What does a small engine mechanic do?
A Small Engine Mechanic specializes in repairing and maintaining the machinery of motorized equipment and vehicles. Besides working at repair shops, some mechanics may also travel to homes or establishments to provide mechanical services. They usually inspect the equipment, troubleshoot problems, replace or fix parts, maintain records, and refer clients to other services when necessary. They may also answer client inquiries, discuss damages and cost-estimates, and provide machine care advice. Moreover, a small engine mechanic may also work for large companies to work in a team environment.
Small engine mechanic responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real small engine mechanic resumes:
- Perform various manual labor jobs including mowing, leaf cleanup, snow removal, and tree trimming.
- Repair fractional-horsepower gasoline engines used to power lawn equipment, garden tractors, snow blowers and similar machines using hand tools.
- Assemble and maintain new Polaris ATVs.
- Repair Honda and Briggs & Stratton engines.
- Team leader on removing and installing major components on airframe.
- Conduct proper foreign object damage (FOD) prevention control procedures.
- Perform major repairs and preventive maintenance on all landscape and mowing equipment.
- Diagnose, troubleshoot and repair small engines for ATVs and lawn traitors.
- Perform regular maintenance, such as oil changes and cleaning and oiling.
- Complete disassembly, reassembly, startup, and trouble shoot the Cummins diesel engine.
- Perform assembly, maintenance, and repair of power equipment, tractors, and ATV.
- Perform regular maintenance, such as oilchanges, cleaning and oiling and tune ignition systems.
- Perform diagnosis and repair on various types of lawnmower, snowblower, and other types of small engines.
- Structure and maintain all equipment involving lawn mowers, and rototillers
- Used forklift daily to move powersport equipment.organize back storage lot by moving around powersports, ATVS, and bikes when need.
Small engine mechanic skills and personality traits
We calculated that 18% of Small Engine Mechanics are proficient in Diagnosis, Blowers, and Electrical Systems. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Dexterity.
We break down the percentage of Small Engine Mechanics that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Diagnosis, 18%
Paint sprayer Gasoline and electric driven diagnosis, repair and rebuild.
- Blowers, 8%
Diagnose and fix minor problems on small engines, weed eaters, blowers, lawn mowers and chain saws.
- Electrical Systems, 8%
Set up an electrical repair shop within the company repairing all automotive and truck electrical systems.
- Mowers, 8%
Structured and maintained all equipment involving lawn mowers, and rototillers
- Honda, 7%
Experience with Primarily Honda and Kubota small engines both gas and diesel powered units.2)
- Hydraulic Systems, 7%
Diagnose and repair small engines, and hydraulic systems.
Common skills that a small engine mechanic uses to do their job include "diagnosis," "blowers," and "electrical systems." You can find details on the most important small engine mechanic responsibilities below.
Customer-service skills. One of the key soft skills for a small engine mechanic to have is customer-service skills. You can see how this relates to what small engine mechanics do because "small engine mechanics frequently discuss problems and necessary repairs with their customers." Additionally, a small engine mechanic resume shows how small engine mechanics use customer-service skills: "helped customers, stock shelves, cleaned hallways, worked on chain saws, trimmers, riding mowers and push mowers. "
Detail oriented. Another essential skill to perform small engine mechanic duties is detail oriented. Small engine mechanics responsibilities require that "small engine mechanics must be aware of small details when inspecting or repairing engines and components, because mechanical and electronic malfunctions are often due to misalignments and other easy-to-miss causes." Small engine mechanics also use detail oriented in their role according to a real resume snippet: "job duties: worked on various equipment: fleet vehicles - routine maintenance to more detailed work generators air compressors"
Dexterity. small engine mechanics are also known for dexterity, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to small engine mechanic responsibilities, because "small engine mechanics need a steady hand and good hand–eye coordination for many tasks, such as disassembling engine parts, connecting or attaching components, and using hand tools." A small engine mechanic resume example shows how dexterity is used in the workplace: "diagnose and repair a variety of equipment: examples are riding lawn mowers, generators, forklifts, and log splitters. "
Mechanical skills. small engine mechanic responsibilities often require "mechanical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "small engine mechanics must be familiar with engine components and systems and know how they interact with each other." This resume example shows what small engine mechanics do with mechanical skills on a typical day: "performed mechanical duties on various types of snow blowers, lawn mowers. "
Organizational skills. Another crucial skill for a small engine mechanic to carry out their responsibilities is "organizational skills." A big part of what small engine mechanics relies on this skill, since "small engine mechanics keep workspaces clean and organized in order to maintain safety and ensure accountability for parts." How this skill relates to small engine mechanic duties can be seen in an example from a small engine mechanic resume snippet: "researched and implemented organizational maintenance practices/techniques, repair/replace components of the engine, cooling system, brake system, hydraulic system. "
Troubleshooting skills. While "troubleshooting skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to small engine mechanic responsibilities. Much of what a small engine mechanic does relies on this skill, seeing as "small engine mechanics use diagnostic equipment on engine systems and components to identify and fix problems." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of small engine mechanics: "repaired lawn mowers, weed eaters and other small engines rebuilt small engines performed troubleshooting tasks"
The three companies that hire the most small engine mechanics are:
- Northern Tool + Equipment22 small engine mechanics jobs
- Atlantic Tractor LLC10 small engine mechanics jobs
- Van Wall Equipment8 small engine mechanics jobs
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Compare different small engine mechanics
Small engine mechanic vs. Mobility scooter repairer
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between small engine mechanics and mobility scooter repairer. For instance, small engine mechanic responsibilities require skills such as "diagnosis," "blowers," "mowers," and "honda." Whereas a mobility scooter repairer is skilled in "apple," "device hardware," "cranes," and "combat." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Mobility scooter repairers tend to reach similar levels of education than small engine mechanics. In fact, mobility scooter repairers are 1.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Small engine mechanic vs. Lawn mower repairer
Each career also uses different skills, according to real small engine mechanic resumes. While small engine mechanic responsibilities can utilize skills like "diagnosis," "blowers," "electrical systems," and "honda," lawn mower repairers use skills like "routine maintenance," "system diagnostics," "pos," and "local business."
In general, lawn mower repairers achieve similar levels of education than small engine mechanics. They're 1.9% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Small engine mechanic vs. Engine repairer, production
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from small engine mechanic resumes include skills like "diagnosis," "blowers," "electrical systems," and "mowers," whereas an engine repairer, production is more likely to list skills in "mechanical components," "assembly line," "repair motors," and "circuit boards. "
When it comes to education, engine repairers, production tend to earn similar degree levels compared to small engine mechanics. In fact, they're 1.9% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Small engine mechanic vs. Outdoor power equipment mechanic
Types of small engine mechanic
Updated January 8, 2025
