DIYbanter - View Single Post - Small Engine Repair

Harry K

wrote:
I wouldnt fix anyones old equipment in a side job.
The liabilities are WAAAY too high if someone gets
hurts from a machine fixed by a 8 year old. Not to
mention that equipment these days are normally throw
out (and worn out) because lack of maintance as well
as age. For the price of parts, you can get a new
unit good for another 20 years. Nobody (but maybe me)
that I know of still winterizes and tunes up equipment.

If it were me I would get used ones for free. Simple as that.
If you have to pay for your garbage to be hauled away then be
careful about what crap you take so that you dont end
up paying for equipment with engines that are shot.

If I were to do this, I would pay for cheap snowblowers
that have running motors or ones with at least some
compression. You can fix them now with some money
and save them for the season when they are in demand again.

Sell them on something like craigslist.com.

If you want free used stuff, try looking up your local
freecycle.org Post a want item and see where it goes.
(P.S. people dont want to read the history of WHY you want
something, just that you are looking for something)

Anywho, I would be real careful about letting the 8yo work
on equipment without supervision. The last thing you need to
deal with is a trip to the hospital.

wrote:
Recently, I have found myself spending an inorindate amount of time
reading about small engines as the result of wanting to maintain/tune
the ones that I have in the garage (snowblower, riding mower,
weedeater, etc.). I've gone to the library, read online, bought a few
DVDs and books, etc. As a result, my inquisitive daughter (8yo) has
become very interested in small engines too...she's always interested
in what projects my wife and I are involved with at any given time.

Her interest has now extended to ask whether or not we could put flyers
in the neighborhood offering to "fix/tune" small engines around the
block.

While I think that this would be a great way to her to learn about the
different types of engines, there are obviously many variables to such
a project. After thinking about it a bit, I wanted to ask for
advice/opinions from those of you who might be more familiar with what
is involved. What I've outlines so far is:

- The scope is the immediate neighborhood, as I do not have a truck to
haul equipment. Anything that we would work on would have to be
transportable through the neighborhood without additional lifts,
hitches, etc. We live in an area where we can extend 3 blocks
east/west on side streets without needing to cross an avenue or major
road.

- Since this is not a business and she's 16yo, the only thing to
charge would be actual part costs. No labor or additional expenses
will be charged. Part replacements will be discussed with the owner
prior to purchase.

- The effort to fix is "best attempt," there are no warranties or
guarantees, and I'm not taking out additional insurance. If the owner
is concerned about their equipment that much, they simply do not
respond to the ad and can take their machine to a formal engine repair
business. Furthermore, if the job is considered too advanced (i.e.,
engine overhaul) or requires specialized (expensive) equipment, then we
would simply decline to attempt such a project. I don't mind spending
a little money on flywheel pullers and a few other odds/ends, but I'm
not going to spend money on major equipment to diagnose the one
odd-ball machine someone might own.

- Her resources would include: internet sites, books, instructional
videos and USENET (she's already able to surf and research information)

- The project ends when she returns to school

Is there anything else that we should consider (pros/cons)? I figured
that even if we only received a few opportunities, or if someone
donated an old machine or two that wasn't even worth selling in a
garage sale, that it would be a good experience for her. I've been
trying to explain to her the difference between "book knowledge" and
the application of knowledge/actual experience. I guess that my
primary concern is that we don't get into a bad situation with a local
neighbor, but I think that if we outline the guidelines, we should be
all right.

TIA.

Agree, go the 'free' route. Do not offer to fix your neighbors for a
couple reasons, one is the liability, the other is the response. You
will be inundated with stuff and most of it will be dropped off
unasked.

Harry K