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tech:small_engine_care [2018/10/08 17:30]
reb
tech:small_engine_care [2018/10/08 21:03] (current)
reb
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-===== Caring for Small Engines, by Royce Edward Barber =====+===== Caring for Small Engines; Student Notes and Experiences of Royce Edward Barber =====
  
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-This article ​shall be filled out further in coming hours and days.+**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 imageall about gasoline power tools and maintenance. ​}}
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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. +
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-{{:​tech:​small-engines-logo.jpg?​nolink&​379x291|Caring for Small Enginesby Royce Edward Barber}}+
  
-**Bulleted list of general tips for small engines…**+**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. * 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.
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 * 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. * 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.
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 +* 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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 +**Where to Buy New & Used Parts, Tools, Manuals, Assistance**
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 +* Warranty? You likely saved the recept/​warranty,​ user manual, and SKU from the box of your device.
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 +* There is a service phone number in the manual of your device.
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 +* 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.
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 +* Nearly all towns have local small-engine repair shops who know the industry very well and have bins of spare parts.
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 +* 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).
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 +* The manufacturer and store where you purchased your small engine device, often has maintenance parts.
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 +* 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.
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 +* Your own neighbors have different experience and parts than you have, so utilize them!
  
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 * 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 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+* 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]] * 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/​+* RockAuto: ​[[https://​www.rockauto.com/​|https://​www.rockauto.com/​]]
  
-* Sears Parts and Manuals: https://​www.searspartsdirect.com/​+* Sears Parts and Manuals: ​[[https://​www.searspartsdirect.com/​|https://​www.searspartsdirect.com/​]]
  
 * Briggs & Stratton Website: [[http://​briggsandstratton.com/​|http://​briggsandstratton.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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tech/small_engine_care.1539019859.txt.gz · Last modified: 2018/10/08 17:30 by reb