Do the skills of a Yellow Iron Mechanic (Heavy Equipment) and a Diesel Mechanic intertwine?

Equipment will change and so will the Engines but a diesel will still be a basic engine no matter what it is put in. Saying that Most HEAVY wheeled Equipment are Basically different. Depending axel's, weight, and Add ons there are. If your working on HETS and go to a Coalmine and work on Super loaders, or DUMPS then your in a totally different zip code. The Fundamentals are still the same just How you repair them is on a scale of their own. Just Like working on POV's and Deuce's. Basic knowledge will help...

Depends on the place your looking at working. I ran into the same question.

Yes, in ways the skills will intertwine as there are a lot of similarities. Your heavy equipment will employ more hydraulics and specialty systems though. They will all use heavy duty engines and transmissions. In other words the power train will be similar with same concepts, but HE will have a variety of other systems you'll have to learn about and work on.