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How hard of a course is small engine repair? I am thinking about maybe taking a night class in this that way I could learn to fix my own equipment rather than having to take it elsewhere to be fixed.

its not to hard if you understand how it works ....Remember this phrase SUCK(intake stroke)SQUEEZE (compression stroke)BANG ( detonation IE spark)BLOW (exhaust stroke )...plus learning all the little tricks of the trade helps to and trust me there is lots ...I was an auto mechanic for 15 years and i am still learning everyday ...Small engines is fun i do it as a hobby and enjoy it and i am always looking to learn more

I have a little understanding of mechanics, I used to tinker with my dad as a kid, so it would not be a big stretch for me to tinker with small engines.

i would take the course why not ....It will give you lots of great info and hands on exp ....

Yes, they have one locally a couple of days a week. It is in the evenings and it coincides with my schedule. I enjoy tinkering so hopefully it should be fun, I'll keep you updated.

Gabi said:

Yes, they have one locally a couple of days a week. It is in the evenings and it coincides with my schedule. I enjoy tinkering so hopefully it should be fun, I'll keep you updated.

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right on you wont be sorry lol.....Go check out my public gall i posted a few pics in there ...And i have treat for the car fans out there as well if i can find where to post it lol

As the owner of a small engine shop, your question is one that I hear every day. Now, before you blast me as being too expensive and you need to cut costs, hear me out. For other than simple maintenance, you should take it in and here is why.
1: All of my techs are required to participate in continuing factory training for every make we sell and service.
2: We have access to any and all updated repair and maintenance information.
3: We employee your neighbors and by keeping the money local, the local economy grows.
4: If you do the work yourself, your time is worth something and you should be getting paid for it, figure that cost into the repair. If you pay yourself to repair something instead of earning money, you are losing. Do the math.

Learning anything is always beneficial and can never be taken away from you. Just make sure you are doing it for the right reason.

Oh yeah, get to know your local shop owner. Chances are pretty good that you will learn more than you bargained for. :smile:

In the 70s I was a power equipment/marine mechanic at a local dealer. I taught evening classes at a local tech school three nights a week. Power equipment maintenance, Small boat safety and operation and Costal navigation. In both courses I got into basic electricity with my students and they loved it.
The courses were not too long, and the boat people requested that I do a navigation course, so the school setup and offered it. In 1980 I went back into the military having already spent 8 years in the Navy on submarines in the 60s.
Mad Mackie in CT:laughing::biggrin::smile:

You'll enjoy it for sure. A great way to maybe gain some knowledge and sharpen some skills.

Duffys OPE said:

As the owner of a small engine shop, your question is one that I hear every day. Now, before you blast me as being too expensive and you need to cut costs, hear me out. For other than simple maintenance, you should take it in and here is why.
1: All of my techs are required to participate in continuing factory training for every make we sell and service.
2: We have access to any and all updated repair and maintenance information.
3: We employee your neighbors and by keeping the money local, the local economy grows.
4: If you do the work yourself, your time is worth something and you should be getting paid for it, figure that cost into the repair. If you pay yourself to repair something instead of earning money, you are losing. Do the math.

Learning anything is always beneficial and can never be taken away from you. Just make sure you are doing it for the right reason.

Oh yeah, get to know your local shop owner. Chances are pretty good that you will learn more than you bargained for. :smile:

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Time is worth nothing if the alternative is sitting on the couch.
The money is made by using that spare time to get to understand what make machinery and engines tick and be able to fix/maintain one's own equipment.
And that goes from the tiniest engine in a weed eater to whatever equipment one has incl tractors and cars or trucks.
The only thing i farm out is a crank grind or a head resurface cause i don't have the dedicated equipment(to costly)
other than that everything else is Do It My Self.

Bison said:

Time is worth nothing if the alternative is sitting on the couch.
The money is made by using that spare time to get to understand what make machinery and engines tick and be able to fix/maintain one's own equipment.
And that goes from the tiniest engine in a weed eater to whatever equipment one has incl tractors and cars or trucks.
The only thing i farm out is a crank grind or a head resurface cause i don't have the dedicated equipment(to costly)
other than that everything else is Do It My Self.

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Crank grind?? Head resurface? What mower shop does that?

Fish said:

Crank grind?? Head resurface? What mower shop does that?

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I was talking about engine repairs in general, of course mower shops don't do crank grinding, one has to go to an engine machine shop for these things.
Lawnmowers are pretty much throw away these days ,..hardly worth having a lawn shop even look at it. One is often better off to buy new.
Lawn tractors of course is a different story.

Bison said:

I was talking about engine repairs in general, of course mower shops don't do crank grinding, one has to go to an engine machine shop for these things.
Lawnmowers are pretty much throw away these days ,..hardly worth having a lawn shop even look at it. One is often better off to buy new.
Lawn tractors of course is a different story.

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I disagree. Mowers are not throw away people are just lazy... The exception is the simple push Murray with a 3.5 b&s engine at Walmart the machine is 100 to invest any more in repairs is in fact dumb.

People nowadays get scared when they take a machine they spent $300+ and have a shop give them a quote for a third of that price to repair. So instead of spending $100 for a repair they go spend another $300+ on another machine treat it the same and have it happen again. If the shop would have repair it and the person took care it would last a very long time.

Even the "throw away" mtd and craftsman mowers are worth repairing so stop being lazy and fix the machine.... It's an investment take care of it.

You know if you got the bug...love tinkering and fixing . Without training you will make lots of mistakes, but gradually the skill will come. The joy of small engines is that a lot is bench work, and does not demand larger facilities. Plus you can probably work in a heated area. How many are motivated and actually do their own work? I will guess no more than 20%. That does not hurt the small engine repair shops too much, does it?

motoman said:

You know if you got the bug...love tinkering and fixing . Without training you will make lots of mistakes, but gradually the skill will come. The joy of small engines is that a lot is bench work, and does not demand larger facilities. Plus you can probably work in a heated area. How many are motivated and actually do their own work? I will guess no more than 20%. That does not hurt the small engine repair shops too much, does it?

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Ya probably not I enjoy my own work and I learned by messing up and reading a lot. Still some things I have not dealth with but if I run into them ill try my best. I think people should try their own work its really not difficult. It's just like replacing brake pads on cars people are just to afraid to mess with that when in reality its really quite simple.