Isuzu Australia is looking to a partnership with TAFE SA to get more young mechanics in workshops amidst the continuing industry shortage.
As a part of this agreement, TAFE SA recently acquired six IPS 4LE1N industrial power units from their local supplier Engine Pump and Power in Adelaide for students to tinker with, strip-down and repair as part of their learning program.
“We just purchased six Isuzu engines for the workshop, which is what we were after for teaching those fundamentals,” says automotive technician David Askew.
“They’re simple, mechanical engines, without too much electrical or fuss which is just perfect for us.”
David and Paul Garth work lecturing and teaching students at TAFE SA, educating the next generation of heavy vehicle and automotive mechanics.
“We cover three streams as part of the heavy vehicle section, so we cover off a lot of mobile plant equipment, road transport and agriculture machines,” Paul says.
“We also cover anything from diesel fuel systems, engine management and engine rebuilding.
“We try to provide anything and everything a student needs to succeed in the industry… from our point of view, it’s a really rewarding job.”
The training provided in these courses prepares a student to tackle a wide range of issues from engine diagnosis through to life skills that are applicable almost anywhere.
This is done through practical and hands on experience, letting students get familiar and comfortable with heavy vehicle components in the classroom.
“One of our courses is called ‘diagnose and repair’ and its focus is how an engine works and how to strip it down,” Paul says.
“The students will strip it down in its entirety, so get the crank shafts out, conrods, pistons, everything.
“They’ll follow the Isuzu manual for all of that and then they will assess the engine.
“I think these engines have probably been stripped down and put back together dozens of times already and they’re still reasonably new, if that gives an idea of how many times it’s going to happen… that’s the reason why we choose to work on Isuzu engines.”
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