Hour Meters, and Why Machines Are Serviced by Hours
Small engines, tractors, generators and boats are specified in running hours rather than dates. What an hour really measures, and how to track them without a meter.
Guide
Outdoor machines · OM-06
Small Engine Service Log
A free printable small engine service log for any four-stroke machine — tiller, chipper, log splitter, water pump, mixer or strimmer.
Download Free · no sign-up
One page. Choose your paper size — both versions are laid out identically, so neither one gets shrunk to fit.
Print it and write on it
Fill it in type and save
The fillable versions have real form fields — open them in any PDF reader, type into them and save. Printing help.
What this sheet is for
Give every small machine in the shed the same maintenance record, using one sheet per machine.
Who it is for
Smallholders, allotment holders, workshops and anyone with a shed full of engines.
How to use it
- Print one per machine and fill in the specification block.
- Log hours where the machine has an hour meter, or seasons where it does not.
- Track oil, air filter, plug and fuel system work.
- Keep the sheets together so you can see what is overdue.
What is on the sheet
One page, top to bottom:
Printed under the title: A general service log for any small four-stroke engine — tiller, chipper, log splitter, water pump, cement mixer, strimmer or anything else with a pull cord.
Write-on lines: Machine make & model · Serial number · Engine make & model · Purchased · Warranty ends
Specifications — look these up once and never search again
Write-on lines: Engine oil type & qty · Spark plug & gap · Fuel type · Air filter part no. · Fuel filter part no. · Belt / blade part no.
Service record
Table, 11 rows: Date · Hours · Oil · Air filter · Plug · Fuel system · Work carried out · By
Ruled lines: Notes and anything specific to yours
Read next
Why Small Engines Will Not Start in Spring
Stale fuel is why most mowers, strimmers and generators fail after storage. What happens inside the carburettor, and the two storage methods that prevent it.
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Also in the resources library
The same subject, with a version you can fill in on screen.
Outdoor Equipment Maintenance Log
What was done to each machine and when, in one place instead of a drawer of receipts.
GD-46 Log PDF Excel Online
