Photo Provided Jefferson County Joint Vocational School student Jaxon Wiley rebuilt an engine for his decades-old Allis-Chalmers tractor as a project for his power mechanics program. Wiley received some assistance from classmates for the project and plans to use the tractor on his family farm in Amsterdam. He is pictured, at left, with classmates Brecken Banovsky, Drake Givens and Josh McNally.

BLOOMINGDALE — One Jefferson County Joint Vocational School student is proving that everything old is new again by putting his hands-on knowledge to use for a class project.

Jaxon Wiley, a junior in the power mechanics program and student at Edison High School, has spent nearly three months rebuilding a transmission for his Allis-Chalmers 190XT tractor.

The decades-old tractor needed an internal overhaul and required Wiley and a few of his classmates to deconstruct the mechanism.

“We completely split the transmission apart,” he said. “The rear of it was down to the bare bones. We took out the gears, added new bearings, a clutch, all new seals and injectors. We got it running and will send the injection pump to a shop in Wooster to be rebuilt.”

Wiley began the project in October and had some assistance from classmates Brecken Banovsky, Josh McNally and Drake Givens. He said the tractor, which dates back to the 1970s or 80s, was purchased especially for the project and he has plans to use it once the repairs are complete.

“We just bought it for me to have as a project. It was already painted and we redid all of the mechanical parts,” he added.

The son of Ron and Jamie Wiley of Amsterdam, he plans to use the 110 PTO horsepower vehicle at the 300-acre family farm where they raise cows, chickens and show pigs. He said the education he’s gained at the JVS has enabled him to undertake the task and eventually establish a career.

“This summer, I’m planning to start a landscaping business and work on the family farm. I’m also interested in being an airplane mechanic,” Wiley continued. “I’ve always been hands on, and being able to come to school to do what I love really helps me a lot.”

He counts working with his friends and gaining certifications as more pluses, saying he has learned to build engines of various sizes and also trained schoolmates for certification on the aerial lift, scissor lift and forklift. Wiley noted that the power mechanics program has definitely made him job ready.

“I’ve always wanted to start a business and this has helped me learn on my own and work with my peers.”

Instructor Fred Jones said the project was a perfect fit for Wiley.

“It’s a big job and I’m proud of him for getting it done,” Jones concluded. “The students worked well together and what great job skills have come out of this project.”