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  1. Heavywrenching

    Questions for IUOE local 150 members

    Yeah the letters are more about just having someone involved with the union sign it then the content. I doubt they thoroughly read them. Just write you’re dependable and will be a good union brother and someone to sign it. Mine were a couple sentences each, less than half a page. CDL is a big...
  2. Heavywrenching

    Questions for IUOE local 150 members

    That’s kind of where the “not what you know but who you know” comes in unfortunately. What program are you trying to apply for? Operator, tech, or driller? If you have guys who say they will I would write a basic recommendation letter yourself and then just get them to sign it and put their ID...
  3. Heavywrenching

    More License Requirements 2022

    Possibly I’m not really sure. The problem is I work for an equipment dealership so we never get laid off like the contractor guys do. That doesn’t ever really give us the opportunity to use the union training center. Which is unfortunate because it’s a very impressive facility.
  4. Heavywrenching

    More License Requirements 2022

    As I suspected I made a big mistake not getting it sooner and this is going to be a PITA. I need my class B so I can move from the shop to a service truck. Might get lucky enough to find someone who needs a field mechanic bad enough that they would pay for me to get it… I just think that it’ll...
  5. Heavywrenching

    More License Requirements 2022

    From what I can tell you still have to take the new Entry Level Driver Training to upgrade from a class B to a class A
  6. Heavywrenching

    More License Requirements 2022

    Has anyone gotten their CDL since these new rules went into effect? Or anyone with info on the new process of getting a CDL. I made the mistake of not getting it done before hand. I was assured that the new rules “were just a rumor” and now here we are. I need my class B for sure possibly just...
  7. Heavywrenching

    Inexperienced and Young Tech Egos

    Everywhere I’ve worked for you supply your own tools. Then there’s a tool room full of broken and missing specialty tools that never has the one that you need.
  8. Heavywrenching

    Independent heavy equipment mechanics

    That would be a big change from the dealer where most of the equipment we work on is newer(but not always). I like the heavy line work though, yankin engines and pumps and rebuilding axles and finals etc. The main downside I see is never truly being able to get away from work, even if I wasn’t...
  9. Heavywrenching

    Independent heavy equipment mechanics

    Sweet trucks mud dog! Man you guys really put a good perspective on how much work it is. I’m not quite in the position to do it yet, and would like to soak up some more experience and training from the dealer, but hopefully I can make it happen sometime in the future.
  10. Heavywrenching

    Independent heavy equipment mechanics

    That’s awesome man. The business side of things I have really have no idea about. Seems like that’s the hardest part of getting established. That and having to do all your own invoicing and billing and stuff.
  11. Heavywrenching

    Independent heavy equipment mechanics

    Any independent/owner operator heavy equipment mechanics on here? I’m curious about what the independent life is like, what made you make the jump to independent, and what it was like starting out and establishing and getting customers. And if there’s any of you who are union or live in union...
  12. Heavywrenching

    West Michigan heavy equipment mechanic?

    I would also start with engine performance. I fixed an old Deere 200lc that would bog or stall when running multiple functions. I disassembled the fuel filter head and found it clogged with debris. Cleaned it out, resealed, new fuel filters. Ran perfect after.
  13. Heavywrenching

    Rayco T360

    Found a service manual online for it finally. They have special valve blocks with sensors in them that take an adapter to add grease. Not something I’ve ever seen on the construction side but now I know I guess
  14. Heavywrenching

    Rayco T360

    I’m throwing an undercarriage on a rayco t360 at work. Pulled the panels off the track frames where the grease valve would usually be and this thing has hoses hooked up there instead. Obviously the hoses route somewhere for easier access “auxiliary” greasing of the tensioners. I just looked...
  15. Heavywrenching

    Inexperienced and Young Tech Egos

    I’m a newer heavy equipment mechanic only a couple years in. For me I always try to figure it out and do it on my own first. If I’ve seen someone experienced do the same job I’ll base what I’m doing off what they do. With that being said if one of the experience guys goes out of his way to say...
  16. Heavywrenching

    Work boots

    I’ve had 2 pairs of thorogoods (2nd pair was a warranty replacement for first pair). Was a little disappointed both times to be honest. They’re not bad but just not what I was expecting, especially for all the hype they get.
  17. Heavywrenching

    Work boots

    Update on this... got 8 inches of snow here in Chicago suburbs. Spent 2 hours after work today shoveling lot and cars out. Didn’t slip once. As long as it’s not ice or a wet perfectly smooth surface they seem to grab. Redwing 2418 is the model I believe
  18. Heavywrenching

    Work boots

    I have a boot drier than I but my boots on every night and it’s one of the best things I’ve ever bought. I know better than to leave them by a heater but was just trying to get water and snow dried off so they wouldn’t drip everywhere on the boot drier and forgot about em.
  19. Heavywrenching

    Work boots

    Might be looking into some of these recommendations sooner rather than later. Soaked my thorogoods a couple days ago and put them in front of a heater to help dry and forgot to turn it off before bed. Shrunk the right boot so badly that it smashes my toes now :( been trying to stretch them back...
  20. Heavywrenching

    Work boots

    Good to know. I have heard that before that the leather gets tore up easy on the danners
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