AboutTom Adinolfi Expertise Can, and will, answer most questions pertaining to small engine repair, and service. But PLEASE furnish me with the proper Model numbers, and types to assure me to be able to answer your questions the most accurately as possible. If the problem is dealing with the frame, drive, or deck portion I need the manufactures numbers, if it is the engine itself, I need it's make and model numbers, rather than the frame's. Tom
Experience Briggs & Stratton authorized dealer owned repair shop in Dayton, Ohio. 20+ years in small engine repair. and service. Experienced in most makes, and models. Factory schooled in Briggs & Stratton. Honda, MTD, Troybilt, Craftsman, Toro, Tecumseh, Kohler, and Kawasaki experienced. Keep in mind we do this for nothing more than ratings, please be thoughtful with them, and fair. We take great time to try, and help, please be as kind when rating us........Tom
Expert: Tom Adinolfi Date: 8/5/2008 Subject: Hard starting Honda GX340
Question My Honda GX340 pressure washer "Excel 1990" is hard to start. I used it the other day with no problems, rope pulled very easy and started on first pull. I shut it down after about 45 minutes of operation. When i went to restart it was very difficult and there was more compression than normally experienced when I pulled the rope. A few of the attempts to start yielded backfires as if the timing were off. Once it started it seemed to run fine except on occasion it would have trouble handling the load. As I recall this engine alters the valve timing to allow for an easy pull start? If so what might be the recommended fix?
Answer This engine is equipped with a compression release, if it fails to operate correctly it will be hard starting, as you doing so under full compression. Follow this link to the shop repair manual for the, GX240 GX270, and the GX390, they are very similar to the GX340 and will help you a great deal. Also check your flywheel key. Sounds like it could have sheared too, it will have the very same exact symptoms. Here is the link: http://www.honda-engines-eu.com/it/engines/models_range/gx_range/gx340/shop.jsp#
If for some reason the link fails let me know.
