Description
Repair, maintain, or install electric motors, wiring, or switches.
- • Measure velocity, horsepower, revolutions per minute (rpm), amperage, circuitry, and voltage of units or parts to diagnose problems, using ammeters, voltmeters, wattmeters, and other testing devices.
- • Record repairs required, parts used, and labor time.
- • Reassemble repaired electric motors to specified requirements and ratings, using hand tools and electrical meters.
- • Maintain stocks of parts.
- • Repair and rebuild defective mechanical parts in electric motors, generators, and related equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
- • Rewire electrical systems, and repair or replace electrical accessories.
- • Inspect electrical connections, wiring, relays, charging resistance boxes, and storage batteries, following wiring diagrams.
- • Read service guides to find information needed to perform repairs.
- • Inspect and test equipment to locate damage or worn parts and diagnose malfunctions, or read work orders or schematic drawings to determine required repairs.
- • Solder, wrap, and coat wires to ensure proper insulation.
- • Assemble electrical parts such as alternators, generators, starting devices, and switches, following schematic drawings and using hand, machine, and power tools.
- • Lubricate moving parts.
- • Remove and replace defective parts such as coil leads, carbon brushes, and wires, using soldering equipment.
- • Disassemble defective equipment so that repairs can be made, using hand tools.
- • Lift units or parts such as motors or generators, using cranes or chain hoists, or signal crane operators to lift heavy parts or subassemblies.
- • Weld, braze, or solder electrical connections.
- • Reface, ream, and polish commutators and machine parts to specified tolerances, using machine tools.
- • Adjust working parts, such as fan belts, contacts, and springs, using hand tools and gauges.
- • Clean cells, cell assemblies, glassware, leads, electrical connections, and battery poles, using scrapers, steam, water, emery cloths, power grinders, or acid.
- • Scrape and clean units or parts, using cleaning solvents and equipment such as buffing wheels.
- • Rewind coils on cores in slots, or make replacement coils, using coil-winding machines.
- • Cut and form insulation, and insert insulation into armature, rotor, or stator slots.
- • Set machinery for proper performance, using computers.
- • Verify and adjust alignments and dimensions of parts, using gauges and tracing lathes.
- • Test equipment for overheating, using speed gauges and thermometers.
- • Steam-clean polishing and buffing wheels to remove abrasives and bonding materials, and spray, brush, or recoat surfaces as necessary.
- • Test battery charges, and replace or recharge batteries as necessary.
- • Repair and operate battery-charging equipment.
- • Sharpen tools such as saws, picks, shovels, screwdrivers, and scoops, either manually or by using bench grinders and emery wheels.
- • Seal joints with putty, mortar, and asbestos, using putty extruders and knives.
- • Hammer out dents and twists in tools and equipment.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
