Mama2two Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 My 10 year old son is interested in engine repair. He loves to use tools and take things apart Considered buying him a cheap appliance like a blender and handing him "the Way things work" book we already have and tell him to go at it Any other ideas? Any kits out there? He wouldn't want to just build a model Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Do you have any car-wrecking/junkyards around? Or any gardening machines that no longer work? My ds13 is rebuilding a couple of two-stroke engines from yard equipment (rototiller, weed whacker). It is very staisfying hands-on work for him. We're thinking of going to a pick-and-pull to get a car engine for him at some point! He also does basic car maintenance/repair on my car. So far he's changed the oil, and replaced the battery cables and the battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Y Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 My sons (of which I have 10, ages 3-24) thus far have all really liked just diving in and taking engines apart. The older ones have gone as far as having careers in diesel mechanics, simply from having gotten their hands onto the real deal from early on. (I have one son--now 24yo--who literally changed our skid steer engine at age 9 or 10. He needed dh's help cuz it was too heavy for him to get out himself! lol). I have sons who have been fixing vehicles long before they were old enough to test drive them to even figure out what exactly the problem is. And I have sons who actually make money buying, fixing, and selling lawn mowers/tractors. (So, some are more inclined toward gas engines vs diesels.) All that said, we just let them play around with it on their own with real things. Those for whom it clicked have found this a useful self education. My 24yods does say that Small Engine book Christian Light carries as a high school elective course looks good. I never did end up buying it for him way back when when I was going to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama2two Posted November 25, 2014 Author Share Posted November 25, 2014 Thanks for all the suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckens Posted November 26, 2014 Share Posted November 26, 2014 My brother took a class in high school to rebuild a lawn mower. Everyone had to bring an old lawn mower to class. 1) Are there any Adult Ed classes that would fit the bill? Something you could take as a parent/child?2) How about a bicycle maintenance class?3) What can you find on YouTube or online blogs for basic or small engine repair? I just know that Loverboy has fixed several things around the house with help from youtube.For example, this (not an endorsement; just what came up with a google search): http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Repair-a-Lawn-Mower-Engine./4) What does your library have under the heading of "small engine repair"? Is there something you could find on Amazon and request through inter-library loan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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