Hi guys, I need your help again. I'm working on a friend's pressure washer with a Honda GX270 engine (GCBGT-2225859) and his complaint is kickback when trying to pull start it. He said it just started doing this a few weeks ago. He has had the unit since new and has not replaced any parts on it. I figured is was a sheared flywheel key that screwed up the timing. My experience is that it's uncommon on a pressure washer and more likely on a mower that has the blade direct coupled to the crankshaft but I told him I'd check. I confirmed the complaint before doing anything.
Upon inspection, the flywheel key was not sheared, the ignition coil looked gapped correctly but I reset it using a business card (~0.010), the valves were a few thousandths loose so I reset them to 0.006 inlet and 0.008 exhaust (at TDC on comp stroke + 1/4"), I can visually see the decompression mechanism burp the exhaust valve on the compression stroke. After reassembly, the engine pulls over normally when the spark plug wire is disconnected but once I hook up the plug wire, it snatches the pull cord out of my hand violently when trying to start it (pressure washer hose not connected so it's not water backpressure causing a problem). In my mind, that confirms a mis-timing issue but hoping you guys have some ideas on a troubleshooting path forward. New coil? Seems like the most likely cause but that's a strange way for a coil to fail (fire early). Picture attached.
Thanks, Jerry
Upon inspection, the flywheel key was not sheared, the ignition coil looked gapped correctly but I reset it using a business card (~0.010), the valves were a few thousandths loose so I reset them to 0.006 inlet and 0.008 exhaust (at TDC on comp stroke + 1/4"), I can visually see the decompression mechanism burp the exhaust valve on the compression stroke. After reassembly, the engine pulls over normally when the spark plug wire is disconnected but once I hook up the plug wire, it snatches the pull cord out of my hand violently when trying to start it (pressure washer hose not connected so it's not water backpressure causing a problem). In my mind, that confirms a mis-timing issue but hoping you guys have some ideas on a troubleshooting path forward. New coil? Seems like the most likely cause but that's a strange way for a coil to fail (fire early). Picture attached.
Thanks, Jerry