Free, instant troubleshooting guides for outdoor power equipment and small engines — built by a licensed engineer who's been fixing things for over 20 years.
Lil Engine was founded by Derick Dearmon, a professionally licensed engineer with more than 20 years of experience in troubleshooting, design, and operation of a wide range of equipment. Over his career, Derick has worked as a Naval ship designer, Navy ship electrician, commercial and residential electrician, project engineer for a power generation facility, and most recently as project manager of a new power generation construction project. Every one of those roles drilled the same core skill: walk up to a broken system, figure out what's wrong, and fix it.
Small engine repair has been Derick's passion and hobby for years — tearing down mowers, generators, and chainsaws, bringing them back to life, and personally helping countless friends, neighbors, and fellow DIYers do the same. He chose this niche because it combines the troubleshooting methodology he's built over two decades with something he genuinely loves doing.
That's how Lil Engine was born — a free tool that takes your exact make, model, and symptom and returns a detailed, step-by-step repair guide in seconds. Every guide is grounded in real-world repair data, community forums, and manufacturer service manuals — not guesswork.
Founder & Licensed Engineer
Derick is a professionally licensed engineer with 20+ years of experience in troubleshooting, design, and operation of complex systems. His career spans naval ship design and electrical systems, commercial and residential electrical work, power generation engineering, and construction project management — roles that all come down to the same thing: diagnosing problems and fixing them correctly.
Outside of his engineering career, Derick has spent years as a small engine hobbyist — repairing and tuning mowers, generators, chainsaws, and outdoor power equipment for himself and his community. He created Lil Engine to share the systematic troubleshooting approach he's relied on professionally with DIYers who want to fix their own equipment the right way.
View Derick's full profile →Every troubleshooting guide on Lil Engine follows a rigorous process to ensure accuracy and usefulness:
Guide content is generated using real-world repair data from manufacturer service manuals, technical forums, and verified community sources.
When you include your make and model, guides are tailored to that specific engine series — not generic advice that doesn't apply.
Each guide includes real tips from repair forums and communities, with direct source links so you can verify the advice.
User feedback and submissions are reviewed and incorporated into guides to keep them accurate and up to date.
Type your symptom in plain English — include the year, make, and model for the best results.
We match your search to an existing guide or generate a new, model-specific repair walkthrough on the spot.
Follow the clear steps, watch videos, read community tips, and grab the right parts for the job.
Lil Engine provides general troubleshooting information only. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions and use proper safety precautions. If you're dealing with electrical hazards, fuel leaks, fire risk, or major mechanical failure, contact a qualified professional. When in doubt, stop and get help.
Have feedback, found a broken link, or want to suggest an equipment type? We'd love to hear from you.