Ransomes MG5 Crawler

[Robotstar5]

Sadly it happens all too often when apprentices are seen as nothing more than cheap labour and in a few years time they will be wondering why there's a shortage of skilled workers...

When I did my apprenticeship in the 70's the training officer kept on top of things, the only run in I had was for doing excessive overtime so I had to cut back.

I think some of the blame should be put on the apprentices themselves these days, at my last place there were some who were interested in the job and wanted to learn, but others would prefer to sit in the workshop playing on their phones.

 

[More Amps]

I get the impression that @Dieselman 63 is definitely not one of those phone-addicted young people and is sadly unusual in displaying a real interest in learning about the job. I am reminded of reading about an employer who had the habit of visiting the parents of any prospective apprentices - he reckoned he could tell a lot from discovering what sort of background and upbringing they came from. (It would probably be considered illegal these days and considered an infringement of someone's human rights - but let's ignore the employer's rights...)

 

[Mick Annick]

My manager hasn’t been present for the past five apprenticeship meetings with the course lady, sets the standard really. I don’t really think they care, that’s the problem, and an email won’t improve things but will rark everyone up.

I’ve thought about saying something for a while now but realistically, if they had genuine concerns, this situation wouldn’t even be happening.

I stayed the course for the five years of my apprenticeship, ended up being the longest serving employee and the most experienced but sadly it counted for nothing. I left six months later for a management job which I got based on my experience, go figure as they say.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Sadly it happens all too often when apprentices are seen as nothing more than cheap labour and in a few years time they will be wondering why there's a shortage of skilled workers...

Yeah it’s silly eh. ‘Nobody wants to do this job’ well yeah, when you treat them like that, who would…

 

[More Amps]

Given the situation, I would say you have three options.

1. Suck it up and hope things improve
2. Complain or at least bring it to the attention of senior management
3. Look into transferring/completing your apprenticeship elsewhere

It may be that they don't think of you as having sufficient skills yet to give you more interesting work. How many apprentices are there at your work? Have you tried talking to any who are further ahead? they "might" say that things improve significantly when you get further up the ladder. Some companies take on apprentices in the expectation that a significant number will drop out for various reasons, and don't put in any real effort until they feel those remaining have demonstrated that they are in for the long haul.

One person complaining is seen as someone having a moan. Do the others at your level feel the same,? if so, then an email from all of you might produce some action. If the rest of them have no genuine interest in the work, then it's probably time to explore option three...

If you decide on option three, then look on the plus side - you currently have work, which is always the best place to be if you're looking for a change. You have some experience and so should be in a better place to ask the right questions when you go looking for the next job.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Bought a new seal today, $7, 1.25” outer 2”. Pressed that in, then 3bonded it to the machine. I don’t recall there being a seal originally, but I thought a bit of oil-stopping silicone wouldn’t hurt.

Now, onto the main drive shaft. The bearing seemed pretty gone with the amount of dirt in it, but after a kero wash it’s actually spinning really well and no doubt will sound even better once in oil. So far, so good.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Shaft cleaned, ready to go back in once I have cleaned the gear selector, this will take place at an undisclosed location tomorrow… ready for fitting when I get home

 

[Dieselman 63]

Here’s a boring post.

I wire wheeled the selector, then went to fit it. It was completely wedged in the piece it’s supposed to freely mate with.

The fitting on this is appalling, this isn’t the first thing on this that’s below par.

The selector is hardened so I broke out the angle grinder and a cutting disc, and promptly cut a slit in my knuckle. Nice.

Once I taped up my finger, I was ready to go. The green felt tip marked the high spots and I cut them down on the grinder until it was able to slide in. Then a circle started appearing, this is from the burrs on the drilled holes. I nipped the shaft in the vice and used the grinder to carefully pare away the high spots. The shaft now works properly, and is ready for fitting to the machine.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Right.

Shaft fitted, first gear fitted, bull gear fitted, pinion fitted and bearing in place with castle nut and split pin.

Next up, rebuild the planetary gear train and the first gear selector, then I can start cleaning the cast iron cover.

I’ve also won an online auction for lots of Howard manuals and some Villiers books, too. They’ll be a welcome read as I go forward with the engine overhaul.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I had a meeting with my apprenticeship coordinator, they’re an external agency and visit me every three months.

Basically, the company can’t provide me with the work I need to complete my apprenticeship, which is pretty crap.

We don’t do bearings, dynamic seals, welding, servicing of pneumatic or hydraulic components, gas cutting or welding. I’m joining a heritage railway on the advice of someone at work, who said they can help me get it, but I have to pay membership subs. I’ll do that, if it means I can come out of my time faster.

Companies moan about apprentices not finishing trades or young people not wanting to be tradesmen. If I had known what I know now, I probably wouldn’t have bothered starting this journey as it’s been so poorly organised, but there you go…

 

[Dieselman 63]

The books came.

Sadly nothing about JAP 600s, but these exploded diagrams are amazing. This will make reassembly so much easier.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Planetary rebuilt, that manual is amazing and makes life so much easier! I’m a few gears away from getting towards the lid, so I should probably get that all cleaned and buy another oil seal, cut the gasket.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Earth and oil is one of the toughest substances to remove. A combination of scraping and chipping got this free. Needs a wire wheel and paint next, this took me a whole hour, someone repainted it badly, too.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Earth and oil is one of the toughest substances to remove. A combination of scraping and chipping got this free. Needs a wire wheel and paint next, this took me a whole hour, someone repainted it badly, too.

Hot water and washing powder would of shifted it. Or made it soft enough.
Dunk, leave scrape.

 

[dobbslc]

Nice work as usual DM
Shame about the apprenticeship but do keep at it as you'll have a qualification for life once it's done! I wish my eldest boy would do something like this.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Nice work as usual DM
Shame about the apprenticeship but do keep at it as you'll have a qualification for life once it's done! I wish my eldest boy would do something like this.

I’ve been on this path since I was 26, six years ago, which feels ages ago and I felt an old man then! I was one of the oldest people on my course of 30 but only one of six to graduate, which was a good feeling.

The industry feels as though it’s been gutted and they’re looking for more reliable, older people nowadays, gives us old ones a chance! It’s never too late.

 

[dobbslc]

Old ones

 

[Dieselman 63]

The cover has been washed with kero and wire wheeled, it’s in good condition.

I made a new gasket with the excellent Boehm kit. Then I fitted all the bits to the cover, ready to put it on.

Just the gear lever and snap ring, then I’m ready to box this back up.

 

[Dieselman 63]

The lid is on.

Had a bit of trouble as this is the lid from a different machine, the other one was cracked, so two bolts won’t fully line up. I’m going to get a carbide burr and open the hole out a bit, as all twelve others do.

I’m quite happy, now I need to look at putting some other equipment back on. Someone’s giving me a Howard Gem book which I’m going to enjoy reading.

Thoughts of putting a Derbyshire County Council purple decal on have been permeating my mind as I read these were used by councils, and the orange reminds me a lot of the old DCC land rovers and mowers I used to see when I was at school.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Frame next.

This will be some effort I think. I’ll have to get quite a bit sandblasted. I’m glad I have the book, as there are lots of levers here.

The petrol/oil tank is off, and a bit of a decal remains. You can buy new ones on the web, maybe if it works again I’ll treat it to a set.