new metal parts, using drill presses, engine lathes, and other machine tools. They may also drive trucks to haul tools and equipment for on-site repair of large machinery.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Farm Equipment Mechanics Test and replace electrical components and wiring, using test meters, soldering equipment, and hand tools. They might also Repair bent or torn sheet metal.

In addition, they Examine and listen to equipment, read inspection reports, and confer with customers to locate and diagnose malfunctions.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Calculate bills according to record of repairs made, labor time, and parts used.

To some Farm Equipment Mechanics, it is also their responsibility to Tune or overhaul engines.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Farm Equipment Mechanic and Service Technician, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/installation-maintenance-and-repair/heavy-vehicle-and-mobile-equipment-service-technicians.htm

http://www.aedcareers.com/

http://www.natef.org/

https://www.ase.com/Home.aspx