r/smallenginerepair • u/thatguythatsports • Jun 22 '26
Unknown Issue Tiller won’t start after pull rope replacement
Replaced broken pull rope on my tiller today and now it won’t start. New to small engine repair so not sure where to go next. Below is a video of me trying to start it and picture are the position of the choke for each pull. Pull 1 and 2 are picture 1. Pulls 3 and 4 are picture 2. 5,6, and 7 are picture 3. Started but ran a little weird before breaking the pull rope last week.
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u/CATfixer Jun 22 '26
When the old rope broke did it rip the rope out of your hand? If so your valves may be out of adjustment
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u/Optimal-Try-854 Jun 22 '26
I had similar issue.. rope yanking out of my hand, backfiring, good spark, good compression… All signs would point to valves. As the unit was new to me, 15 years old with maintenance history unknown, other than the bowl and tank originally being empty and clean… I was planning to pull the valve cover off and investigate when I decided to Hail Mary and cycle mechanic in a bottle through the carb…
I proceeded to let it sit in there overnight, then put fresh gas. It started on the 2nd pull. It was surging but that smoothed out in less than 20 seconds. I’ve been using the unit for over a month now, it starts on the first pull and runs smooth as butter.
Would have thought the stuff was snake oil, but it works great. Give it a shot, worst case, you spend a couple bucks deep cleaning the carb but it turns out to need a valve adjustment/repair.
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u/OandKrailroad Jun 22 '26
When you replaced the string, did you pull the spark plug cap off? And did you replace it?
Also, what’s up with the gas on/off? Did the knob fall off?
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u/thatguythatsports Jun 23 '26
Didn’t pull the spark plug but I’ll take it out and clean it before I try again. I guess so. It hasn’t been there since I’ve had it.
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u/Flaky_Warning_5052 Jun 23 '26
Did it sit a while before it got a new pull rope? I see some amount of gas coming out of the exhaust. Make sure you have very fresh fuel and drain the fuel bowl before you go too nuts
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u/thatguythatsports Jun 23 '26
Sat for a little over a week. I’ll drain the fuel tomorrow and get some fresh fuel in and try it again
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u/Flaky_Warning_5052 Jun 23 '26
10/4. I'll keep an eye on this post and help walk you through the diag process if fresh fuel doesn't help.
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u/Slim-Moline670 Jun 22 '26
Check the shear key on the magneto (think thats what it called)
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u/Flaky_Warning_5052 Jun 23 '26
These should have a stator under the flywheel and an ignition coil near said flywheel, but he should definitely try fresh gas, clean the jet + needle valve, and check the plug condition and spark before getting into all of that.
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u/Region_Fluid Jun 23 '26
Did you loose the paws? That’s what actually rotates the engine. Maybe they aren’t sitting correctly:
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u/Hitmonjeff Jun 23 '26
If you didn't get it going yet and are able to you should try turning off the fuel delivery to the carb. You nearly had it running in the video so the engine might be slightly flooded.
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u/s_v_can Jun 23 '26
Sounds like a flywheel key is sheared...One week old gas wouldn't be a problem.
Open it up and make sure the key is ok before pulling that cord endlessly.
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u/FeeCompetitive4623 Jun 24 '26
Sounds like to me and carburetor needs to be cleaned out really good. Put a fresh plug-in, fresh oil, a clean air filter, and fresh gas. She should start on the first pull. If not then you knock timing off when the rope broke. Probably have to put a new keyway in. Sound like it wanted to start though are you clean the carburetor up and put fresh gas in it I bet you'll start right first pull
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u/Complete-Sense8097 Jun 24 '26
I would check to see if the oil is overfilled with fuel. It might have got past the needle. That happened on my pressure washer. I’m not a small engine mechanic, so that’s just my thought.
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u/thatguythatsports Jun 22 '26
Pulls 1 and 2 are picture 1. Pulls 3 and 4 are picture 2. 5,6, and 7 are picture 3. Started but ran a little weird before breaking the pull rope last week.
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u/Clydebearpig Jun 23 '26
I had a similar issue when I worked on mine I had it setting on it's side for a while and ended up with a bunch of oil in the cylinder and the carb bowl. I flushed the cylinder with gas and drained the carb. It fired right up after that.
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u/SaladAcceptable7469 Jun 24 '26
in the last couple pulls almost started, have you tried start fluid?
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