Posted: 6/27/2011 4:52:08 PM EDT
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Questions for the group:
How would/did you go about learning these skills and learning the tools/supplies that you needed to have? First Aid (Red Cross or EMT Classes Maybe) Small Engine Repair (genrators, Tillers, trash pumps, etc.) Gunsmithing (More than just mounting a scope and routine cleaning) Thanks 
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First Aid - I was in the Army for nearly 6 years where I was combat lifesaver qualified. Worked as an electrician where first aid was mandatory every year.
Small engines - I grew up working on machinery on the farm. As an adult I took classes to get certified so I could work on other people's stuff confidently Gun smithing - This is an ongoing education. I have built many AK's and am pretty familiar with the internal workings of most of the guns I own. |
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First Aid - I grew up in Scouting and continued on to achieve Eagle. During college I spent a couple of summers leading wilderness trips for kids for two different companies and got my WFR (Wilderness First Responder). Now I go out once or twice a year on faith-based medical missions and do whatever the docs and nurses need help with. WFA (Wilderness First Aid), Red Cross or American Heart Assoc first aid, or CPR classes would be a good start if you don't have any training. Also, books like the Outward Bound or NOLS first aid guides are nice. Small Engine Repair - I fix whatever breaks. Cars, trucks, tractors (when we had a farm), small engines, you name it. I buy whatever tools and parts I need and dive in. I never take an engine to the shop. I read-up on the web to find whatever info I need. There are a lot of good forums out there. Gunsmithing - Again, I fix whatever needs fixing. I don't build precision rifles or anything like that, but I've built ARs, repaired several rifles, shotguns, and pistols, and learned to strip and clean everything we own. Develop your mechanical aptitude by tackling projects of any kind–– plumbing, electrical, carpentry, mechanical, whatever. Learn to do things right. Don't cut corners. Use good quality parts. Buy or make whatever tools you need. |
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Thanks for the Info.
I went through basic first aid years ago as a Volunteer fireman. A good friend who is a Paramedic instructor has volunteered to train me and help me to put together a good kit. Mechanics is my weak spot, just never been a talent. From what I have on small engines the carburator and fuel systems seem to be the weak spots, does this match your experience? On the gunsmithing I have started putting together a basic set of tools and now I am go to start try to build a small stock of parts for the guns I own. Springs, retaining clips, etc. I have thought about trying to find a coomunity college course on small engine repair, do you think this would be a good first step? |
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Quoted:
Mechanics is my weak spot, just never been a talent. From what I have on small engines the carburator and fuel systems seem to be the weak spots, does this match your experience? My take on this is that the most common problems with small engines are fuel-related. These days E-10 fuel absorbing large amounts of water from the environment and separating in the tank causes lots of trouble, even with engines that never see a lake. On top of that, there are still non-ethanol compatible materials in some carburetors, so newer carb rebuild kits with updated materials are coming out and some older carbs are failing because of deteriorating soft parts. The old problem of stale, varnished fuel remains. Floats still get perforated or cracked and sink, needle valves get stuck open on debris, o-ring seats and plastic-tipped needles swell, scratch, or dissolve, and carb bowls get full of varnish, rust, debris, and water. In short, there are some new-ish problems from ethanol in fuel and there are other problems that are as old as the first simple carburetors. All of the problems that plague carburetors and small engines in general can be understood from a basic sciences and mechanics perspective. When you learn to look at them that way and come to understand the inner workings they are much easier to work on. I just wrote-up a how-to guide on carb cleaning on a Champion generator, which you can find here. The thread has a lot of good contributions from some really knowledgeable guys here. I have thought about trying to find a coomunity college course on small engine repair, do you think this would be a good first step?
I've never taken a course on small engines so I really can't comment on that. |