Helping next generation (or two) practical automotive learning

A grandson just turned 14. He's been car crazy for years, spotting exotics and oddities in the wild as well as some more complex car buid/race computer games.

Earlier this year I asked him if he could tell me the names / function of a 4 stroke engine cycle? How to differentiate a flathead vs OHV vs OHC? And a couple of other basics. He was familiar with the terms but had no real understanding.

I stopped by a small engine repair shop and asked if they might have a scrap engine to tear down. Explained why. Guy got all excited that a kid wanted to get his hands dirty and gave me an old pressure washer with a 5hp Briggs flathead and the pump still on the output shaft.

Had him break it down and lay out the bits, going through all the functions as we went along.

He took pics at every step, shot video of piston/cam/valve rotation relationships as I turned the crank by hand

Then stripped out the block. He kept the piston/rod/cap as a souvenir.

Additionally he got practical experience in tool selection and use, as well as cleaning and putting away.

My encouragement to others would be to take a morning and do something with a kid like this. More of them need a taste of the real world.

 

Awesome! You have my vote as "Grandfather of the Year" Bill!

This is exactly how to begin the process of maintaining equipment, you first have to know how it functions.

All the best to you and your grandson.

 

I had the luxury of an automotive shop when I was in high school but also had a grandfather that liked to tinker and teach before school started .

Good job Bill .
Encourage him to continue . Trades are desperate for skilled employees .
I would even bet there are some guys working at the dealership level who would be incapable of understanding the 4 cycle engine in its basic single cylinder form

 

True, which was an underlying goal. I've found learning useful things is always good.

I agree. Big Mike Rowe fan here.

But even for those who never work a trade, knowledge of the basics around you are useful. Have a friend who was an ER Dr for a long time and help him build furniture and do brake work on his Jag....

Learn a trade and you'll usually be able to work. Add in some inexpensive post HS education (tech school or even a JC AA in business) and you'll always be able to work. Or run your own business.

That. Would. Be. Sad.

And show lousy hiring practices as well!

 

@Hardscrabble @gearcruncher

Forgot to add this is the same kid who SCUBA certified at 10 in a class of adults. Pretty sharp kid.

I've got 6 grands (3 are my sons, 3 are my daughters) All are good students, all have different interests, all are pretty good at something they like, all excel at different things.

Fun to play a small part.