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===== Caring for Small Engines; Student Notes and Experiences of Royce Edward Barber =====

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**This page contains student notes as I learn to use preventative maintenance and basic mechanical skills, to keep my gasoline devices running. I'm not a professional or mechanic, so read the user manual of your device.** This page was started to repair my leaf blower, and maintain a small electricity generator, chainsaw, air compressor, RC car, and a few others. Taking care of one small engine gives you most the knowledge to take care of many of them. Which somewhat helps you maintain a full size automobile engine. You don't simply press an ON button, if you want real power out of a device then it often needs to be fulled by gasoline or propane. Some devices use alternative fuels, so I may list them later. My metal foundry, welder, and BBQ use propane but those aren't engines. As you learn to maintain a small engine, you'll learn about power tools and the function of a hardware store, which are all basic life skills for men and women. Something quick like renting a high power leaf blower for pushing piles of leaves, takes care and safety, and knowing what fuel and oil to use. Something well made like a lawn mower, doesn't vitally require delicate maintenance, but a little care will make it last a lifetime instead of one season. Most of this article will likely be a bulleted list of important instructions and things to beware of. This article may also help you diagnose issues with your automobile.

{{:tech:small-engines-header-1.jpg?nolink&700x268|Article header image, all about gasoline power tools and maintenance. }}

**Bulleted list of general tips for small engines… **

* A vague generic user manual comes with your gadget, but repair sometimes requires a //Service Manual// which shows you exactly where every wire goes. A service manual gives you endless tips and tricks on assembling or repairing your gadget.

* Type "small engine" into Google Images or YouTube to get an idea of the millions of devices which use a small engine. It's almost meditative to see them taken apart.

* For 30-day or longer storage, dump out the gas. Run the engine until it runs out of gas. The more expensive alternative is to empty the fuel and replace it with special storage fuel. For storage, no fuel is needed at all, but trace amounts of car gasoline can still eat away at gas lines and seals over time.\\
* Only start the device on a flat level ground.\\
* If outdoor temperature is above 90 degrees F, you don't have to pull the starter rope as much because the engine is already warm.\\
* Look inside the gas tank before running, to ensure the tank is clean and the gas lines haven't cracked.\\
* Replace spark plug and inline-fuel-filter yearly, or as needed.\\
* Ensure air filter (paper or foam) is free of debris and oil. Don't ever soak in a solvent because you'll end up with sticky goo, just wipe off with a wet paper towel.\\
* Examine the official user manual PDF you can find online. Find online by using the serial number of the device with the word PDF after it. For me, I use the Sears parts website.\\
* Wear gloves, and wash hands with soap after handling chemicals.\\
* Don't operate device upside down.\\
* The end of the fuel line sitting at the bottom of the tank, often will have a tiny "inline fuel filter" somewhere along the line or at the bottom. The tiny fuel filter ensures the fuel is perfectly clean. It's an important part, because debris can harm your engine.\\
* Car Gas is a problem: The cheap fuel for my leaf blower is 1-part synthetic oil, to 40 parts regular car gasoline. But car gasoline is ethanol, which is corrosive to gas lines and seals, and decomposes over about a month of sitting still. There are additives to help stabilize the fuel, but synthetic storage gas which is ethnol-free, allows you to store your leaf blower or device for many months with no oxidation or decomposing. The correct fuel-to-oil mixture is important.

* Dangers: People have died by running a power generator in the rain. Or lost their hearing or eyesight because they lack safety goggles, ear plugs, and a chemical-rated air mask.

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**What tools use a small engine? ** \\
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* Here are a handful of the millions of wonderful tools: Pressure water sprayer, sand blaster, paint sprayer, weed eater, chainsaw, lawn edger, lawn mower, lawn tractor, leaf blower, air compressor for air tools, power generator, dirt augger drill, brush wood chipper, chop saw.

* Even sports devices like a jet ski, snow mobile, motor boat, ATV, golf cart, scooter, power glider, RC airplanes/cars/boats/submarines.\\
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**Gasoline VS Electric** \\
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* Many gasoline combustion devices are dangerously loud and produce stinky smoke, and require careful maintenance and fuel mixtures. Not to mention bulky and heavy. Gasoline engines need to be cleaned, are greasy, and shouldn't be operated by children. Gasoline devices often produce a wonderfully huge amount of power.

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* Many electric or battery operated home devices are pathetically low in power and can only be run about an hour between lengthy charging. They are often light weight, have no bad smells, no repairs needed. Often are not possible to repair, except by an expensive electronics repair shop. Electric devices can be stored decades with no problems other than buying a new battery. With an electric device, you won't as likely be exposed to chemicals or need to wash your hands or clothes afterword. Batteries are expensive and must be stored charged. Extension cords can be tripped on and get tangled and time consuming to search for or store. Electric devices with the power and usage time of a gasoline device, require a bulky and expensive battery to be towed behind on a cart, so most people don't own a thousand dollar battery.

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**Common parts in many Small Engines…**

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**Where to Buy New & Used Parts, Tools, Manuals, Assistance**

* Warranty? You likely saved the recept/warranty, user manual, and SKU from the box of your device.

* There is a service phone number in the manual of your device.

* Your local large hardware store often has a rental area for renting tools and buying supplies for tools. Your local automotive supply store such as AutoZone, O'Reilly, Pep Boys, NAPA (etc) will have many car and fuel parts. Sears stores sometimes have satilite catalog offices where tools are delivered for free. Many websites deliver free to stores. Walmart Superstore has a small-engines section. Walmart website has a much larger selection than the stores. Amazon website has a massive selection, as does Ebay. Hobby RC (radio control) stores are all about small engine parts. RockAuto website has mainly car parts, but some can be adapted to a small engine.

* Nearly all towns have local small-engine repair shops who know the industry very well and have bins of spare parts.

* There are yardsale websites: Nextdoor is in-person. Ebay has a local-pickup-only option. Craigslist is in-person if you're careful. Facebook has tons of local sale groups (including free piles of parts).

* The manufacturer and store where you purchased your small engine device, often has maintenance parts.

* Your device has a user manual showing basic usage and slight troubleshooting, but a "Service Manual" shows where every wire belongs and how to repair common issues. Service Manuals are often third-party.

* Your own neighbors have different experience and parts than you have, so utilize them!

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**Specific to Royce's 200mph Craftsman Leaf Blower** \\
* Model Number: Model 358794701 CRAFTSMAN BLOWER, GAS.\\
* One spark plug: Champion rcj6y.\\
* 40 parts car gasoline to 1 part oil, or preferably pre-mixed ethanol-free storage fuel.

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**Internet Resources for Small Engine Maintenance**

* Wikipedia for Small Engine: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_engine|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_engine]]

* Wikipedia for Two Stroke Engine: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-stroke_engine|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-stroke_engine]]

* Wikipedia for Small Engine Repair: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_engine_repair|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_engine_repair]]

* Wikipedia for Briggs & Stratton Small Engines: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briggs_%26_Stratton|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briggs_%26_Stratton]]

* Wikipedia for Parts of Internal Combustion Engine: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_parts_of_internal_combustion_engines|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_parts_of_internal_combustion_engines]]

* Wikipedia for gasoline: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline]]

* YouTube for Small Engine: [[https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=small+engine|https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=small+engine]]

* RockAuto: [[https://www.rockauto.com/|https://www.rockauto.com/]]

* Sears Parts and Manuals: [[https://www.searspartsdirect.com/|https://www.searspartsdirect.com/]]

* Briggs & Stratton Website: [[http://briggsandstratton.com/|http://briggsandstratton.com/]]

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**End of article.**

{{:tech:small-engines-logo.jpg?nolink&379x291|Caring for Small Engines, by Royce Edward Barber}}
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