Farm Equipment Mechanic
Employer
45649 State Hwy 12
Mills, NE 68753
United States
Job description
Perform seasonal winter farm mechanic duties like: Perform manufacturer’s prescribed annual, end of season/pre-season equipment maintenance tasks. These tasks are not in the category of regular oil changes. These are complex tasks taking several labor hours and require mechanically skilled equipment workers. These workers have to fill a service and repair role to inspect, analyze, remove, disassemble and re-assemble major components and equipment systems on a variety of equipment and vehicles under the supervision of the employer and an American mechanic. The tasks are performed on an annual basis only – (interval of once a year), some after a certain number of hours of operation (like after 10 hrs., 50 hrs., 100 hrs., 500 hrs. and then at a 1000 hrs.) or after 25 weeks of operating – which falls between the two harvest seasons of spring and fall. Doing these tasks on site is a huge benefit to the employer as taking the machinery, equipment, and vehicles into dealerships is extremely inefficient and costly for many reasons; due to location of the operation. All the tasks the workers must perform are specified and prescribed by the OEM and equipment manufacturers in their equipment maintenance manuals. All the tasks that need to be performed involve not just off-the-shelf but specialized lubricants, filters, belts, bearings, components and parts. All these required parts must be part of planning and coordination process in order to have them purchased from the OEM and manufacturers so that they arrive and can be ready for the required maintenance tasks in time for them to be completed before the following season. Most of the parts and supplies needed will be on site and ready for the arrival of the workers, and other parts needed will be purchased and or acquired during the first initial weeks of employment. Workers must clean all equipment, tractors, and vehicles before the maintenance procedures will start. The majority of these tasks are performed at a fixed site, inside a large, heated building since it is too cold to perform these time-consuming tasks out in the elements. Some tasks can and will be done outside, but only weather permitting. Workers will utilize, powerful lifting and maneuvering equipment to lift, remove, disassemble, reassemble and replace the various equipment systems. The equipment, machinery, & vehicles must be inspected and adhere to a rigorous maintenance schedule which includes fuel systems; cooling systems; transmission systems; air filter systems; hydraulic systems; axle systems; differential systems; drive train systems; steering systems; brake systems; air line systems; airbags, shock absorber and leave springs systems; electrical systems and tires. Some of the tasks described in simple terms such as changing oil actually consist of securely placing the vehicle on a ramps so that removing certain critical components are able to be reached. The specified component or systems at times require disassembly and re-assembly of the components and can take hours to inspect and disassemble to determine if maintenance is required and exactly what needs to be done.The task of ensuring and applying specialized high temperature grease and in correct quantities to each vehicle or piece of equipment consists of multiple steps, and the general methodology requires applying the grease with a grease gun to multiple grease fittings on various equipment: Disk Mower, two Semi's both Intl (International), 2 John Deere Tractors, John Deere Mega Wide Big Round Baler, H&S 20 Wheel V-Rake, Kosch - Bar Mower. Most of the complicated and involved lubricating tasks consist of disassembling, replacing and again re-assembling, as well as applying thick high-pressure grease (with a higher consistency – often thick like the consistency of molasses is) to different components. Other tasks will include changing worn-down parts on: Disk Mower, two Semi's both Intl (International), 2 John Deere Tractors, John Deere Mega Wi
Special Requirements
Minimum of 24 months of experience is required. Must be able to obtain a driver's license within 30 days of hire. Must have 2 years of large machinery mechanic experience minimum, as well as some machinery computer technology experience is considered very helpful. Lift and carry items weighing up to 60 pounds. The worker will be exposed to extreme temperatures. Extensive pushing and pulling is required. Extensive sitting is required. Extensive walking is required. Wage rate may increase with verifiable experience. Employer may reward exceptional work with monetary or other benefits in addition to those listed here in his sole discretion.