Small Engine Parts to Stock, and How to Order the Rest
Which small engine parts to keep on the shelf for mowers, trimmers, chainsaws and generators, how much of each to stock, and how to special order the rest.
A small engine shop should stock the parts that go into almost every job and wear out every season: spark plugs, air and fuel filters, oil, fuel line, primer bulbs, starter rope, mower blades, trimmer line and belts for the machines you see most. Stock the carburetors, gaskets and kits for your two or three most common engines, and special order everything else with a deposit. Set a low stock level for each part from what you actually used last season, and order before the spring and fall rush, not during it. Below is a starter list by job, how to set quantities, and how to handle the parts you do not keep.
Start from your tickets, not a catalog
A parts catalog lists thousands of parts. Your shelf needs the few dozen that show up on your tickets again and again. Before you order, look at last season:
- Which services you did most. Tune-ups, blade sharpening, carburetor cleaning, pull cords, no-start diagnostics.
- Which machines came in most. The brands and engines your customers own, not the ones in the catalog.
- Which parts you ordered more than twice. If you special ordered it three times, it belongs on the shelf.
If you are just opening, start small with the list below and add what your first month of tickets asks for.
A starter list by job
| Job | Parts to keep on hand |
|---|---|
| Tune-up | Spark plugs, air filters, pre-filters, fuel filters, engine oil, two-stroke oil |
| No-start after storage | Fuel line, primer bulbs, carburetor kits and gaskets for your most common engines, fuel stabilizer |
| Pull cord and starter | Starter rope in the common sizes, handles, recoil springs |
| Mower service | Blades for the decks you see most, blade bolts, drive and deck belts |
| Trimmer service | Trimmer line in the common sizes, trimmer heads |
| Chainsaw service | Chains and bar oil for your most common bar lengths, chain files |
| Counter sales | Oil, two-stroke mix, line, blades, filters and spark plugs sold on their own |
The same parts you use on the bench sell at the counter in spring. Keep both in the same inventory so the shelf count is right.
Set quantities from last season
For each part, look at how many you used in your busiest month last season and how long your supplier takes to deliver. A simple rule:
Low stock level = parts used per week in the busy season × weeks your supplier takes to deliver, plus a small safety margin
When stock drops to that level, reorder. Raise the levels a few weeks before spring for mowers and trimmers, and before fall for blowers, chainsaws and generators. Lower them again after the season so cash is not sitting on the shelf all winter.
Special order the rest, with a deposit
Engine parts that fit one model, and anything expensive, are better ordered for the job:
- Quote the part and the labor before you order, and get the customer's approval.
- Take a deposit that at least covers the part, so a customer who never comes back does not leave you holding it.
- Record the order on the ticket with the part, the customer's price, your cost and the tracking number.
- Move the repair to Awaiting Parts and tell the customer when to expect it.
- When it arrives, move the repair forward and let the customer know.
How SpotsPOS Repair handles small engine parts
Illustration. The real app may look different.
In SpotsPOS Repair, your parts live in the same inventory as the oil and blades you sell at the counter. Every item can carry its own low stock level, and the Low Stock Report lists what is running low. Purchase orders go to one vendor each, and receiving one updates your stock and average cost. Link the parts each repair type uses, and save your tune-up packages as Quick Repairs, so a tune-up pulls the right plug and filter with the right price and stock. For parts you do not keep, each special order records the part, the customer's price, your cost and the tracking number, while the repair waits in Awaiting Parts. See how it all fits on the small engine repair page.
Frequently asked questions
What parts should a small engine repair shop keep in stock?
The parts that go into most jobs: spark plugs, air and fuel filters, oil, fuel line, primer bulbs, starter rope, blades, trimmer line and belts for the machines you see most, plus carburetor kits and gaskets for your most common engines.
How many of each part should I stock?
Set a low stock level for each part from your busy season: parts used per week times the weeks your supplier takes to deliver, plus a small margin. Reorder when stock reaches it, and adjust before each season.
Should I special order parts or stock them?
Stock the parts you use every week. Special order parts that fit one model or cost a lot, with a deposit that covers the part.
When should a small engine shop order parts for the season?
A few weeks before the rush: late winter for mower and trimmer season, and late summer for blowers, chainsaws and generators. Suppliers are slow when everyone orders at once.