Honda engine

Rick Stanley · February 05, 2013, 10:12:03 PM

My friend has a CHampion band mill with a 13 hp Honda motor. It runs great, lots of power, no problem. It is a tiger to start if you're not careful. It kicks back like crazy if you don't pull hard and straight with both hands. He went to have an X-ray today to see if his finger was broken because of this and he is a rugged guy. Not broken. He bought it used and says it has always done it but seems worse now. WHat would cause that?

Chuck White · February 05, 2013, 10:13:59 PM

Wow! That just doesn't sound right, Honda engines usually start real easy! :-\

POSTON WIDEHEAD · February 05, 2013, 10:17:11 PM

I can not answer you question Rick, but I have had this happen before during my life on the farm.
Something like that can pull back so fast and hard....something's got to give. Hope your friend is OK.

turbo885 · February 05, 2013, 10:18:48 PM

check the flywheel key

POSTON WIDEHEAD · February 05, 2013, 10:20:21 PM

Quote from: turbo885 on February 05, 2013, 10:18:48 PM
check the flywheel key

DanG TURBO......Your very first post......WELCOME.

Rick Stanley · February 05, 2013, 10:24:26 PM

Quote from: turbo885 on February 05, 2013, 10:18:48 PM
check the flywheel key

Thanks Turbo. I think that makes sense. I'll tell him.

thecfarm · February 05, 2013, 10:25:36 PM

turbo888 is right and welcome to the forum. I use lawn mowers as mini bush hogs. If the key has been stripped a little it will really buck. But that only happens when I hit a rock or a stump too.

POSTON WIDEHEAD · February 05, 2013, 10:31:59 PM

Quote from: thecfarm on February 05, 2013, 10:25:36 PM
turbo888 is right and welcome to the forum. I use lawn mowers as mini bush hogs. If the key has been stripped a little it will really buck. But that only happens when I hit a rock or a stump too.

:D :D :D :D Sounds like you're rough on a mower.

thecfarm · February 05, 2013, 10:34:57 PM

Anything more than a year is a bonus. :D

hamish · February 05, 2013, 10:35:42 PM

Have him check his belt tension, seems like its just the bbelt grabbing the pullery and trying to convince the cast bandwheel to move.

sawguy21 · February 05, 2013, 10:36:38 PM

If the key is ok remove the spark plug and valve cover. Pull the rope slowly and watch the valves. One, likely the exhaust, should move slightly as the piston comes up on the compression stroke. If nothing happens the compression release on the camshaft has failed.

Slab Slicer · February 05, 2013, 10:48:47 PM

I'm with sawguy21 on this one. I've seen these fail before, and it will nearly tear your fingers off when it grabs.

hamish · February 05, 2013, 10:50:39 PM

Quote from: sawguy21 on February 05, 2013, 10:36:38 PM
If the key is ok remove the spark plug and valve cover. Pull the rope slowly and watch the valves. One, likely the exhaust, should move slightly as the piston comes up on the compression stroke. If nothing happens the compression release on the camshaft has failed.

Sawguy21 has a common issue on the 13hp Hondas pegged, take two seconds to remove the belt from then engine and pull it over, A failed ACR will be evident right away, no sense pulling the valve cover et al.

schakey · February 06, 2013, 03:44:21 AM

About 3 years ago had a lawnmower kickback pulling the rope handle through my hand laying me wide open. After leaving the hospital
went and brought an electric start mower.

sprucebunny · February 06, 2013, 06:53:09 AM

I have the same issue on the same motor. How do you fix the compression release ?

I've already replaced the motor but would like to be able to sell the one I took off.

Al_Smith · February 06, 2013, 07:08:57 AM

If the valve retard isn't working on a Honda,Kohler or Wisconsin engine they can come back with a vengence .Some Briggs engines used them some did not .

A D-handle will save a certain amount of trying to seperate the fingers from their hand .

jacksaws · February 07, 2013, 09:04:02 AM

Hi guts i havent posted i in awhile but i have a Honda 13hp and it kicks so hard it jerks the handle out of my hand, i only have 3 fingers left on my hand and i just cant hold it. Mine jerks so hard when the handle hits the housing it will break a new crank rope. I would sure like some help on how to fix this and some more imformation on it . Thanks Jacksaws.

losttheplot · February 07, 2013, 12:02:56 PM

I don't know how good they are, but you can get an electric start kit for the Honda GX 390 from E-bay.
They are pretty cheap, I doubt they would work without the decompression release functioning though.

chuckhole · February 07, 2013, 01:03:10 PM

I have the electric start on my GX390 (mounted on a Ditch Witch) and I love it. The option added over $250 to the price of the motor when I bought it new for $960 a couple of years ago. I use the small lawn and garden battery for it (around 250 cca) and keep it on a little 12v solar maintainer.