SPQ13 Miles

Last week was filled with learning. The trip to B&G was one for the record. I have spent some time in a machine shop fabricating parts for fishing deck gear but had never seen any engine machining before. It was very interesting to see the different processes of grinding crank and camshafts, resurfacing blocks and the strict tolerances that are involved with these processes.  My understanding of hydraulics continue to increase in leaps and bounds. The CAT basics has helped my learning enormously.

Hours
Week: 17.5
Total: 53.5

SPQ13 Miles

Hydraulics is a great intrest of mine because of the role it plays in the marine industry. Hydraulics are used everywhere on boats. One thing I learned last week was that gear pumps pump fluid around the outside of the gear rather than between the gears. This clarification made complete mechanical sense.

Week:10
Total:36

Getting ready to install the engine on my Scirocco. Engine got installed last week.

SPQ13 Miles

Last week, I learned so much studying for the electrical final. It was definitely the longest time I spent studying for any test ever and it paid off with the knowledge I learned. Watching the Lethal Strike Video refreshed me of the safety hazards that need to be acknowledged when working with hydraulic systems I learned in the field. A coworker told me a story of a guy that was in a tight spot in a boat and as they started up the hydraulic system, a pin hole leak filled up his arm with oil. Sad to say, the accident was fatal. I finished all four of the CAT basics tests. They definitely challenged my knowledge.

Hours
Week: 8
Total: 26

Installed a new steering rack in the Scirocco and aligned the inner tie rods.

I drilled out the knuckle and pressed in a sleeve, to flip the tie rod, insert from the bottom of the knuckle in order to reduce "bump steer" and maintain proper steering geometry to accommodate the extensive lowering I am doing to the car.  

SPQ13 Miles

Last week I began to really understand diagnosing a short on the test circuit boards. Along with diagnosing shorts, I was reminded of something I already learned when diagnosing the left headlight out on the Freightliner, ALWAYS start at the load! I started on inside of the wiring plug rather than on the headlight side and it sent me on a wild goose chase.

Week:11
Total:18

Engine assembled and ready for install for my Scirocco.

SPQ13 Miles

Last week turned out to be quite exciting and involved lots of learning, not only at school but at home assembling the engine for my 1982 Volkswagen Scirocco. After last week my basic electronic understanding and skills have multiplied significantly through informative lessons and test/learning boards as shown in the picture below. Durring my weekend reading, I learned that static or more correctly labeled, "frictional" electricity involves voltages of over 1,000 volts and can exceed 50,00 volts! Another thing I learned and found quite interesting was the importance of using an approved battery charger for gel cell battery charging regulated at no higher than 14.1 volts. I documented 7 hours for the first week of spring quarter.

Test/Learning board 

Last week I only worked 10.5 hours finishing up some loose ends on a couple projects. That ends the quarter with a grand total of 357.19 hours. I finished up installing a full new exhaust system on a sail boat. I planned out and installed a new lift muffler and plumbed everything. I installed another tach on a volvo. 

Not a boat I worked on but can you say twin turo MAN POWER?!

Week 11

The past week consisted of a long service (that I am still working on) on a boat, some simple R&R, and more services. On the long service project, I spotted 3 hoses (two fuel and one oil) that were very chaffed and could have caused fatal engine damage in the near future. Late in the week I stepped in on some injector testing some of the other employees were working on. I learned how injectors work (on a technical level) and got a simple breakdown of their components. I documented 30.42 hours this last week for a grand total of week 346.69 hours.

Checking spray pattern of the atomized fuel.

Burnt injector tip.

Chafing on a fuel line. This wasn't even the worst of it.