Role 08Infrastructure

Repairs & Machinery

Recommended holders

3–4

Load rating

Season

Year-round; winter spikes

About this role

A we-conomy runs on machines: tractors, generators, water pumps, vehicles, solar charge controllers, kitchen equipment, chainsaws, and dozens of hand tools. A broken water pump in January, a tractor that won't start at harvest, a generator failure during a blizzard — these are potential crises. The role needs overlapping but distinct skill coverage: diesel/mechanical, electrical/solar, plumbing/water.

Key processes

Preventive maintenance program

Every piece of equipment should have a written maintenance schedule. Conduct a maintenance audit in spring (before heavy season) and fall (before winter). Keep a running maintenance log.

Parts inventory

For a tractor: fuel filters, air filters, oil, belts, hydraulic fluid. For a generator: spark plugs, oil, fuel filters, carburetor kit. For solar: spare fuses, charge controller manual, terminal cleaner. Order parts before you need them; rural delivery can take 3–7 days.

Diesel and small engine repair

1970s–1990s era farm tractors (IH, John Deere, Ford) are ideal: parts are widely available, repairs are manageable without dealer diagnostic equipment.

Electrical and solar systems

Clean panels 2x/year. Inspect all wire connections annually for corrosion. Monitor battery bank voltage monthly. Know how to read the charge controller data and diagnose under-production.

Plumbing

The most important skill in a northern climate is winterization — which lines need to be drained or heat-traced before temperatures drop.

Critical warnings

Single-point-of-failure is the greatest risk here. If the repairs role has only one competent person and they leave, vulnerability is immediate.

Never defer equipment maintenance. Running a machine to failure always costs more than maintaining it.

Connects directly to

Energy, Fuel & Heating Water Management Building & Construction Farming Crops

Good supplement pairings

Building & Construction (strong overlap); Energy (solar maintenance); Water Management

Key insight

A broken water pump in January or a failed tractor at harvest is a crisis. This role is frequently the most underfunded in new collectives.