Farm equipment dealers employ most of the farm equipment mechanics. Often called service technicians, these workers service, maintain, and repair farm equipment as well as smaller lawn and garden tractors sold to suburban homeowners. What was typically a general repairer's job around the farm has evolved into a technical career much in demand. Farmers have increasingly turned to farm equipment dealers to service and repair their equipment because the machinery has grown in complexity. Modern equipment uses more electronics and hydraulics making it difficult to perform repairs without some specialized training.
Mechanics work mostly on equipment brought into the shop for repair and adjustment.
During planting and harvesting seasons, they may travel to farms to make emergency repairs to minimize delays in farm operations. Mechanics also perform preventive maintenance on older equipment. Periodically, they test, adjust, clean, and tune engines to keep them in proper working order. The level of service is determined by the difficulty of the problem. In large shops, mechanics usually specialize in certain types of work, such as diesel engine overhaul, hydraulic maintenance, or clutch and transmission repair.