Occupation

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

Human Advantage 63%

Significant human skills needed

AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.9 / 10

Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul small engines used to power lawn mowers, chain saws, recreational sporting equipment, and related equipment.

Also Known As: Chain Saw Mechanic, Chainsaw Technician, Edge Trimmer Mechanic, Electric Golf Cart Repairer, Electric Wheelchair Repairer, Engine Mechanic, Engine Service Repairer, Engine Specialist +37 more

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Core Tasks

  1. Record repairs made, time spent, and parts used.
  2. Test and inspect engines to determine malfunctions, to locate missing and broken parts, and to verify repairs, using diagnostic instruments.
  3. Dismantle engines, using hand tools, and examine parts for defects.
  4. Repair and maintain gasoline engines used to power equipment such as portable saws, lawn mowers, generators, and compressors.
  5. Adjust points, valves, carburetors, distributors, and spark plug gaps, using feeler gauges.
  6. Repair or replace defective parts such as magnetos, water pumps, gears, pistons, and carburetors, using hand tools.
  7. Perform routine maintenance such as cleaning and oiling parts, honing cylinders, and tuning ignition systems.
  8. Reassemble engines after repair or maintenance work is complete.
  9. Replace motors.
  10. Obtain problem descriptions from customers, and prepare cost estimates for repairs.
  11. Show customers how to maintain equipment.
  12. Remove engines from equipment, and position and bolt engines to repair stands.
  13. Sell parts and equipment.
  14. Grind, ream, rebore, and re-tap parts to obtain specified clearances, using grinders, lathes, taps, reamers, boring machines, and micrometers.

Education & Training

Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
48%
Some College Courses
27%
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
12%
Less than a High School Diploma
12%

Technology & Tools

Hot Technologies

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software

Software (9)

  • Ideal Computer Systems Ideal OPE
  • Land & Sea DYNO-MAX
  • RepairTRAX
  • Sale processing software
  • Smart Equipment Repair
  • VersaDyne small engine test system
  • Web browser software

Tools & Equipment (100)

  • Adjustable gap spark testers
  • Allen wrench sets
  • Automatic center punches
  • Ball peen hammers
  • Battery terminal cleaners
  • Bearing drivers
  • Breaker bars
  • Cam bearing plug gauges
  • Camshaft bearing drivers
  • Camshaft bearing pullers
  • Carburetor pressure gauges
  • Channel lock pliers
  • Charging system testers
  • Coil testers
  • Combination pliers
  • Combination wrenches
  • Compression testing gauges
  • Computer data input scanners
  • Cotter pin pullers
  • Crankshaft straighteners
  • Crowfoot wrenches
  • Cylinder bore telescoping gauges
  • Cylinder hones
  • Dead blow hammers
  • Diagonal cutters
  • Dial bore gauges
  • Dial calipers
  • Digital multimeters
  • Digital tachometers
  • Engine hour meters
  • Fixed tip snap ring pliers
  • Flat cold chisels
  • Flat tip screw starters
  • Fluted screw extractors
  • Flywheel holders
  • Flywheel pullers
  • Fuel line removers
  • Gear pullers
  • Hex sets
  • Ignition testers
  • Impact drills
  • Impact drivers
  • Inline spark testers
  • Inspection mirrors
  • Leakdown testers
  • Magnetic pickup tools
  • Magneto bearing pullers
  • Main bearing plug gauges
  • Measuring tapes
  • Mechanical fingers
  • Mechanics' pick sets
  • Metric flex socket wrenches
  • Metric socket wrenches
  • Mini hacksaws
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Parallel pin punches
  • Penlights
  • Personal computers
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Piston ring compressors
  • Piston ring expanders
  • Portable air compressors
  • Power drill bits
  • Power wrenches
  • Ridge reamers
  • Seal pullers
  • Slot screwdrivers
  • Small jet carburetor screwdrivers
  • Socket wrench extensions
  • Solder guns
  • Spanners
  • Spark plug gauges
  • Spark plug hole taps
  • Spark plug socket wrenches
  • Spark plug wrenches
  • Speed handles
  • Standard flex socket wrenches
  • Standard socket wrenches
  • Starter clutch wrenches
  • Starter punches
  • T handle hex wrenches
  • Taper feeler gauges
  • Tapered hand files
  • Temperature guns
  • Test lights
  • Torque adapters
  • Torque wrenches
  • Torx bit sets
  • Valve grinders
  • Valve guide reamers
  • Valve refacing tools
  • Valve seat cutting tools
  • Valve spring compressors
  • Vise grip pliers
  • Wire crimpers
  • Wire cutters
  • Wire strippers
  • Wireless tachometers
  • Work vans
  • Z benders

Where This Career Leads

Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.

Utilities Advanced Manufacturing

Zone 2
Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics You are here

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