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Do you love working with your hands? Do smaller engines and equipment fascinate you? If so, and you enjoy diagnosing problems, using tools, and fixing equipment so it runs as it was designed to, a career as a small-engine mechanic may be for you.
A small-engine mechanic works to diagnose and repair small two- and four-stroke gasoline engines. Small gasoline engines supply power to countless products across various industries. However, small-engine mechanics generally fall into one of two categories:
Small gasoline engines also power small generators and water/utility/sump pumps. When you start to look, it’s amazing how many small engines are in use today!
With such widespread use, the need for a mechanic to service and repair this equipment is inevitable. A small-engine mechanic may work anywhere from a powersports dealership or an equipment repair shop, to a municipality where they troubleshoot, service, maintain and repair small gasoline engines.
Small-engine mechanics often travel to a customer’s location to complete their work. For example, the equipment used in lawn care and landscaping sees very hard use, and when it breaks down the company owner loses money by the hour. It isn’t uncommon for small-engine mechanics that specialize in lawn equipment to receive calls from business owners when they need help quickly!
In situations like this, a repair shop may dispatch a small-engine mechanic to the customer’s location to complete the work as quickly as possible.
Small-engine mechanic and small-business owner go hand-in-hand. If you’re looking for an opportunity to combine an entrepreneurial spirit with your love for hands-on work, a small-engine repair business could be a good fit.
Opening a small-engine repair shop does not have the excessive initial startup costs that many other repair shops have, such as lifts, tire machines, brakes lathes, etc. In fact, many small-engine mechanics start their business out of their personal garages!
A successful small-engine mechanic will have advanced knowledge of:
Small-engine mechanics may attend a formal training program, or they may gain experience working under an existing mechanic. Mechanical and diagnostic skills develop over time with experience; however an educational program at a small-engine mechanic school can give a small-engine mechanic a solid foundation to build upon.
Since small-engine mechanics work on a variety of equipment and products, their day-to-day tasks are rarely the same. From putting a new top end on a two-stroke chainsaw to cleaning a carburetor on a riding mower, small-engine mechanics mainly work on engines and their components. Common tasks include:
Whether employed at a shop or self-employed, a small-engine mechanic needs basic hand tools. Wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, etc., are all required for success, but what else? Here is a list of common tools of the trade:
Some small-engine mechanics become motorcycle mechanics or technicians. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual median wage for motorcycle mechanics was $38,010 in May 2020.30 That means half of motorcycle mechanics earned more and half earned less. Keep in mind that salary depends on several factors, including experience, employer, demand and cost of living in the area.
As stated earlier, formal training isn’t required to pursue a career as a small-engine mechanic. But for those who know exactly what they want to do with their career, an instructor-led, hands-on course can be very valuable.
Some of the coursework offered at Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) won’t apply to a small-engine mechanic, but a lot of it will. Two- and four-stroke engine operation, fuel systems, diagnostic work, etc., will all prove to be very valuable after graduation. There are no set-in-stone career paths for MMI graduates; many graduate and go on to exciting and varied careers after completion of the program.1
In MMI’s 42-week Motorcycle Technician Training program, you’ll learn the foundations of motorcycle, ATV, side-by-side and personal watercraft technology to prepare for a career as a motorcycle technician.7 To learn more, visit our program page and request information to talk with an admissions representative today.
Considering going to Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI)? Find answers to 9 commonly asked questions about the school here.
Ever wondered what it’s like to be a female in the motorcycle industry? Find out from Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) grad Selena Terrazas.
How much do motorcycle mechanics make? Click here to find the annual median wages of motorcycle technicians in the U.S.
