Lesson 1Hydraulic troubleshooting steps: pressure checks, flow, contamination checksThis section explains a stepwise approach to hydraulic troubleshooting, including pressure and flow checks, contamination assessment, and component isolation, helping learners locate faults in pumps, valves, hoses, and actuators efficiently.
Reviewing hydraulic circuit schematicsMeasuring system and control pressuresChecking flow and actuator response timeSampling and assessing fluid contaminationIsolating pumps, valves, and cylindersLesson 2Using visual, auditory and tactile cues for rapid fault identificationThis section covers how to use sight, sound, and touch to rapidly identify faults, including leaks, misalignment, overheating, and abnormal noises, while applying strict safety practices to avoid burns, entanglement, or electric shock.
Safe visual inspection around moving partsRecognizing abnormal noises and vibrationsDetecting heat, friction, and rough movementIdentifying leaks, smells, and contaminationPrioritizing faults found with sensory checksLesson 3Mechanical wear diagnosis: vibration analysis, end-play, chain/gear wearThis section explains how to recognise mechanical wear using vibration patterns, end-play checks, and chain or gear inspection, helping learners distinguish normal ageing from critical faults that threaten safety, reliability, or crop operations.
Basics of vibration frequency and amplitudeMeasuring and interpreting shaft end‑playInspecting chain elongation and sprocket wearIdentifying gear pitting, scoring, and backlashDeciding repair urgency from wear indicatorsLesson 4Communicating simple repair instructions to junior staffThis section focuses on giving clear, safe, and actionable repair instructions to junior staff, using simple language, visual aids, and checks for understanding to reduce errors, prevent accidents, and keep agro-equipment downtime to a minimum.
Assess junior staff skills and limitationsBreak complex repairs into safe small stepsUse checklists, tags, and visual job aidsConfirm understanding with teach‑back methodsMonitor work progress and correct errorsLesson 5Structured diagnostic workflow: symptom collection, isolation, testing, verificationThis section presents a structured diagnostic workflow, from symptom collection and background information to isolation, testing, verification, and final confirmation, reducing guesswork and repeat failures in agro-equipment maintenance.
Collecting symptoms and operating historyForming and ranking possible fault causesPlanning tests to isolate likely componentsVerifying repairs with functional testingUpdating records and preventive actionsLesson 6Basic test tools and measurements: multimeter, pressure gauge, hydrometer, tachometerThis section introduces core test tools used in field diagnostics, such as multimeters, pressure gauges, hydrometers, and tachometers, emphasising correct setup, safe measurement techniques, calibration checks, and basic result interpretation.
Selecting the right tool for each faultSafe multimeter setup and common rangesUsing pressure gauges on fuel and hydraulicsApplying hydrometers for battery checksMeasuring speed and rpm with tachometersLesson 7Documentation and fault reporting for handover to managers or techniciansThis section trains learners to document faults clearly and report them to managers or technicians, using standardised forms, photos, and codes so that repair teams can quickly understand history, urgency, and required parts or tools.
Recording machine ID, hours, and contextDescribing symptoms and test results clearlyUsing fault codes, photos, and sketchesFlagging safety‑critical issues and prioritiesStoring and sharing reports for traceabilityLesson 8Decision matrix: on-field repair vs. shop repair vs. parts replacementThis section teaches how to use a decision matrix to choose between on-field repair, workshop repair, or parts replacement, balancing safety, cost, downtime, available tools, and long-term reliability of tractors and attached agro-implements.
Defining safety and downtime decision criteriaScoring on‑field versus shop repair optionsWhen to replace parts instead of repairingConsidering warranty, manuals, and regulationsDocumenting and reviewing repair decisionsLesson 9Electrical checks: battery health, voltage drops, sensor signal verificationThis section details practical electrical checks on agro-equipment, including battery health testing, voltage drop measurement, and sensor signal verification, enabling accurate diagnosis of starting, charging, and control system problems.
Testing battery state of charge and loadMeasuring voltage drops under operationChecking alternator output and groundsVerifying sensor reference and signal wiresInterpreting readings against specifications
