I, too was working on lawn mower's about the same age. I remember using a torque wrench on the leaf spring bolts on my dad's 1/2 ford pick up when I was 12 years old.Yes...... What Ole "Dart nut" said ....
My Dad showed me how to fix old Briggs n Stratton lawn mowers at age 7 when I showed interest in what he was doing in the shop..
The following summer I was repairing lawnmowers (with his help) putting points N plugs in them and such ... making picture show money
which was a big deal to a 8 year old... in the 60's .... Texas Red