Career Details
Career Details
Back to top

Career Details

49-3053.00 - 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.


Key Facts
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
32,300
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
33,800
Estimate
Change in Employment
+1,500
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+4.8%
Estimate
Tasks
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • 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.
  • Reassemble engines after repair or maintenance work is complete.
  • Record repairs made, time spent, and parts used.
  • Perform routine maintenance such as cleaning and oiling parts, honing cylinders, and tuning ignition systems.
  • Obtain problem descriptions from customers, and prepare cost estimates for repairs.
  • Test and inspect engines to determine malfunctions, to locate missing and broken parts, and to verify repairs, using diagnostic instruments.
  • Repair or replace defective parts such as magnetos, water pumps, gears, pistons, and carburetors, using hand tools.
  • Sell parts and equipment.
  • Show customers how to maintain equipment.
  • Dismantle engines, using hand tools, and examine parts for defects.
  • Replace motors.
  • Grind, ream, rebore, and re-tap parts to obtain specified clearances, using grinders, lathes, taps, reamers, boring machines, and micrometers.
  • Remove engines from equipment, and position and bolt engines to repair stands.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Mechanical
  • 87%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 69%
    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.
 English Language
  • 68%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 64%
    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.
 Education and Training
  • 63%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Transportation
  • 63%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 62%
    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.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 59%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Administration and Management
  • 59%
    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.
 Physics
  • 57%
    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.
 Production and Processing
  • 57%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Design
  • 55%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 55%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Mathematics
  • 53%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Law and Government
  • 52%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Vehicle testing and measuring equipment
  • Adjustable gap spark testers
  • Carburetor pressure gauges
  • Coil testers
  • Compression testing gauges
  • Ignition testers
  • Inline spark testers
  • Leakdown testers
  • Spark plug gauges
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Allen wrench sets
  • Bearing drivers
  • Breaker bars
  • Camshaft bearing pullers
  • Combination wrenches
  • Cotter pin pullers
  • Crowfoot wrenches
  • Fluted screw extractors
  • Flywheel pullers
  • Fuel line removers
  • Gear pullers
  • Hex sets
  • Impact drivers
  • Magneto bearing pullers
  • Metric flex socket wrenches
  • Metric socket wrenches
  • Phillips head screwdrivers
  • Seal pullers
  • Slot screwdrivers
  • Small jet carburetor screwdrivers
  • Spanners
  • Spark plug socket wrenches
  • Speed handles
  • Standard flex socket wrenches
  • Standard socket wrenches
  • Starter clutch wrenches
  • T handle hex wrenches
  • Torque adapters
  • Torque wrenches
  • Torx bit sets
 Cutting and crimping and punching tools
  • Automatic center punches
  • Flat tip screw starters
  • Mini hacksaws
  • Parallel pin punches
  • Starter punches
  • Wire cutters
  • Wire strippers
 Forming tools
  • Ball peen hammers
  • Dead blow hammers
  • Mechanics' pick sets
  • Z benders
 Rough and finishing tools
  • Battery terminal cleaners
  • Flat cold chisels
  • Tapered hand files
  • Valve grinders
 Tool kits
  • Cam bearing plug gauges
  • Main bearing plug gauges
 Tool attachments and accessories
  • Camshaft bearing drivers
  • Power drill bits
  • Ridge reamers
  • Socket wrench extensions
  • Valve guide reamers
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Channel lock pliers
  • Combination pliers
  • Diagonal cutters
  • Fixed tip snap ring pliers
  • Flywheel holders
  • Magnetic pickup tools
  • Mechanical fingers
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Piston ring expanders
  • Vise grip pliers
  • Wire crimpers
 Electrical measuring and testing equipment and accessories
  • Charging system testers
  • Digital multimeters
  • Test lights
 Computer data input devices
  • Computer data input scanners
 Vehicle servicing equipment
  • Crankshaft straighteners
  • Cylinder hones
  • Piston ring compressors
  • Spark plug wrenches
  • Valve refacing tools
  • Valve seat cutting tools
  • Valve spring compressors
 Length and thickness and distance measuring instruments
  • Cylinder bore telescoping gauges
  • Dial bore gauges
  • Dial calipers
  • Taper feeler gauges
 Transportation related equipment and instruments
  • Digital tachometers
  • Wireless tachometers
 Power tools
  • Impact drills
  • Power wrenches
 Measuring and layout tools
  • Inspection mirrors
  • Measuring tapes
 Computers
  • Personal computers
 Compressors
  • Portable air compressors
 Metal cutting tools
  • Spark plug hole taps
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Data management and query software
  • Ideal Computer Systems Ideal OPE
  • RepairTRAX
  • Smart Equipment Repair
 Industry specific software
  • Land & Sea DYNO-MAX
  • Sale processing software
  • VersaDyne small engine test system
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
Expand or Shrink Accordion
Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Tidewater Community College