Helpful Helper's Hints

Riding SafetyNumerous deaths and seriousinjuries have OCCUITedwith ridingequipment powered by smallengines. Finding the center ofgravity will indicate the risk of arollover. A low center of gravityprovides a smaller risk. Youshould gain an understandingof what direction is safest for

mowing hills; up and down forriding mowers and across the hillsfor walk-behind mowers. It maybe useful to study lawns that havehills and discuss the best mowingpattern. You may want to observeyouth mowing a lawn to see if thecorrect mowing directions arefollowed.

Make the Cut!

You may want to help youth fmdthe lettuce and other items forthis activity. A magnifying glasswill be helpful with seeing thedifferences at the cut edges of thelettuce. The primary objective isto show that more plant cells areinjured with a dull knife or blade,which increasesthe risk of disease.

Information OverloadAnytime you go shoppingwhether it's groceries or clothingyou have choices with respect toquality. This is also true of smallengine equipment and their parts.Youth may need help determiningquality differences although quite

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often price is an indicator. Alsoyouth may need assistance incompletingthe table in the activity.

Business Time?Youth in grades six through eightare often looking for ways to earnmoney. Mowing the neighbors'lawns or roto-tilling gardens aregood ways to earn money. Youthmay need help completing thequestions in this activity. Whenanswering these questions,consideration should be givento time needed for school andtime spent on other activities.Determination of costs will beuseful in determining what tocharge.

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Coming Apart - Coming TogetherIf youth plan to do the following six activities, they may want to obtaina discarded engine from a small engine repair shop or an engine discarded intheir neighborhood. The youth may need help in obtaining the engine. Thesesix activities are designed to be done in pairs, i.e., Fuel and Air Systems-Corning Apart, Fuel and Air System - Corning Together, Electrical System -Coming Apart, Electrical System - Coming Together, Engine Base -Coming Apart, Engine Base - Coming Together.

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availablein the localhardwarestorebut probably'

will be available at the manufacturers' authorized. '¥

Motor Music repair shops andExperienced small engine repair people can analyze stores. Youth may

Answer Key foran engine's problem by the noise it creates. Youth will need help locatingbe recording the sound produced by a small engine them. Unlessyouth Advanced Toolsunder several conditions. Youth may need help to plan to do extensive Tool Letter No.determine differences in the sounds for the different small enginerepair, Dial indicator E 4conditions. Be sure to have youth identify each the purchase of

Digital multimeter F 7condition on the tape by speaking into a recorder. these tools wouldnot be advised. Piston ringAdvanced ToolsThese tools may be compressor D 6

As more specialized work is done on a small engine, availablein schools Piston ringthe more advanced or specialized the tools become.

that that have small expander C 1Some of these tools also become more costly and,

engine repair Spark tester G 5in some cases, the tools are specificto a small enginemanufacturer. Descriptions of these tools may be programs. Tang bender A 2

found in the service manual specific to the engine. Vibrating wireThese tools may not be tachometer B 3

Fuel and Air Systems - Coming ApartThe fuel system tear-down can be done on a discardedengine or another engine that is available to youth.Although the tear-down steps are listed in the activity,there may be some differences for the small engine theyouth are using. Therefore, it will be very important tohave the service manual for the engine and fuel system.As youth gain experience with small engines, they willdepend less on the manuals. Many steps will becomeintuitive. If the service manual is not affordable,youth may consider obtaining a photocopy of the fewnecessary pages. Youth may need assistance obtainingthe engine and service manual.

Fuel and Air Systems - Coming TogetherIn this activity, youth are expected to write the assemblysteps, which are very similar to the tear-downsteps except in reverse order. Youth may need helpobtaining replacement parts if they are necessary.Carburetor repair kits are available for many smallengine carburetors. Youth may need assistance indeciding on the detail of the steps to record. Detailshould be similar to the tear-down steps.

Electrical System - Coming ApartPlease read the hints for Activity Coming Apart -Fuel and Air Systems.

Electrical System - Coming TogetherOf the three assembly activities, this may be themost difficult. In this activity, youth provide verbaldirections to someone else who will do the assembly.You can serve as the person who will follow theverbal directions for assembling the electrical system.Or another youth could serve this role. It will be abetter experience if the person following the directionsis not very knowledgeable about small engines. It isimportant to stress that youth may not physically helpwith assembly. They may only give verbal instructions.

Engine Base - Coming ApartThe hints for this activity are similar to Fuel and AirSystems - Coming Apart, except it may be best forthe youth to tear-down a discarded engine. Becausethere will be many more parts, it will be moreimportant for youth to organize and label the partson a table as they are removed from the engine.

Engine Base - Coming TogetherIn this activity youth will assemblethe engine in theform of a demonstration. This could be presentedto you or a small group of people. The audienceis expected to record the assembly steps. After thedemonstration, you can share your recorded stepswith the demonstrator. It will be better to have severalpeople in the audience recording steps. The sharingwill be an understanding of the completeness andclarity of the demonstration.

Helpful Helper's Hints

Keep it Sharp!Youth may need some assistance with removingthelawnmowerblade.Be sure the spark plug wire isremoved from the spark plug. Also help youth finda file or a grinder to sharpen the blade. If youth usea grinder,be sure the proper safety precautions arefollowed.For example,eye protectionwill be required,gloves should be worn, the grinder should be properlyadjusted,and ear protectionmay be necessary.Be awarethat the blade will get hot during grinding. A sharpblade can easily cut the skin.

Know the TrendsLike automobiles, small engine equipment ischanging with respect to fuel consumption, impacton the environment, noise, and operator comfort.National trends in small engines include fewer two-cycle engines and more valve-in-headengines.Thesetwo trends will lead to fewer pollutants and moreefficient engines. Youth may need some assistancein finding information on this topic. People whohave been employed by an engine equipmentcompany for many years will be a good source.The

. U.S. EnvironmentalProtectionAgency (EPA)is anexcellent source of information.Have youth check thewebsite or write to the EPA.They also have a computermodel that predicts air pollution levels in variousareas of the U.S. if some new technologies areadopted.

Rules and RegulationsThe precedingactivityfocusedon federal laws affectingengine trends. The activity deals more with state,comity,city, and community rules and regulations.These will deal not only with lawnmowers but otherequipment such as ATVs, snowmobiles, watercraft,and boats. Youthmay need assistance in finding theserules and regulations. Some sources of informationare local law enforcement agencies and recreationalpark administrativeoffices.This may be an opportunityfor youth to visit with their local elected officials aboutrules and regulations and how they are developed orchanged.

Selecting an EngineYouth are asked to fmd a replacementengine for someequipment available. This equipment mayor maynot need a new engine. The primary goal is to finda replacement engine in catalogs. Presumably, theequipmentis older,thereforethe engine model on thisequipmentis not currentlyavailable.The replacementengine will have some different specifications. Ifequipment needs a replacement engine, youth canmake the replacement. Be sure youth check with theengine manufactureror supplierto insure the selectedengine is appropriate.

Helpful Helper's Hints

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I Comparing and PurchasingComparison-shopping (decision making) is a skill that

· can be used with many items that youth will purchaseduring their lifetimes. In this activity, youth mayneed help finding stores for three different brandsof equipment.Youmay want to suggest the telephoneyellow pages for a listingof storesproviding the smallengine equipment. You want to visit with youth in

I deciding on what basic and extra features to consider.Sometimes the advertising literature will provide ideas.

I Youth may find your assistance helpful in rating theequipment.I

Small Engine Project Meeting Ideas

Are you looking for more small engine activityI I ideas? Here is a list of possibilities. Brainstorm

I more ideas with the participantsin your group.

Small Engine Projects" _Building equipment to be powered by a small

engine, e.g., log splitter, go-cart, pumping system_Building a model of a small engine_Developing a cut-away of a small engine_Making a carburetor cut-away_Developing a display of small engine parts_Rebuilding a small engine_Changing engine oil_Servicing the air cleaner on a small engine_Studying the engine model numbering system_Troubleshooting an engine

Careers in Small Engines_Conducting a small engine career night_Shadowing on the job_Writing a resume_Interviewing people in a small equipment

industry_Interviewing people managing a small engine

: I repair shop or retail store

I _Touring a small engine repair shop orII manufacturing plant

II _Inte:viewing an engineer in a small engineII eqUIpment company: I Recreational

_Interviewing someone from a riding club,e.g., ATVs or snowmobile

_Attending a local riding club meeting_Discovering trails for ATVs or snowmobiles

in your community_Volunteering to maintain trails

Attending a local ATV or snowmobile rally

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Starting Your Own BusinessYouth may need some help in setting realistic goals withrespect to level of income. Some consideration shouldbe given to many things including the purpose of theincome, time available, other chores to be done aroundthe home, and equipment available. Youth this ageoften have many ideas for purchasing expensive items.Therefore it is imperative they set realistic goals.

Safety and the Environment_Interviewing local law enforcement officials

regarding community laws_Exploring the Internet for safety and

environmental information_Attending an approved rider safety course

for ATVs, snowmobiles, or motorcycles_Presenting a lawnmower safety program to

kindergartners, first and second graders onbystander safety

_Obtaining new safety decals for small engineequipment around your home

_Collecting newspaper clippings on smallengine equipment-related injuries

_Discarding used oil properly_Conducting a safety inspection of a riding

lawnmower

Energy Sources_Visiting a fuel distribution depot_Tracing gasoline back to its natural sources_Creating a display to describe the refining

process_Interviewing people in the fuel and oil industry_Comparing gasoline and diesel engines_Comparing the properties of diesel fuel and

gasoline

Other_Exhibiting a small engine project_Giving a small engine demonstration_Practicing conference judging_Conducting a small engine quiz bowl_Debating small engine issues_Mowing the lawns for elderly or disabled

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