What tool set for small engine class

[polk county]

The principal wants me to teach a small engine repair class this year. I think that the most logical thing to buy is a complete tool set. The class is going to be dissecting junk lawn equipment, boat motors and whatever else we can find. What tool set should I buy for this? We have 300 dollars

Thanks for the help.

 

[xtrema2]

Re: What tool set for small engine class

With the 300.00 you are kinda limited. But since it is a shop class then my guess would be that a lot of tools are gonna grow legs and walk away So I would go to a Harbor Freight and start buying. Since it is just a small tools class you probably wont find any nuts and bolts that require bigger than a 1" wrench so cheap tools should be fine. I would select an equal amount of both standard and metrics. you should be able to do maost of you work with a 1/4" socket set and a 3/8" set. You will also need a couple sets of wrenches. Standard sets run from 3/8 to 1" and 10mm to 19mm. Good luck and dont forget Screw drivers, Pliers, Side cuts, crescent wrenches, hammers, chisels, punches, prybars, Channel locks, wire brushes, and lots of band aids if its school kids your teaching

 

[triumphrick]

Re: What tool set for small engine class

Hey there Polk County. Is that Polk County, Florida? If so there is a Harbor Freight at 5115 US98 there in Lakeland. And I agree on a couple of cheapy sets. Also, don't forget to tell the store manager what it is you are doing and see if he can't help you out a bit on the costs.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: What tool set for small engine class

With the 300.00 you are kinda limited. But since it is a shop class then my guess would be that a lot of tools are gonna grow legs and walk away So I would go to a Harbor Freight and start buying. Since it is just a small tools class you probably wont find any nuts and bolts that require bigger than a 1" wrench so cheap tools should be fine. I would select an equal amount of both standard and metrics. you should be able to do maost of you work with a 1/4" socket set and a 3/8" set. You will also need a couple sets of wrenches. Standard sets run from 3/8 to 1" and 10mm to 19mm. Good luck and dont forget Screw drivers, Pliers, Side cuts, crescent wrenches, hammers, chisels, punches, prybars, Channel locks, wire brushes, and lots of band aids if its school kids your teaching

Remember teaching students.... I would avoid crescent wrenches unless you want to teach the wrong tool, avoid vice grips and most pliers too. Limit the hammer to a small one and a decent rubber mallet would help.

A torque wrench
a few easy outs
Possibly some common tap and die sets
A small bench grinder to sharpen the mower blades

I had a shop where I repaired small engines and I don't have to tell you the condition I saw some bolts and nuts in..... all chewed up beacause the homeowner tried the vise grip, pliers, big channel lock.... tapped it with a hammer. I think you know where I am going with this one.

Or you could cut to the chase.... vise grips, duct tape, bailing wire with big hammers.

Which school? My folks still live in Winter Haven on Lake Pansy.

 

[xtrema2]

Re: What tool set for small engine class

An Electric drill as well and gasket scrapers or a die grinder if you trust them. But if they are in a class they need to know how to use one. File set, compression tester, spark plug gapper, feeler gauges, micrometer, calipers, some type of gear puller for flywheels and such. Also a volt meter.

 

[i386]

Re: What tool set for small engine class

You don't need much for old Briggs and Stratton engines. I would add:

Compression tester
Spark tester
Flywheel wrench/holder tool
Feeler guages

If you're going beyond basic troubleshooting and repair:
Piston ring spreader pliers
Piston ring compressor

 

[polk county]

Re: What tool set for small engine class

Hey there Polk County. Is that Polk County, Florida? If so there is a Harbor Freight at 5115 US98 there in Lakeland

Yea winter haven

Thanks all that helps a lot

 

[itstippy]

Re: What tool set for small engine class

Send a flyer home with the kids asking their parents for any servicable mechanic's tools they can donate to the school. Maybe run something in the local paper. Lots of guys have duplicate sockets and wrenches and screwdrivers etc. they've accumulated over the years. Nobody throws out their old "cheapo" tools when they get a nice new good set for Christmas - they just throw the old set in a bucket or drawer. It'd make them feel good to know some young kid is learning how to wrench by using their old starter set. Get a can of safety orange spraypaint and lay the tools out on newspaper and paint all the handles and even the sockets (not where the numbers are though). It doesn't have to be pretty - just a blob of orange spraypaint per tool. They won't walk off as fast.

 

[Pascal]

Re: What tool set for small engine class

all the above suggestions are good ones.

You are going to be working on aluminium with threads. I would suggest some heli-coils - if only for a demonstration. better if all could do one for them selves though.....

have fun with this!!! those kids will learn better and pay more attention.