IYRS Through the Eyes of Brackett Dow
Marine Systems Student, ‘09

8:45 am Arrive in Bristol, finish my morning coffee, grab my diesel study guide and lunch, head inside.

9:05 am  Geoff Almeida, our systems instructor, goes over the differences between systems found on older engines versus some of the newest common rail pumps found on the Cummins engines.

11:00 am Geoff breaks down the plan to get the new Cummings engine running, giving the group step-by-step instructions, breaking it up into workable sections for each team.

1:00 pm Class resumes after lunch and the teams start right in, running the exhaust hoses, fabricating instrument panels, installing primary fuel filters, wiring the battery, and installing the gauges. Geoff floats through the groups dispensing advice, wisecracking, and warning of potential hazards.

3:45 pm After a 3:00 break, Geoff declares that we are all ready for the engine to start, and begins to run down the checklist from the service manual. The class gathers around as the last clamps are tightened and wires are run. Geoff double-checks everything, and all systems are go. We have a green light to start ‘er up, but it is too late. The day is over.

5:00 pm And class is dismissed. Guess we’ll just have to come back tomorrow to see it start. Can’t wait.