AUTOS AGENDA | 02.24.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: If you could design a tool that doesn't exist yet to make engine reassembly easier, what would it do and why?

🎬 QUICK VIDEO TO START We're kicking off with a short clip on the physical and chemical processes inside a small engine — combustion, compression, heat transfer. A few of you were still fuzzy on this, so watch closely. Understanding what happens inside the engine makes reassembly click.

▶️ Small Engine Processes — YouTube

LAST WEEK OF REASSEMBLY This is it — our final week putting engines back together. Engines go back together correctly or they don't run. Refer to your teardown photos, your portfolio notes, and each other. You have limited tools and limited experience, so collaboration is not optional — it's the strategy. Ask questions. Share what you figured out. If your table partner is stuck, help them. If you're stuck, speak up.

No loose parts left on benches at the end of class. Every bolt, gasket, and spring belongs somewhere — find where.

SELF-PACED CANVAS MODULES — NOW LIVE The new self-paced Autos modules are available on Canvas. This is your roadmap going forward — explore the layout and start working through content when you're not hands-on with your engine. These modules are how we move forward after reassembly wraps up.

PORTFOLIO REMINDER: Your Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio is still live. If you haven't uploaded your teardown photos yet, do it today. Every documented part is worth points — do not leave them sitting on your camera roll.

Pro tip: Photos taken during teardown are 10x more useful during reassembly than trying to remember from scratch.

UPCOMING DEADLINES:

• Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio — ONGOING, 100 pts (submit as you go)

• Self-Paced Autos Modules — now available on Canvas

AUTOS AGENDA | 02.23.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: If you could design a tool that doesn't exist yet to make engine reassembly easier, what would it do and why?

REASSEMBLY DAY

Today you flip the script — engines go back together. This is where your teardown knowledge gets tested for real. Refer to your teardown photos, your portfolio notes, and each other. You have limited tools and limited experience, so collaboration is not optional — it's the strategy. Ask questions. Share what you figured out. If your table partner is stuck, help them. If you're stuck, speak up.

SELF-PACED CANVAS CONTENT: I'm introducing the self-paced Autos modules on Canvas today. This is your roadmap going forward — explore it, get familiar with the layout, and start working through it when you're not hands-on with your engine.

PORTFOLIO REMINDER: Your Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio is still live. If you haven't uploaded your teardown photos yet, do it today. Every documented part is worth points — do not leave them sitting on your camera roll.

UPCOMING DEADLINES:

• Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio (ONGOING, 100 pts — submit as you go)

• Self-Paced Autos Modules — now available on Canvas

AUTOS AGENDA | 02.19.2026

DAILY JOURNAL: If you had to explain how a four-stroke engine works to someone who has never seen one, where would you start and why?

QUIZ DAY

Anatomy of the Small Engine quiz (30 pts). You have the full period. Handwritten cheat sheet allowed — half-page, your handwriting only. When you finish, go straight to your Engine Teardown Portfolio and upload what you have.

PORTFOLIO REMINDER: Your teardown photos exist on your phone or your table. Today is the day to get them onto Canvas. Open the Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio assignment and submit. Every part you documented is worth points — do not leave them sitting on your camera roll.

UPCOMING DEADLINES:

Anatomy of the Small Engine — Quiz (TODAY, 30 pts)

Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio (ONGOING, 100 pts — submit as you go)

Failed the quiz? Go back and see the correct answers here🔗.

AUTOS AGENDA  |  02.17.2026 

DAILY JOURNAL: What is the purpose of a cheat sheet — how does building one help you learn, even if you never look at it during the test?

Thursday's Anatomy of the Small Engine Quiz (30 pts) is your checkpoint — it proves you actually learned what you took apart. Mr. McAteer will walk through quiz format, cheat sheet rules, and expectations.

CHEAT SHEET RULES: Half-page, handwritten only. No printed/photocopied sheets. If it's not in your handwriting, it doesn't come to the quiz. ⚠️

LINK TO STUDY GUIDE 🔗

The portfolio has 0 out of 20 submissions right now. Your teardown photos and videos exist — they need to make it from your phone to Canvas. Use today's upload time and share this document with me.

UPCOMING DEADLINES:

Anatomy of the Small Engine — Quiz (DUE Thu 2/19, 30 pts)

Predator 212 Engine Teardown Portfolio (ONGOING, 100 pts — submit as you go)

AUTOS AGENDA  |  02.12.2026 

DAILY JOURNAL: What is one thing you have repaired or broken attempting to repair in the past? What happened?

VIDEO & DEMONSTRATION

Torque wrench overview video.

PROGRESSIVE DISASSEMBLY & DOCUMENTATION

After the demo, proceed with your own engine disassembly. Document before and after each step with photos. Record fastener types, torque observations, and gasket conditions in your portfolio.

⚠️  Clean your station and tools with the Simple Green and a shop ⚠️ 

AUTOS AGENDA  |  02.11.2026 

ODD DAY

DAILY JOURNAL: What does progressive disassembly mean, and why is documenting each step just as important as the disassembly itself?

VIDEO & DEMONSTRATION

Watch the YouTube clip, then observe Colton and Atticus demonstrate their completed rebuild.

PROGRESSIVE DISASSEMBLY & DOCUMENTATION

After the demo, proceed with your own engine disassembly. Document before and after each step with photos. Record fastener types, torque observations, and gasket conditions in your portfolio.

⚠️  DRAIN ALL FLUIDS before removing components. No disassembly without documentation. Phones for photos only.

AUTOS AGENDA: 02.05.2026

First Full Lab Day

DAILY JOURNAL: Why is it important to document each step of a disassembly—not just the final result?

YOUR PREDATOR 212 USER MANUAL

Today you receive your complete rebuild guide—everything you need to disassemble, reassemble, and start your engine.

Three Systems. One Goal.

• System 1: Disassembly — take it apart, document everything

• System 2: Reassembly — put it back together correctly

• System 3: Startup — make it run

Work at your own pace. The manual includes video references with QR codes. Use them.

📺 Foundation Video: How Four-Stroke Engines Work — watch this before you start tearing anything apart.

⚠️ Safety glasses required. No exceptions.

AUTOS FABRICATION: 02.03.2026

TODAY'S FOCUS

We begin the Predator 212cc Engine Teardown Portfolio — your major hands-on assessment this semester. Today is about understanding before doing.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

1. Daily Journal

2. Whole-Class Video: Four-Stroke Engine Theory

3. Portfolio Setup & Document Copy

4. Phase 1: Pre-Teardown Inspection

CLASS VIDEO

We watch this together before anyone touches an engine. This builds your mental model of what's happening inside.

Briggs & Stratton Four-Stroke Theory

https://youtu.be/kMCfZL9HgSk?list=PL7vmZIIACYZkQ--jliVJFXR9KkBseJ_qs

⚠️ CRITICAL: PERSONAL DEVICE EXPECTATIONS

This project requires phone use for photos and videos. We are routinely breaking the no-device policy with permission.

Show respect to other engineering courses and Mr. Kirsch:

• Be professional and discrete

• Avoid the appearance of impropriety or social media usage

• NO AIRPODS — keep your ears clear

PORTFOLIO SETUP

Although you work with a partner, BOTH partners must make their own copy of the portfolio document. This is your individual grade.

1. Open the Predator 212cc Engine Teardown Portfolio

Predator-212-Teardown-Portfolio

2. File → Make a Copy → Save to YOUR Google Drive

3. Fill in Student Information (partner names, engine serial #, workstation)

4. Begin Phase 1: Pre-Teardown Inspection — Photos #1-3 and Assessment #1

AUTOS FABRICATION: 02.02.2026

50 Minutes | Sub Day

Pre-Assessment

Engine Station Setup — Pair with assigned engine, locate tools, organize workspace (remaining time)

📋 No disassembly today. Focus on preparation and documentation only.

AUTOS FABRICATION: 01.29.2026

Vehicle Documentation Day

Every vehicle in the program gets a reference card. Students without cars: you're meeting people.

DAILY JOURNAL: What's one thing about YOUR car (or a car you've ridden in) that the owner loves or hates?

⚠️ SAFETY BRIEFING — LISTEN FIRST

Moving vehicles today. Zero tolerance for horseplay.

• Cars move at walking speed only

• One spotter minimum per moving vehicle

• Engine ON = full attention, no distractions

• If you don't have a license, you don't drive

VEHICLE DOCUMENTATION

If you brought a vehicle:

• Fill out the Vehicle Information Card on YOUR car

• Information must come from the actual car — no copying, no guessing

• Find the VIN, check the oil, read the tire sidewall yourself

If you didn't bring a vehicle:

• You need to meet someone who did

• Partner with an owner, help them document, learn their car

• Your name goes on their form as inspector

• Goal: work with at least 2 different owners today

TA Station: TAs have OBD scanners. Bring your vehicle to them for a code check.

END OF CLASS

• Move vehicles to side lot (owner drives, spotter walks)

⚠️ No horseplay. No exceptions. ⚠️

Sample prompt: I just bought a used vehicle and I want the 80/20 on what maintenance repairs and anything else pertinent as a new car owner new to driving. I am driving 2003 Mitsubishi ecliplse rs. Include whats great and what people hate baout this vehicle."