Why is my generator kicking back when I pull the starter cord

[bilmac]

I have a 3500 watt generator, unfortunately out in the country so I don't know the name of the motor. When I go to start it it occasionally kicks back violently. I'm afraid it's gonna break my hand someday.
 My dad had a tractor once with a hand crank that used to kick back. If I remember right he said it it had something to do with the magnito. That makes me think my generator might be slightly out of time.
 
Any chance I could fix it myself?

[clum sum]

Check the key that goes in the slot of the fly wheel. Sometime thay get bent and will throw it out of time.

[Ranger99]

is it a 4-stroke engine?
how old is it?
if there is a lot of wear on a 4-stroke engine,
the valves may need adjustment.


something to check.
good luck

[bilmac]

Thanks guys I'll check the things you mentioned. It's a four stroke all right, I bought it used with a rusty gas tank, but I would bet it has few hours. I think it was probably bought for the Y2K scare.

[keith44]

it sounds like timing to me too, I have heard of cam timing being off in newer engines due to wear on the plastic gears.  An exhaust valve sticking might cause this as well, but more likely to cause rough running when the engine is hot, and low power.


Is it just kicking back, or does it "spit" and kick back?

[bilmac]

No unusual noises or anything just a violent jerk on the cord. Dinged my hand a few times now and I'm getting to be afraid of it, someday it's gonna do me some real harm. When it starts it appears to run good. I bought another propane generator, but I would like to get this one running good and then put it on storeage.

[Ranger99]

what was wrong with it?
did you ever find out?

[bilmac]

That's work to do in the winter time, I just put a bunchof deer and antelope in the freezer and I need a rest.

[mechanic]

Could be as simple as a weak sparkplug, which will cause late fire.  Check the little stuff first.
 
Ben

[bilmac]

First thing I did, and then I put in another new one, no change.  By the way, good answer about using light bulbs for heat.
 

[geezerbiker]

Any chance the fuel is stale?  Old gas will make any engine act funny.  Other than that, clean the carb and check the timing. 

Tony

[RIF]

Pull the cord until you rotate the piston until TDC and where the crank suddenly rotates with less resistance.  Let the cord recoil and give it your best yank. 

Any engine will kickback if the crankshaft is turning slowly enough when the spark fires and it can't make it over TDC before burning is underway. 

This is why it occurs for you only randomly, it is because you are doing the above albeit unknowingly starting in whatever position it last stopped in. 

PS when you shut an engine down pull the cord until the tension is on the valve.  If long term storing squirt a small amount of 2 cycle down the spark plug hole (even if 4 cycle).  Also I spray a long blast of carb cleaner in ALL my carberated engines from time to time, from the lawnmower to the motorcycle. 

[geezerbiker]

Check the key that goes in the slot of the fly wheel. Sometime thay get bent and will throw it out of time.

I second this.  I ran into this on an engine recently...

Tony

[bilmac]

Thanks guys. The storage suggestion is helpful.

[Bugflipper]

I would also lean towards the key being sheared a little. In some cases it's just torque from the motor though. Some older gens have a slipper clutch and there is no initial load on the crankshaft. If it does like 90% of small engines on a pressure washer, gen or push mower and bogs for the first second or two then comes to life it doesn't have a slipper clutch. If it revs high when first started then settles down as if under load you need to start it like RIF said. Not a bad practice to do for any pull start. It takes less effort to get them going.

[Ranger99]

what was the verdict on this?

[vabeachman]

RIF has it right.  Rotate engine to TDC and then yank, kick, or pull.  Especially on larger engines that can really hurt you.  I can pull start my 150 hp mercs using RIFs techniques.  Same thing when I use to have a kick start Sporty.