Pontiac High School
Small Gas Engine Repair
Course Outline and Description
Course Description
Small Engine Mechanics is intended to offer entry level instruction and training in the
areas of tool use, measurement, maintenance, diagnostics, personal and shop
safety, theory, design and applications as they pertain to the subject of small
internal combustion engines. Students will be exposed to various methods of
instruction, including (but not limited to) lecture, audiovisual instruction and handson learning in a lab environment. The course would promote students to
demonstrate their ability to access and use technological means to achieve the
course goals. Critical thinking and problem solving skills would be demonstrated
through completion of required projects, such as the disassembly and reassembly
and successful running of a small gas engine. In addition, the course will start
students on a path of preparation for continued secondary educational opportunities
and/or career placement in the field of power technology.
Prerequisites: none
Unit 1: Small Gas Engines Foundations
Length: 5 weeks
Program Introduction-Classroom rules
1. Small Gas Engine Careers
2. Safety
3. Reading Service Manuals
4. Bolt Identification
5. Drilling and Tapping Lab Activity
MPO’s covered
1. Describe and demonstrate safety while working in a repair lab
environment
2. Look up basic service information using a small gas engine shop
manual
3. Identify common fasteners
Illinois State Standards Addressed
Evaluation: Homework questions, class participation, work sample,
written quiz.
Revised 05/07
Pontiac High School
Small Gas Engine Repair
Course Outline and Description
Unit 2 Preventative Maintenance
Length: 2 weeks
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Identify the correct oil viscosity for your engine
Describe the grade of an engine oil by reading API label
Identifying and Checking Small Gas Engines Fluid Levels
Removing, cleaning, gapping, torquing, and reinstalling spark plug
Changing engine oil
Removing and replacing the blade
Removing, lubricating, and replacing wheels
Performing a compression test
MPO’s Covered
1. Describe the steps involved in routine maintenance on a lawn mower
2. Perform routine maintenance on a lawn mower
3. Perform a compression test on a small gas engine
Unit 3 Operating Principles of the Four-Stroke Small Gas Engine
Length: 2 weeks
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Identify the correct oil viscosity for your engine
Describe the grade of an engine oil by reading API label
Identifying and Checking Small Gas Engines Fluid Levels
Removing, cleaning, gapping, torquing, and reinstalling spark plug
Changing engine oil
Removing and replacing the blade
Removing, lubricating, and replacing wheels
Performing a compression test
MPO’s Covered
1. Advantages of the two-stroke engine and four-stroke engine
2. Identifying the four strokes of a small-gas engine
3. Describe basic small engine parts and operation.
Evaluation: Homework questions, class participation, work sample,
written quiz.
Revised 05/07
Pontiac High School
Small Gas Engine Repair
Course Outline and Description
Unit 4 Small Gas Engine Repair
1. Recite the stroke of a four stroke engine in order
2. Be able to identify major engine parts
3. Be able to identify common carburetor parts
4. Describe the major role oil plays in an engine
5. Be able dismantle, measure, and reassemble a small gas engine
MPO’s Covered
1. Describe the characteristics of an Small Gas Engines braking
system
2. Remove and replace drum and disc brakes on an automobile
3. Remove and replace wheel bearings and wheel bearing assemblies
on an automobile
4. Machine a drum and rotor
Length: 9 weeks
Evaluation: ASE questions, written quiz, class participation, work
sample
Revised 05/07