I just bought a 1994 400L which supposedly just had the transmission rebuilt(by a shop and I have a receipt) as well as the engine rebuilt and over bored to 500CC. The engine wasn't done by a reputable shop though, just his 'buddy'.

Anyway, it ran great for a few hours, then it started running really badly and smoked quite a bit(blue), I figured the fuel tank vent hose was clogged and I let it sit overnight and decided to try to start it in the morning. Well, every time I come to start it, it backfires. It seems that the timing is off and it is igniting the spark in the compression stroke pulling the pull-chord right out of your hand and backfiring..

Is there a flywheel key on this thing, or how do I check the timing and fix this?

Also, I started it up without the battery one time(because I forgot I had taken it out) and all the lights randomly flashed, the Neutral, Reverse, Hot.. etc lights. When I put the battery battery back in, none of the lights work. Did I burn a fuse or something?

Thanks, and sorry for the long post.

 

You fried every light that was on when you started it without a battery. It will happen every time you do that. All you need are bulbs.

 

Good to know, thanks.

Any chance that the spark plug could be causing the pre-ignition? I just don't see how the stator plate could have moved overnight without it being touched, is there any other explanation to this?