Diesel Fitter

Job overview
Diesel fitters maintain and repair diesel engines in a variety of forms e.g. ?in cars, tractors and trucks and in earth-moving equipment but also in generators and large machinery, pumps, drill-rigs etc

What do people do in this job?
Diesel fitters must be able to detect faults and then repair and maintain a wide variety of engines.

Manuals are used in the course of this work.

Their work involves accurate measurement of parts in order to ascertain the extent of the damage and the wear and tear of the parts concerned, also to rectify the causes of such damage.

They must be familiar with various types of measuring instruments such as micrometers, tachometers and engine dynamometers.

An integral part of diesel engines is the fuel injection system and diesel fitters are particularly concerned with its care.

Much of the work performed by diesel fitters is done according to strict specifications.

Diesel fitters use a number of hand and machine tools such as spanners?; ?torque wrenches and specialised testing equipment.

The work is not always clean, but this must be accepted.

The fuel-injection equipment itself is, however, kept in a sealed, dust-free room as even the least bit of dust can affect it.

A course in basic welding is prescribed for the diesel fitter including oxygen, fuel, gas and arc welding.

Battery care, maintenance operation and testing are important facets of the training.

What kinds of people are suitable for this job?
Diesel fitters should have good manual dexterity and hand-eye co-ordination.

They must also have good technical knowledge and an understanding of the machinery surrounding the diesel engine.

Good hearing is also important, because diesel fitters sometime listen to the engine in order to diagnose problems.

Physical strength may be required for lifting heavy apparatus and parts.

What qualifications are needed?
A completed apprenticeship with a reliable, established company.