Understanding tasks

Understanding tasks

So we have a module linked to contacts called Equipment and that in turn has a related module called service calls. 
Often on a service call we want add a task but we are not able. I think it needs a link to the contact. WE therefore tried to add tasks to the equipment which has a link to the contacts name. It worked except that it did not auto fill the contact details? I wondered if i changed the field name. We have now lost the task option but still have meeting and call which appear to link.
Tasks seem a useful work flow but they donot appear to work? 
Help