AboutDavid R -GlobalTek LLC Expertise Small Air Cooled Engines and applications including Twin Cylinders. A specialist in the Chinese Engine-- i e LIFAN, LONCIN, ZONGSHEN, RATO, LCT, YAMAKOYO, DUCAR, GREYHOUND, (Honda Engine COPY) area. Have personally been to Chinese Engine factories several times Former Day to Day job is in application engineering of 4 cycle Engines. Evaulation, testing and failure diagnosis of Chinese Engines,Briggs and Stratton and Kohler engines daily. In other words I do this everyday.
Experience 30 Years in OPE industry. Briggs and Stratton Master Service Tech, Master Parts Pro. Former owner of OPE dealership servicing and selling Honda, MTD, Murray, Husqvarna, Toro, Lawnboy, Shindaiwa, Briggs and Stratton, Kohler, and Tecumseh. Previous job as trainer for engine manufacturer performing service training for companies like SEARS, HOME DEPOT, LOWES, TSC, etc. Instructor for Technical College.
Education/Credentials Vo Tech Training 1981, Husqvarna Factory Training, Briggs and Stratton Factory Service School(s) Tecumseh Factory Training, Shindaiwa Factory Training, MTD, Hydrogear, Toro, Lawnboy update schools. To many to list in the past 30 years.
Question QUESTION: I have a 3.0 Briggs&Stratton mower. When I pull it to start it it kicks back hard. Pulled the flywheel to check the key, it's good. Has good spark. Also took carb apart and cleand it. Still kicks back bad.
ANSWER: David:
Is your blade attached while your trying to start this engine? The blade has to be attached since lawn mower engines have a lightweight flywheel. The blade acts as a counterweight. What happened before the mower became hard to start and kick back? Did it happen all of a sudden? Did you hit something, then it started to happen?
Is this an overhead valve engine or an L head engine?
IF you do have the blade attached and everything is intact check the following:
Armature air gap
Valve Clearances
Kill wire....temporarily disconnect and see if it still kicks back, its a long shot, but it could be shorting out against the engine.
Let me know
Dave
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: You hit the nail right on the head! The blade was off it. I didn't know that it would cause it to kick back.Friends pick up mowers and ask me if I want them. Enjoy tinkering with them and the challenge I guess. I thank you very much for the help. Have one more question for you. What is the correct gap between the flywheel and coil. Guess you call it the Armature gap. I have always set them around .010 but never looked it up just went by other "shade tree mechanics" like me! Again, THANK YOU for your advice......David D
Answer Well there is a technical answer and the I have been doing this for many years answer...I will give you the latter... Its not professional, but it works... Ready for the secret... USE A BUSINESS CARD! hehehehe
Now the technical answer .005 to .015in is sufficient
