TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

OF MOMBASA

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT REPORT

AT COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF MOMBASA

NAME: OMIA GODFREY ODHIAMBO

REG. NO.: BSME/083J/2016

TEL: 0727-752539.

Email; godfreyomia7814@gmail.com.

ATTACHMENT PERIOD FROM 25th January, 2021 TO 22nd March, 2021

Date of submission

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 This attachment is submitted in partial fulfillment of the academic requirement for the degree
of Bachelor of Science mechanical engineering in the faculty of engineering and technology at
Technical University of Mombasa.

DECLARATION
I hereby declare that this is my work to the best of my knowledge and has never been presented to
anyone anywhere before. It is based on the work done during my two months attachment at
County government of Mombasa.

SIGN ……………………………….……..

DATE ……………………………………..

OMIA GODFREY ODHIAMBO

CERTIFICATION
I have read this report and approved it for examination

SIGN ……………………………….……..

DATE ……………………………………..

Eng. FELIX MARIERA

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 DEDICATION
I dedicate this work to Mr. and Mrs. Ochieng who have always encouraged me not to give up in
times of challenges and trials but instead give such situations my problem-solving technique so
that I realize everything good in them. Not forgetting the continuous financial support.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to acknowledge my dad, Mr. Charles Bernard Ochieng and thank him for his unfailing
love and support that he has always shown to me and for always believing in me, something that
motivates me to keep working harder and harder. I’m so much thankful to him for his financial and
spiritual support that he offered to me during my attachment period. Dad may God bless you
tremendously that you may live long to enjoy the blessings from God and eat the good of the land.

I would love to exclusively acknowledge my industrial supervisor, Mr. Abdallah for his wonderful
supervision. He always ensured that I utilized my time well, to learn and get well equipped with
knowledge in my field of study, and ensured my safety in the workshop. May the Almighty GOD
bless him tremendously.

Not forgetting my fellow attaches both whom I found in county government of Mombasa and
those who joined me later who worked hand in hand with me to ensure that we gain the best during
the attachment period.

I can’t forget to thank my lecturer Mr. George Ayugi who visited me in the company for
assessment and challenged me to learn more and utilize the time I had maximizing my potential in
my field of study and encouraged me to overcome fear and ask questions to my supervisor.

Lastly, I am more pleased to thank and acknowledge the entire county government of Mombasa
for helping me get a chance to train in the company. It was amazing being in county government
of Mombasa.

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 ABSTRACT
The purpose of this paper is to provide a summarized report of the field attachment institution and
activities encountered at the institution of attachment. I had been invited to partake my attachment
at the county government of Mombasa department mechanical engineering under the county
operation and services where I was situated at the county yard.

At the yard, I was put to the following task

 Monitoring the functioning of all the county fleets and reporting in case of any problem or
substandard condition.
 Overhauling of county vehicles to the required standards
 Fitting new parts in vehicles and equipment as required
 Carrying out maintenance and servicing of county vehicles
 Attending to emergency breakdown of county vehicles

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Table of Contents
DECLARATION.....................................................................................................................................1
CERTIFICATION....................................................................................................................................1
DEDICATION........................................................................................................................................2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.......................................................................................................................3
ABSTRACT...........................................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER ONE:....................................................................................................................................6
Introduction....................................................................................................................................6
Objectives of the Attachment:........................................................................................................6
Company organization structure and background.........................................................................6
The organization structures............................................................................................................7
CHAPTER TWO....................................................................................................................................8
ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT DURING THE ATTACHMENT..................................................................8
Inspection of booster......................................................................................................................8
Servicing..........................................................................................................................................8
Removal and replacement of leaf spring........................................................................................9
Removal, cleaning and replacement of radiator and intercooler................................................10
Alignment of inner tie rod end of FAW 045A...............................................................................11
Disassembling of a Nissan’s gearbox in order to identify the source of failure...........................11
Replacement of the U-bolts..........................................................................................................12
Safety Precautions Taken in the Workshop:................................................................................12
CHAPTER THREE................................................................................................................................13
CHALLENGES RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION..............................................................13
CHALLENGES.................................................................................................................................13
RECOMMENDATIONS...................................................................................................................13
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES......................................................................................................................................14

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 CHAPTER ONE:

Introduction

Students need to use their initiative to translate theories learnt in classrooms and perform
assignments in an actual working environment; attachment instill in the students the right kind of
work attitudes and professionalism through interaction with people in the organization and
observation of their future roles in industry so that they can become effective and productive.

Industrial training provides the opportunity for the students to comprehend and appreciate real-life
working experiences. Students may realize their ambition and ascertain their career path from the
experience gained during industrial training.

Objectives of the Attachment:

The main aims of industrial attachment include providing a structured attachment program with
emphasis on application, management and hands-on experience for students to:

i) Apply knowledge learned.

ii) Acquire practical skills
iii) Strengthen work values
iv) Gain interpersonal skills

Company organization structure and background

Mombasa County was one of the former districts of Kenya but in 2013 it was reconstructed
as a county on the same boundaries. It is the smallest county in Kenya covering an area of
229.7km square. The county is situated in the south Eastern part of the former coast
province, it borders Kilifi County to the North, Kwale County to the south west and Indian

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 Ocean to the east. The county is divided into seven divisions, eighteen locations and thirty
sub locations.

The organization structures

County executive committee member [CECM]

[Tautiq Balala]

County chief officer [CCO]

Eng. Albert Keno

Director operation and services

[Mr. Ali]

Chief mechanical engineer

[Mr. Thomas Nzeka]

Supervisor

Foreman
[Abdallah]

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 CHAPTER TWO
ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT DURING THE ATTACHMENT

Inspection of booster

The vacuum hose to the booster was inspected for kinks and cracks. The vacuum at idle was
checked with a vacuum gauge, moderate pressure on the brake pedal was held and engine started
at the point when the reserve was depleted. The pedal then dropped slightly indicating that the
booster was working properly.

Structure of a break booster

Servicing

The air filter was inspected in order to identify the presence of any dirt. The dirt was then removed
and a light smear of engine oil was then placed on the filter rubber. The earth strap on the battery
was removed in order to avoid activating the starter in case of any accident of an open wire, this
was done in order to inspect the battery. The brake fluid was checked by first wiping dirt from the

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master cylinder reservoir lid, the lid was then removed after prying off the retainer clip, improved
type of fluid and master cylinder was checked for any possible leakage throughout the system.
Dipstick was then removed and wiped in order to make it clean and oil was added since engine oil
level was low. Holes were checked in the muffler; loose or broken exhaust clamp and support were
then checked underneath during the inspection of the exhaust and silencer exhaust.

Removal and replacement of leaf spring

The sixth and fifth leaf that were broken caused the shacking of the tructor,the floor jack was used
to pump the rear of the truck in order to expose the rear axle assembly ,both the jack stands were
placed under the truck on each side ,the lower bolt was removed followed by the removal of the
axle in order to remove some of the pressure from the leaf spring, the spring retainer bracket and
the U-bolt were unfastened and set aside, the rear shackle bolt was loosened after which the front
and rear eyebolts were taken out finally the leaf spring was removed. In order to replace the leaf
spring, the front bushing of the replacement spring was placed into the front mounting bracket, the
front eyebolt and nut were then applied after which the rear bushing and shackle of the new leaf
spring were aligned, the rear bolt and nut were then installed,the axle was raised in order to insert
the Centre bolt of the new leaf spring into the axle pad and finally the U-bolts and retainer bracket
were applied.

Leaf spring loaded on the rear axial

wheel

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 Structure of leaf spring

Removal, cleaning and replacement of radiator and intercooler

In order to remove the radiator, the following were done; first the radiator was turned off and
container placed beneath the radiator, the radiator valve nut was then removed and water drained
from the radiator and finally the valve inlet was bunged up. The intercooler and radiator were then
cleaned with water. The cleaned radiator was then mounted in its correct position and all other
parts that were previously removed were reattached by starting with radiator mounting bolt and
finalizing with the radiator reservoir hose. The coolant was then added to the radiator while the oil
and transmission level were checked, finally bleeding of the air from the cooling system was
carried out and coolant level rechecked.

The radiator structure

And parts

Alignment of inner tie rod end of

FAW 045A

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The unusual wear of the tire was noticed resulting in the misalignment of inner tie rod. the toe of
the inner tie rod end was adjusted on a rack and pinion steering system by turning the adjusting
sleeve. The steering wheel was then locked with the steering wheel lock correctly wedged between
the seat and the wheel; each inner tie rod end was then turned one half of the total specification.
Finally, the toe was split between the tires.

Disassembling of a Nissan’s gearbox in order to identify the source of failure

A tool was first used to retain the drive flange ,unscrew and remove the nut and a washer, the peg
bolt holding the speedometer gear bearing was then removed .The bolts were then unscrewed and
removed together with the extension housing ,thrust washer and gasket .The bolts at the front of
the gearbox that retain the front cover was then removed followed by the wedge lock screw that
holds the retaining plate and the countershaft removed by placing a long rod against the front of
the countershaft .the input shaft and front bearing were also removed through the front of the
gearbox ,after this the circlip on the main shaft to the rear of the Centre bearing was then removed,
finally the countershaft was slided out.

The gear box and bell housing

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 Gear box structure and parts

Replacement of the U-bolts

The nuts attached to the threads of the U-bolts were removed, the U-bolts were then well
positioned on the suspension on the leaf spring, the holes were then examined properly and any
rust in the holes removed by use of a sand paper .the U-bolts were then threaded through the holes
and lubricant added.

Safety Precautions Taken in the Workshop:

In every workshop and in every industry, safety is considered a key thing in avoidance of
accidents, injuries and other related hazards that may occur in the workshop.

1. Wearing of protective gears such as safety boots, overalls or dust coats and helmets.

2. Work only under the supervisor’s guidance.

3. Do not test any panel without the supervisor’s permission.

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 4. Before connecting any equipment for testing ensures that the power supply is put off to
avoid injuries and other possible hazards.

5. Correct use of tools should be considered. E.g. a multiplier should not be used to strip 4
mm².

CHAPTER THREE
CHALLENGES RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION

CHALLENGES

1. Shortage of time in the attachment firm. This limited the learning time of the attaches.

2. Being stationed in one place was also a challenge since attaches couldn’t therefore get the
privilege to learn the activities that were being carried out in the other departments.

3. Repetition of work, where a certain job that had been done previously is allocated to the
same learner even more than four times thus being exposed to less activities in the field. This is
because the job allocation could depend on which vehicle a breakdown had. E.g. The removal of
car tires and tie rod end was a daily basis work.

4. Learners were also not allowed to learn the programming part of the work in the firm
which limited their chance to maximize their opportunity in the firm.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. The attachment period to be increased so as to allow the attaches to learn more and fully
familiarize with the workshop and automotive work.
2. The organization to introduce a policy that enables students to visit all department in the whole
firm during their period of attachment.
3. The supervisor to allow students be exposed to various works instead of repeating the same
activities for the two months to maximize their learning in the firm.

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4. Students to be given opportunity to learn about the programming part of work done in the
organization.

CONCLUSION

During the attachment period, students get to be exposed to a lot of practical work that takes place
in the field of mechanical and automotive engineering, the importance of the skills and the areas of
application. It also equips learners with knowledge on the basic operations of various machines
used in the automotive firm and also the safety precautions for every workshop. During my
attachment period in the county government of Mombasa, I was able to learn the following skills;

How to carry out maintenance and servicing of county vehicles

How to monitor the functioning of all county fleets and reporting incase of any problem of sub-
standard condition

How to carry out overhauling of county vehicles to the required standard

How to carry out fitting of new parts of vehicles and equipment as required

How to attend to emergency breakdown of county vehicles

How to overcome fear and become confident with myself. At first, during the attachment period, I
even feared my colleagues, the workers and also the supervisor. It is during this period that I later
overcame fear and I was free to ask them question; this maximized my learning potential in the
firm.

REFERENCES

1. Attachment logbook
2. Internet resources and books

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