Cub Cadet walk behind mower kick back during start

[rjack]

I have a 6 year old Cub Cadet mower with a 173cc vertical shaft engine. It kicks back strongly when I try to start it. I removed the flywheel to check the woodruff key which is not sheared or twisted so the bad timing is not being caused by that. Anything else I can adjust or check?

 

[cpurvis]

I have a 6 year old Cub Cadet mower with a 173cc vertical shaft engine. It kicks back strongly when I try to start it. I removed the flywheel to check the woodruff key which is not sheared or twisted so the bad timing is not being caused by that. Anything else I can adjust or check?

Valve lash. It has to be right for the compression release (if it has one) to work right.

 

[rjack]

Valve lash. It has to be right for the compression release (if it has one) to work right.

Many thanks. I finally got a chance today to check the valve lash which was larger than it should have been, particularly on the exhaust valve. Set it up and bingo, the thing now runs like a top.

 

[cpurvis]

Many thanks. I finally got a chance today to check the valve lash which was larger than it should have been, particularly on the exhaust valve. Set it up and bingo, the thing now runs like a top.

:thumbsup: