Mechanic Leon makes the cut
Schoolboy is Honda’s youngest ever leading technician
THEY start them young at Honda, but few are as young as the company’s latest Master Technician – 10-year-old Essex schoolboy Leon Poots.
With a whole summer of lockdown ahead of him, Leon decided that he wanted to try his hand at something practical, so his dad Richard, who works for Honda, presented him with a 10-yearold Honda lawnmower that was heading for the scrapyard.
The HRG 465 C2 PDE, known as the Izy, was in a poor, rusting state – but the engine still worked and Leon was determined to restore it to its former glory. Before starting work, he was drilled in the necessary health and safety by his dad and then he built himself a workshop bench out of two chairs and a pallet before starting work.
An example of a challenging spirit
Leon said: “As my dad repairs all types of lawnmowers, I wanted to know about how an engine works and the various components that make it up. Dad said that if I was really interested, he would bring home one that had been scrapped for me to work on.”
Starting with the steel deck, Richard welded up some holes, leaving Leon to then prime and prepare the area before repainting it. He then turned to the Honda’s engine. He stripped it down and ordered replacement parts before putting it back together and getting the trusty Izy going again.
To congratulate Leon on his work, the global company inducted him into the prestigious ranks of Honda Power Products’ Master Technicians.
Honda UK’s Head of Power Products, Steve Morris, said: “It’s just another way in which a Honda lawnmower has kept someone busy this summer. It is a great project and an example of a challenging spirit in strange times.”
Speaking after finishing his work, Leon said: “This was a fantastic summer project and I learned a lot about the workings of an engine and the process of dismantling and re-construction of a lawnmower – it was really enjoyable.”