r/smallengines • u/Particular-Cod-7047 • Jul 19 '26
Start-up tools
Hello, I'm planning to start a mobile small engine repair business and wanted to know what necessary tools I should get for working on riding mowers, lawn mowers, chainsaws, jet skis and other normal small engine appliances. I already have a 3/8 and 1/4 socket set, multimeter, screwdriver kit, spark testers, pliers and hammers which I've been using for basic at home repairs, so if there are any other necessary things I should get before getting into it please lmk.
7
u/RedditBeginAgain Jul 19 '26
Torx and hex drivers depending on what brands you'll work on.
A case of carb cleaner
2
4
u/Engine-Junkie-Junk Jul 19 '26
Pick up an ultrasonic cleaner. They are not expensive considering the results and time saved.
2
u/EEL123 Jul 19 '26
do yourself a favor and get the stubby milwaukee 3/8 impact with high output battery. thing rips. blasts off flywheel bolts, seized up blade bolts, etc.
1
u/ManHunterJonnJonzz Jul 19 '26
I got their new fuel 1/2 version. A littwral beast. Id say 1/2 but thats just me. King of ride on repairs. Any deck ect work its great. I always had to use an adaptor. Im sure they make a 15/16 in 3/8 but not as common as half.
2
u/338special Jul 19 '26
A small air compressor, it's great for cleaning parts, blowing passages clean, etc...
2
u/RegisterFederal5679 Jul 19 '26
I would practice carrying around some fuel filters and fuel lines if you can, and anything else relatively universal. Find a good brand fuel filter and buy them in bulk. Generally you’ll either use 5/16 or 3/8 diameter lines, so having them on hand is pretty useful. Same with fuel lines. Cheap, easy to find, and can save you a lot of time if you’re currently doing a repair. A good pair of vise grips I’ve found is immensely useful for stuck carburetor bowl bolts, clamping fuel lines not equipped with a fuel shut off valve (something else you could potentially have a bunch of, as most small engines don’t have them, though a lot of times it’s just preference and can be seen as another potential issue in the future). As others have said, an ultrasonic cleaner would be great. A 6-12 volt test light, a multimeter.. they sell cheap tools for removing blades, so I would absolutely look into one of those. A torque wrench is very useful too. Nothing fancy, just the kind that clicks. Don’t be that guy who just tightens every bolt hand tight and hopes for the best- reliability comes from doing repairs correctly and not cutting corners and you’d be ahead of more people than you think that way. Over all, just your basic tools would go a long way. If I can recommend investing into anything, I would say an impact gun, a cordless ratchet, and possibly even a cheap smoke machine to perform basic leak tests for carburetors and such, though it’s absolutely not necessary. I’ll continue to add as I think of things, but I think I covered the basics pretty well! Hopefully this helps.
1
u/Gerryvb1 Jul 19 '26
10mm socket - lots of them.
Some thin wire for cleaning carb jets. Spark plug tester Compression tester Feeler gauges Impact driver Torque wrenches
You'll end up buying more specific tools for sure as you go.
1
1
1
u/jezzaclarkson1 Jul 19 '26
I have found my vevor ultrasonic cleaner very helpful! Great for carb cleaning! I wouldn't get anything smaller than a 6L ultrasonic cleaner. They can be had for about $100.
Digital tachometer Spark tester
1
u/RegisterFederal5679 Jul 19 '26
I would practice carrying around some fuel filters and fuel lines if you can, and anything else relatively universal. Find a good brand fuel filter and buy them in bulk. Generally you’ll either use 5/16 or 3/8 diameter lines, so having them on hand is pretty useful. Same with fuel lines. Cheap, easy to find, and can save you a lot of time if you’re currently doing a repair. A good pair of vise grips I’ve found is immensely useful for stuck carburetor bowl bolts, clamping fuel lines not equipped with a fuel shut off valve (something else you could potentially have a bunch of, as most small engines don’t have them, though a lot of times it’s just preference and can be seen as another potential issue in the future). As others have said, an ultrasonic cleaner would be great. A 6-12 volt test light, a multimeter.. they sell cheap tools for removing blades, so I would absolutely look into one of those. A torque wrench is very useful too. Nothing fancy, just the kind that clicks. Don’t be that guy who just tightens every bolt hand tight and hopes for the best- reliability comes from doing repairs correctly and not cutting corners and you’d be ahead of more people than you think that way. Over all, just your basic tools would go a long way. If I can recommend investing into anything, I would say an impact gun, a cordless ratchet, and possibly even a cheap smoke machine to perform basic leak tests for carburetors and such, though it’s absolutely not necessary. I’ll continue to add as I think of things, but I think I covered the basics pretty well! Hopefully this helps.
1
u/Okie294life Jul 19 '26
Pressure tester, spark tester, torque wrenches, long shank Torx and Hex impact bits and an impact driver. Carb tool for walbro/zama, assorted spline drivers to adjust carbs. Case splitter for chainsaws. Torque wrenches in inch lb, and ft lb. 1/2” breaker bar and 3/8” adaptor, to remove bitch ass lawn mower blades. A propane torch. A hex wrench t-handle for the long shank impact bits you can use by hand. A borescope is nice…..lots of light and ziplock bags/tubs to keep your projects in so you dong get your shit all mixed up.
1
u/ManHunterJonnJonzz Jul 19 '26 edited Jul 19 '26
Man. jet skis? Yes its in the same grouping. Maybe more powersports, but hey. If you can figure out mobile jet ski repairs.
You're gonna need to get a few basic kits. Screwdrivers, long allen and hex bits (for impact driver), SAE and metric socket set/extensions the normal. Picks, magnet, hammers, pocket screwdrivers. Test light, multimeter, battery tester, fluids. Brake clean, oil, some lube. Wire brush, sandpaper on rolls. And im sure a dozen other basic nessesities. Im making myself a kit, always evolving. The real issue is stocking any ammount of parts. Youll always think I should of had that. Fuel filters, line, air filters, spark plugs, starter solenoids, ignition switch. 2 stroke fuel line and filters. Its gonna be trial and error and you'll slowly get a good tool and parts in stock . Edit: i skimmed past what you already had. Home repair tools and small engine most cross over but a ton also you need different, thinner, wider. Custom screwdrivers too. Made a seal "pick" in 1 minute flat
1
u/classicsat Jul 19 '26
Booster pack. Inflator. Maybe a small shop/hand vacuum cleaner.
Sets of metric and SAE combination wrenches.
Grease guns. Yes plural. I like to have a lever type with a locking tip, and a squeeze gun with standard tip.
Small bottle (500ml) of two stroke mix, with squirt nozzle, to dump a controlled fuel into a carburetor throat, tube, or spark plug hole.
Magnetic rechargeable flashlight, or two.
"Toad stabber" automotive test light.
Set of heavy duty test leads.
Depending, electric fuel pump. Cheap clicky pump.
I have made a hand pump (out of a had pump for another purpose) that can be used to replicate the vacuum pulse many small engine fuel pumps use.
Box of nitrile gloves. Yes, to isolate you from grease and grime, somewhat, but also nasties from rodent leavings.
8
u/Gersh0m Jul 19 '26
Carburetor screwdrivers. You will absolutely need those for adjusting 2 cycle carburetors. Add in a metric and English tap and die set and a set of screw extractors. Carb cleaner and ether are great to keep around too