Show t Small Engine gine Re Repair pair Course Starts Spring ring Quarter A day course in small industrial and recreational vehicle vehicle vehicle cle repair has been approved by bythe bythe bythe the Utah State Board of Education Education Education tion for Utah Tech It is the first course addition to the college curriculum curriculum curriculum lum in three years Initial up sign-up for the course to cost a quarter for resident resident resident resi resi- dent students plus books and supplies is set for Mar 17 Spring quarter Glasswork begins Mar 20 Present plans call for 20 students students students stu stu- dents the first year with expansion expansion expansion sion to 40 students the following year The course will be a month 12 program with emphasis sis divided between small industrial industrial industrial indus indus- trial engine repair or recreational vehicle repair and main maintenance is slated for the automotive and heavy-duty heavy mechanics mechanics mechanics me me- facility at West Vest and 2nd So in downtown Salt Lake City The course will include related su subjects such as vocational civics math communications welding and machine shop The program will be accredited by the Northwest Northwest Northwest North North- west Association of Secondary and Higher Schools Dr R. R H H. H Hansen vice president president president dent at the college says coursework coursework course coursework work will deal with engines on snowmobiles motorcycles outboard outboard outboard out out- board and inboard boats industrial industrial industrial rial gas-driven gas pumps generators welders compactor equipment air compressors trenchers chain chainsaws chainsaws chainsaws saws etc He notes there are only a couple of public instruction courses on a small scale operating operating operating opera opera- ting in the State and one is with the Job Corps The course will teach two-and two four-cycle four engines power trains drive systems hydraulics and electrical and fuel systems The new course will add one or two new instructors to the colleges and teaching equipment costs will be about College College College Col Col- lege Pres Jay L. L Nelson says funds for the course will be requested through federal sources sources sources sour sour- ces and that much of the training training training train train- ing equipment will come in the form of donations from local businesses Impetus for the new course came from local dealers in small engine equipment and recreational recreation recreation- al vehicles who claim well-trained well mechanics for this equipment are hard to find According to most dealers mechanics with automotive automotive automotive auto auto- motive backgrounds are not knowledgeable enough about two two- two and na four-cycle four engines A preliminary nary survey by college college college col col- lege officials shows more than dealer and repair establishments establishments establishments establish establish- ments in the Salt Lake Valley dealing with small engines for marine recreational and indus- indus tural uses The job market for graduates of the course looks attractive based on the high usage of such equipment locally and throughout through through- out the State Howard W. W Burnett of Rent- Rent It-Centers It in Salt Lake City is isone isone isone one of the more vocal supporters of the new course Theres a fantastic shortage of trained people Burnett says I personally spent in advertising advertising advertising ad ad- and nine weeks looking for a bench mechanic at my business centers I got two applicants applicants applicants ap ap- ap- ap neither of whom were qualified Mr Burnett says Im happy Utah Tech has taken the initiative initiative initiative initia initia- tive to start this course There are just no classes in Utah for small engine mechanics other than a few superficial special training sessions Pointing to demands for noise abatement Burnett says federal law has placed an upper noise limit at 88 He says some of the smaller diesel engines engines engines en en- gines are noise abated requiring people who know how to maintain maintain maintain main main- tain that noise limitation when repairs are made Such an approach approach approach ap ap- ap- ap is going to require well- well qualified people and not back back- yard it fix-it men Burnett says Burnett also says that small engine repair is an open industry to minority groups with initiative initia initia- tive Most companies I know Burnett says dont don't care about the color of a mans man's skin and neither do the machines they repair Bob Oakeson salesman for Arnold Machinery lends support too He says the shortage of qualified small engine mechanics is critical and his state six-state sales area is suffering He blames the higher education kick of years back for the lack of mechanics He claims people have forgotten to use their hands Norman Malmstrom service manager of Boyd Martin Co in Salt Lake City says he has seen very few mechanics walk into his company looking for jobs He le claims because there arent aren't any He says small engine repair can be a prime field for someone who wants to start his own bus bus- iness A man with a box full of tools the proper training and a afew afew afew few pieces of calibration and testing equipment can build himself himself himself him him- self a fine business in no time I Idid Idid Idid did at one time Malmstrom says He thinks a man right out of Utah Tech's course can get a astar star starting ting wage of at least an hour and work up from there Boyd Martin Co handles turf equipment and some recreational vehicles Harold Leavitt service manager manager manager mana mana- ger at Anchor Marine in Salt Lake City supports the boat end of small engine mechanic needs I could use two or three men right now he says He indicates au auto to mechanics could handle most engine problems with in- in board board-au outboard board power units because because because be be- cause they are auto engines but they need special training in the drive mechanism Sales of cycles and recreational recreational recreational vehicles such as snowmobiles snowmobiles snow snow- mo mobiles biles has surged over the years and are continually rising The Utah State Parks and Recreation Recreation Recreation Division says its expects to register about snowmobiles snowmobiles snowmobiles snow snow- mobiles this year Boats are another another another ano ano- ther large repair area with Davis Salt Lake and Weber and Utah counties listing over boat owners Utah Tech's small industrial and recreational vehicle repair course is destined to make one of the most valuable contributions to the States State's skilled trades |