Small Engine Mechanic Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Is there a Small Engine Mechanic Certification like car mechanics have for cars ASE certification? I have a Trident Tech Certification in Charleston SC hands on, and test. I am about to take a second class this month. I was wondering if they have a nation wide test like car mechanics with ASE. So do they have one for Small Engine Mechanics?

Answer: Most all small engine testing is done through the various schools that teach on specific manufacturers engines. There are companies that also teach brand specific engines as in a partnership with Briggs - Stratton, or Tecumseh, and so on. I don't know of any generic tests given for all small engines, though. There are schools for non-specified motorcycles, but not for general small engines or ATV's. For specific makes you would have to go to one of the sponsored schools. A certificate from just about any one of these schools is usually acceptable by most other companies. Basically, there is no difference in any two, or four cycle, internal combustion engine. The basics of every internal combustion engine since the very inception of the engine has never changed. ASE even recognizes this, and as a result ASE tests are only generalized for the specific fields of engineering of autos and trucks. In reality, ASE only got to be a recognized name by virtue of much advertising, but don't really cover much. Many who wear the patches, and carry cards from ASE have merely had to watch a video, and sometimes even pass an open book test to get their certification. People have a misconception of 'certification'. Some certifications are real, and have taken a reasonable degree of schooling, and testing for them, but many more are not worth more than the paper on which they are written. As a communications company, dealer, shop, with a Federal License for all 23 fields of electronics, I have been able to give out CET (Certified Electronics Technician) certificates to employees. The testing, and schooling was of my choice even though it was supposed to meet certain requirements of one of the several organizations that were approved by the FCC. However, that never meant that everyone that received a CET was actually good, or educated enough. It just gave one such a certificate. Many of the ASE certified techs got their certification through their employer, and many by just watching a video, and maybe taking an open book test. If you really want excellent recognition in the field of the internal combustion engine you would need to get a degree through a college. Even an Associate Degree from a community college beats out a certificate any day of the week. If one goes so far as to get a PE (Professional Engineer) degree, the sky is the limit as to what he can make, or what industry to work for. Don't put to much faith in those certificates. By the time you get enough of them of any value, you could have gotten a degree from a college that would start you out with a salary four times better than you could get with all your certificates.

Question: Small engine mechanics - why would a carburetor continually lose gas out of the overflow? While its running it leaves a trail of gas Thanks - I'm a mom with a teenager and don't know everthing. Again thanks to all of you with polite answers.

Answer: inlet needle sticking open . due to one or more of the following- 1- dirt in inlet needle seat 2-hole in float causing the float not to rise 3-inlet seat worn out

Question: Please help - Small engine mechanic? I got a Mcculloch (2002 model) weedeater from the dump the other day and put a new carb on it an it ran perfect. But today i tried to start it up and it tried like 3 times on full choke and just had it going for half a second. Tried and tried to get it going pulling and pulling to get it started and then gas started comming out of the spark plug hole (when spark plug was out) so put the spark plug that was in my good mcculloch weed eater same model spark plug and everything and gas started spraying out of the exhaust. Then i put the spark plug that i put into my bad one back into my good one and my good one wont start (i dont think i flooded it) PLEASE help me im desperate to try any ideas Thanks

Answer: It sounds to me like it was flooded. If gas runs out of the cylinder, that's an indication that it is flooded. Same thing of gas runs out of the exhaust. If I saw either of those, I would leave the spark plug out, turn the weedeater so that the spark plug hole is facing down, and let the cylinder dry out. When the cylinder is dry, replace the spark plug - making sure it is clean and dry. If there is a bulb to squeeze or push to prime the carburetor, do that 5 or 6 times. With the choke lever in full choke, try starting the engine. As soon as it starts, move the choke selector to half choke. Let it run this way for several seconds (5-15), then move the choke to the no choke position. Hope this helps.

Question: Car and small engine mechanics? I'd really like to learn mechanics so that I can fix up old cars and such, but I just don't know how to learn. There are no classes offered in my area for teens (I'm 16, and all of the classes are college level) so I don't know where to begin. I have an old dead car that needs fixed up, but I need to learn how first. Are there any books or websites that can get me pointed in the right direction? I'm good at picking up skills fast, so I'm not worried about how complicated it is.

Answer: Your local library will have books on the subject,also go to www.ase.com

Question: How hard could it be to learn small engine mechanics? weed eaters,blowers,chain saws

Answer: Very easy. My 14 year old son can fix any of the above. If you're a teenager, join your local 4H club, and select Small Engine Repair as your project. You will learn step by step, and best part is, it's free.

Question: Where on the net can I find out about fixing engines or the way a combustion engine runs? I want to learn how to work on engines and how they work. I have looked up small engine mechanics and engine mechanics along with a few other things. I am looking for a web site or information site that will teach me about the way a combustion engine works. I keep finding schools that offer a degree but that is not what I want. If you answer the question will you make sure that the site is an information site and not a selling site.

Answer: What you're looking for isn't going to be on the net. You need to get a book. If you go to a parts store sometimes they have rebuilding books and something like that might help you. The best book on the topic is Internal Combustion Fundamentals by Heywood, and is an excellent source if you're looking for hard core information. The basics for how a combustion engine works might be found on Wikipedia, but I haven't confirmed that. Just type "internal combustion engine" in the search box.

Question: small engine mechanics? i need to know the basics, repairing, troubleshooting, and everything that goes along with it would this take long and is it hard? any good websites or books that you recomend? thank you

Answer: go to wikipedia and type in small engine repair

Question: Will some small engine mechanics answer this please?? I asked this question earlier and didnt get that many opinions on the subject and i could really use some more.Here is the question-- http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;… What the heck is wrong with you people?!!? The first guy is too lazy to click a link and the second guy doesnt even understand the question!! Why add additional details to a question that no one else is gonna see! You know as well as i do if the question isnt seen on the first page of Yahoo answers,chances are no one else is gonna answer! DUHH! All i wanted was a darn opinion about a small engine i've never heard of before! How hard is that?!?!

Answer: You're right, it does look like a honda engine. Makes me wonder if they are manufacturing for Honda. I'd check into the parts availability before I'd buy it.

Question: smallengine mechanic here ...need a answer from someone? i fixed a lawnmower for a person and i charged them 200 dollers. it has been 1 monthe and 7 days since i told them i have told them numerous times and still havent got my money yet. and i still have there mower... what should i do... sell it? i have been a small engine mechanic for 3 yrs now and this has never happened?

Answer: Send them a certified letter and keep a copy for yourself. In the letter state that you have been kind enough to wait, and that at 60 days after the date of the repair you are going to sell their mower for the cost of the repair, to recover your expense since they are not showing any effort to pay. You also need to post a sign stating your policy towards this. Most have 30 days, we have 60. This happens, and you have to do things to recover your cost. Good luck!

Question: the noise sounds like a small knocking (low pitch) and it stay's after the engine harms up. a general mechanic

Answer: Could be bearing rap.