4 hp Lightwin backfired, died, now having trouble turning it over

[Canoe2]

Topic pretty much says it all, my 1972 (i believe) lightwin was running in a barrel nicely, but when i revved it up, it backfired and died, now I can barely pull it over. I can turn the flywheel by hand easily enough so it isn't seized, but to pull the recoil hard enough to start it seems not to be possible. I have heard that a motor in a barrel can over rev and 'run away' without enough load on it, is it possible that could be the issue and what is my next best move? Thanks, as usual, this is the place i come to when i get stumped!

 

[boobie]

Did you pull it over with the spark plug out ?

 

[Canoe2]

Yup, pulls fine once the plugs are out. Recoil wasn't exactly easy before it died but now it is really bad. Even with plugs in I can spin the flywheel by hand fairly easily. Coincidence and maybe a better look at the recoil you suppose?

 

[boobie]

Yes.....look at the recoil.

 

[Canoe2]

Yup, put a rope on the flywheel, no trouble, guess I have a recoil to figure out today. Thanks for being a sounding board, let you know how I make out. I wonder if it is somehow misaligned with the flywheel making it tough to pull.

 

[Canoe2]

Yup, sure was a worn idler gear on the recoil, time to order up a couple more parts. Runs like a top other than that. Thanks again.

 

[Canoe2]

hmm, thought once i had the new idler gear my troubles with the recoil would be over, but the outer plate (part 10 in this 259815_03a_0.gif) seems to want to wander out of line causing the teeth on the gear to jam. The only fix I can think if is a washer on the head of the bolt securing the recoil to the block, but that bound the mechanism. Any thoughts?

 

[Canoe2]

Posted this earlier, but it didn't come up so i posted a second thread that was a little more to the point - recoil is jamming. Getting progress on that one instead. Thanks everybody, sorry about the double post.