Call a local auto shop or just drop by and ask if you can talk to someone about being a mechanic. Be ready to ask questions, like what someone who wants to work in this field should do to get started.

Interview a mechanic.

Gain mechanical knowledge by taking a class at your school. If your school doesn't offer it, try a community college or see if you can intern or shadow a mechanic in your community.

Take a mechanics class. 

Try these quick projects from Khan Academy that you can do at home. Build a simple motor, a ping pong ball launcher, or something else from the list!

Develop mechanics knowledge with hands-on projects!

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul small engines used to power lawn mowers, chain saws, recreational sporting equipment, and related equipment.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Small Engine Mechanics

Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations

Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

Record repairs made, time spent, and parts used.

Test and inspect engines to determine malfunctions, to locate missing and broken parts, and to verify repairs, using diagnostic instruments.

Dismantle engines, using hand tools, and examine parts for defects.

Repair and maintain gasoline engines used to power equipment such as portable saws, lawn mowers, generators, and compressors.

Adjust points, valves, carburetors, distributors, and spark plug gaps, using feeler gauges.

Repair or replace defective parts such as magnetos, water pumps, gears, pistons, and carburetors, using hand tools.

Perform routine maintenance such as cleaning and oiling parts, honing cylinders, and tuning ignition systems.

Reassemble engines after repair or maintenance work is complete.

Obtain problem descriptions from customers, and prepare cost estimates for repairs.

Microsoft Excel

Ideal Computer Systems Ideal OPE

RepairTRAX

Smart Equipment Repair

Land & Sea DYNO-MAX

VersaDyne small engine test system

Sale processing software

Microsoft Office software

Web browser software

Cotter pin pullers

Fuel line removers

Gear pullers

Magneto bearing pullers

Metric flex socket wrenches

Spark plug socket wrenches

Standard flex socket wrenches

Standard socket wrenches

Phillips head screwdrivers

Slot screwdrivers

Small jet carburetor screwdrivers

Bearing drivers

Breaker bars

Starter clutch wrenches

Adjustable gap spark testers

Ignition testers

Inline spark testers

Carburetor pressure gauges

Compression testing gauges

Leakdown testers

Power wrenches

Cam bearing plug gauges

Main bearing plug gauges

Digital tachometers

Wireless tachometers

Portable air compressors

Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

Continually or almost continually

More than half the time

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Constant contact with others

Occasional contact with others

How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?

Some freedom

Limited freedom

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

Once a week or more but not every day

Once a month or more but not every week

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

Every day

How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?

Number of hours typically worked in one week.

More than 40 hours

40 hours

How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable

How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

Overview

Career

What Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics Do

Other Job Titles Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

Overview

Career

What Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics Do

Other Job Titles Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics

Majors Related to Career

Related Leaders