Part time mechanic

oceans

oceans

Been here much more than a while
Location
RI
Has anyone hired or contracted a prt time mechanic that works on your stuff at your shop on a regular basis?

I can’t justify a full time slot, but I can imagine a day or two a week to keep all the moving parts proper. I can’t do it myself without sacrificing production.

I’d be happy to allow use of my tools and equip if need be, but also know there are a number of quality mobile maintenance type outfits out there.

Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks!
 
I’ve been using mobile mechanics now this past season.
Expensive but not waiting on shops and my closest shop is 80 minutes away so with fuel and time it equals out and they show up at my shop after 2:00 and it doesn’t effect my work schedule at least for a moderate break down.
Worth every penny so far!
 
VenasNursery said:
I’ve been using mobile mechanics now this past season.
Expensive but not waiting on shops and my closest shop is 80 minutes away so with fuel and time it equals out and they show up at my shop after 2:00 and it doesn’t effect my work schedule at least for a moderate break down.
Worth every penny so far!
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Hey who do you use? We've been struggling with equipment whack-a-mole lately and this seems like a great solution.
 
Njdelaney said:
Hey who do you use? We've been struggling with equipment whack-a-mole lately and this seems like a great solution.
Click to expand...
Elite Field Service
They are out of Grand Rapids but have technicians all around the state.
They are top notch one time on an emergency call they showed up in Trenton within an hour!
Make sure you let them know you know me. You won’t be disappointed.

+1 (616) 915-5250
 
Seems like you might be able to find a mechanic part-time that works at a shop full-time and wants some extra hours. Or if you are not looking for particularly technical work, maybe pick up a student from a local technical college part time? Someone like that should be able to handle basic maintenance for you.
 
oceans said:
I have the ideal guy in mind but he lives in Spokane, WA and we’re East Coast. I think the commute will be incompatible. I need to look around some more…
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He probably won't drive across the country to you, but... how about across the state to me? :p

But really, having someone on a schedule or easily on-call sounds great. Given the tiny size of my area, we've only got a handful of good mechanics at all, so everyone is very busy. I've got a mobile guy and have also dropped things off at his place when that's easier for him. Overall it's a bit tough though.
 
Reach said:
Seems like you might be able to find a mechanic part-time that works at a shop full-time and wants some extra hours. Or if you are not looking for particularly technical work, maybe pick up a student from a local technical college part time? Someone like that should be able to handle basic maintenance for you.
Click to expand...
Those sound like great venues to check out. Hopefully someone in that position would have enough of their own kit to manage the variety of projects. The guy I wish was here is fully independent, very well versed in small engines, gas and diesel engines, hydraulics, electrics, and even welding. He’s being lired by a trade school to become a full time teacher there. The only other person I know that could fit the bill is me, and that’s not a possibility. :/
 
27RMT0N said:
He probably won't drive across the country to you, but... how about across the state to me? :p

But really, having someone on a schedule or easily on-call sounds great. Given the tiny size of my area, we've only got a handful of good mechanics at all, so everyone is very busy. I've got a mobile guy and have also dropped things off at his place when that's easier for him. Overall it's a bit tough though.
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He might! If you’re serious I can ask him. He’s an ace with a huge amount of experience on a wide variety of fronts.

I do like the idea of a regular scheduled program. Doing planned PM is way better than unplanned repair.
 
oceans said:
Those sound like great venues to check out. Hopefully someone in that position would have enough of their own kit to manage the variety of projects. The guy I wish was here is fully independent, very well versed in small engines, gas and diesel engines, hydraulics, electrics, and even welding. He’s being lired by a trade school to become a full time teacher there. The only other person I know that could fit the bill is me, and that’s not a possibility. :/
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Around here anyway, all of the tech schools require students to purchase a pretty large collection of personal tools. All of the basics, anyway. I suspect that the school’s out your way are similar.

I would like to hire a mechanic that fits that description as well! Currently, I am here around here also. I don’t mind some of it, but I don’t have the time to be a full-time, or even part-time mechanic. Working from 6 AM to 10 PM every day of the week gets tiring after a while.
 
VenasNursery said:
Elite Field Service
They are out of Grand Rapids but have technicians all around the state.
They are top notch one time on an emergency call they showed up in Trenton within an hour!
Make sure you let them know you know me. You won’t be disappointed.

+1 (616) 915-5250
Click to expand...
They're who I bought my Manitou MRT from, it's been a good experience for me as well.
 
Awesome Josh and Cam are great people and service is outstanding.
Those seem to be pretty popular awesome machines
 
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oceans said:
He might! If you’re serious I can ask him. He’s an ace with a huge amount of experience on a wide variety of fronts.
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Mostly joking, with ferry travel it ends up being a really short day, really long day or overnight stay. Not that practical for non-islanders.

Really I just need to be more proactive about forming a solid relationship with a mechanic here and setting up a regular schedule. Or going to the mainland, which I did with my chipper today, actually taking it to a dealer. It was acting up and then not starting the other day, so I spent 3 hours on ferries and driving about 220 miles. Been meaning to have them do a top-to-bottom service anyways, just wasn't planning on the timing being forced on me this way. The yard was also a vacuum truck service shop, but the yard (now through Cal-Line) also had about 25 Bandits sitting around.

0 TB 01.webp
 
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