Kerala PSC Junior Instructor (Mechanic Tractor) – Industrial Training Syllabus
ജൂനിയർ ഇൻസ്ട്രക്ടർ (മെക്കാനിക് ട്രാക്ടർ) – വ്യാവസായിക പരിശീലന വകുപ്പ് – സിലബസ്
Technical posts and departmental tests · Category No. 078/2026
The full syllabus, organised section by section with the marks for each part: 7 sections and 62 topics, 100 marks in all. Tick topics off as you study and practise each part with the mock tests.
Objective-type written test (OMR/online) for 100 marks. Kerala PSC has not yet announced the exam date, duration or medium of questions.
- Sections
- 7
- Topics
- 62
- Total marks
- 100
Exam pattern & marks · പരീക്ഷാ ഘടന
1
Module 1 – Tools, Measuring Instruments & Fastenersഉപകരണങ്ങൾ, അളവുപകരണങ്ങൾ, ഫാസ്റ്റനറുകൾ
15 marks- Marking and layout tools: marking materials, cleaning tools, surface plate, steel rule, measuring tape, try square, inside and outside calipers, dividers, surface gauge, scriber
- Punches and chisels: prick, centre, pin, hollow, number and letter punches, flat and cross-cut chisels
- Hand tools: ball peen, lump and mallet hammers, blade, Phillips and ratchet screwdrivers, Allen keys, bench vice, C-clamps
- Spanners and pliers: ring, open-end, combination and adjustable spanners, sockets and accessories, combination, multi-grip, long-nose and flat-nose pliers, nippers, side cutters, tin snips, circlip pliers
- Power and special tools: air impact wrench, air ratchet, torque wrench, pipe wrench, jet washers, pipe flaring and cutting tools, gear and bearing pullers
- Cutting tools: hacksaw and files (parts, specification, grade, shape, cut, uses), off-hand grinding with sander, bench and pedestal grinders, grinding safety
- Measuring instruments: outside and depth micrometers, micrometer adjustment, vernier calipers, telescope gauge, dial bore gauge, dial indicator, straightedge, feeler gauge, thread pitch gauge, vacuum gauge, tyre pressure gauge
- Fasteners: screws, nuts, studs and bolts, locking devices (lock nuts, cotter pins, split pins, keys, circlips, lock rings, lock washers), washers, chemical compounds for securing fasteners
- Gaskets, packing and oil seals: function, material selection
2
Module 2 – Drilling, Tapping, Reaming, Lapping, Welding, Hydraulics & Pneumaticsഡ്രില്ലിംഗ്, വെൽഡിംഗ്, ഹൈഡ്രോളിക്സ്, ന്യൂമാറ്റിക്സ്
15 marks- Limits, fits and tolerances in automobile components
- Drilling: bench and portable electric drilling machines, drill holding and work holding devices, drill bits
- Taps and dies: hand taps and wrenches, tap drill sizes (metric and inch), types of dies and diestocks, screw extractors
- Hand reamers: types, drill size for reaming
- Lapping: abrasives, types of laps
- Welding and heat treatment: introduction, oxy-acetylene welding (principle, equipment, parameters, edge preparation, techniques), arc, MIG and TIG welding
- Hydraulics and pneumatics: basic differences, Pascal's law, pressure, force, viscosity
- Hydraulic components: internal and external gear pumps, single-acting, double-acting and double-ended cylinders, directional control valves (2/2, 3/2, 4/2, 4/3), pressure relief, non-return and flow control valves
- Classification of vehicles as per Motor Vehicle Rules
- Workshop lifting equipment: two-post and four-post vehicle hoists, engine hoists, jacks, stands
3
Module 3 – Engine Fundamentalsഎഞ്ചിൻ അടിസ്ഥാനങ്ങൾ
15 marks- Engine classification: working of 2-stroke and 4-stroke CI and SI engines and their differences
- Fuel injection: direct and indirect injection, common rail direct injection
- Engine performance: engine output, compression pressure, compression ratio
- Cylinder head and types of combustion chambers
- Valves: function, types, materials, operating mechanisms, valve seats and inserts, valve stem oil seals, valve timing diagram, variable valve timing
- Cylinder block: construction, types, cylinder liners
- Pistons, piston rings and piston pins: types, materials, functions, ring clearances, fitting precautions, piston pin locking methods, common troubles and remedies
- Connecting rod: function, construction, oblique big-end split, materials
- Bearings: big-end and main bearings, materials, causes of failure, care and maintenance
- Crankshaft and camshaft: types of camshaft drive, overhead camshaft, cam lobes, balancing, firing order, crankcase ventilation (PCV)
- Flywheel, vibration damper, timing marks
4
Module 4 – Cooling & Lubrication, Intake, Exhaust & Diesel Fuel Systemsകൂളിംഗ്, ലൂബ്രിക്കേഷൻ, ഇൻടേക്ക്, എക്സ്ഹോസ്റ്റ്, ഡീസൽ ഫ്യുവൽ സിസ്റ്റം
15 marks- Cooling system: coolant properties, preparation, change interval, antifreeze, water pump, thermostat, pressure cap, recovery system, thermo-switch, radiator (functions, types)
- Lubrication system: purposes and characteristics of oil, types of lubricants, SAE grades, oil additives, types of lubrication systems, oil pumps, oil filter, oil cooler
- Lubrication troubles: causes and remedies for low or high oil pressure and high oil consumption
- Diesel fuel: characteristics, quiet diesel and clean diesel technology
- Tractor fuel feed system: layout and components, bleeding of the fuel supply system
- Diesel injection system: functions, types of injection pumps and drives, injectors, governors, distributor-type pump, glow plugs, Cummins and Detroit diesel injection, diesel electronic control (DEC)
- Intake system: air compressor, supercharger, intercooler, turbocharger, variable turbo mechanism, air cleaners, intake manifold
- Exhaust system: exhaust manifold and pipe, reactive, absorptive, combination and electronic mufflers, catalytic converter, back pressure, diesel particulate filter, EGR
5
Module 5 – Clutch, Gearbox & Transmission, Wheels & Tyresക്ലച്ച്, ഗിയർബോക്സ്, ട്രാൻസ്മിഷൻ, വീലുകൾ, ടയറുകൾ
15 marks- Clutch: types, construction, functions, driving and driven plates, torsion and cushion springs, operating fingers, clutch shaft, slave cylinder, oil seal, release bearing and linkage
- Manual transmission: function, types, applications, tractor gearbox components, epicyclic gearbox principle
- Torque converter, need for 4x4 and front-wheel drive, low and high gear ratios
- Universal joint and propeller shaft
- Final drive: drive shafts, differential carrier, double reduction gearing, differential lock, crown wheel and pinion adjustment
- Power take-off (PTO): function and types
- Axles: types of front and rear axles, common troubles, remedies, care and maintenance
- Wheels: construction, function, rim sizes
- Tyres: types and sizes, solid, pneumatic and radial ply ratings, materials, tread designs, temperature and traction ratings, correct inflation, tyre and tube repair, wear patterns and causes, nitrogen versus air
6
Module 6 – Steering System & Brake Systemസ്റ്റിയറിംഗ് സിസ്റ്റവും ബ്രേക്ക് സിസ്റ്റവും
15 marks- Mechanical steering: functions and types, steering wheel, steering gearbox, tie-rod, arms, links, ball and socket joints, movement and adjustment, foot steering pedal in tractors
- Hydraulic steering: principle and working, pump, distributor valves, pipelines, hoses
- Tractor chassis: development of mechanical farming, use of power tiller, tractor and bulldozer, tractor chassis frame
- Braking principles: drum and disc brakes, mechanical advantage, hydraulic pressure and force, brake fade, types of brakes used in tractors
- Brake components: parking brake, pedal, brake lines and fluid, bleeding, master cylinder, divided systems, tandem master cylinder, power or hydraulic brake booster, brake light switch
- Drum brakes: operation, linings and shoes, backing plate, wheel cylinders
- Disc brakes: operation, rotors, pads, calipers, proportioning valves, friction materials
7
Module 7 – Power Tiller, Tractor Equipments and Tractor Electrical Systemപവർ ടില്ലർ, ട്രാക്ടർ ഉപകരണങ്ങൾ, ട്രാക്ടർ ഇലക്ട്രിക്കൽ സിസ്റ്റം
10 marks- Power tiller: power unit, working principle and use, power transmission to wheels and implements, clutch and brake mechanism, hitching of M.B. plough and trailer disc harrow
- Tractor equipments: harrows, cultivators, seed drills, tractor trailer, hitching, dangers of overloading and incorrect field operation, average life of implements
- Tractor accessories: drawbar, top link, belly pulley, setting drawbar height, hydraulic lift, maintenance of accessories
- Lighting and charging: lighting circuit, alternator, regulator unit, ignition warning lamp, charging troubles and remedies
- Starting system: starter motor circuit, common troubles and remedies, fault finding in the electrical system
- Batteries: lead-acid battery charging and discharging, SMF batteries
- Electrical components: thermistors, thermocouples, relays, solenoids, fuses, circuit breakers, ballast resistor, wire stripping, cable colour codes and sizes
- Circuits: resistors in series, parallel and series-parallel, capacitors and their applications
- Questions may also come from other topics prescribed for the qualification of the post.
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This syllabus follows the one published by the Kerala Public Service Commission. Always confirm the latest syllabus and exam details in the official notification on keralapsc.gov.in.