1997 Xplorer 400L 4x4

Does anyone know if the recoil starter is supposed to snap back with such a force as to almost tear my hand off ...and thats when it doesnt start.?

The rope moves freely but yanks back with such a terrible recoil at top of compression cycle it is impossible to hold onto and tears out of my hand.

Am eventually able to pull start it but only after getting very sore fingers... and that is with a glove.

In a few years I will be too feeble to pull start this bugger.

Normal behavior?/ Any fixes??

 

my 400 did that.. seems it needs a rebuild now because it doesnt do it any more... lol its down on compression.

what i used to do was pull it slowly until you felt it build compression then give it a quick yank. worked good for me. If i just grabbed it and pulled it, it would rip out of your hand..

 

Yeah, my 500 will kickback every once in a while but it's not that bad.
Not sure if it would apply to these machines, but I know some small engines have a compression relief valve that opens for easier starting. Maybe that's your answer...
My dad's Suzuki 800 Kingquad will tear your whole arm off if you pull it on the wrong part of the piston stroke!

 

Heard of a decompression valve but can't find any info on whether this machine has one.

It sure would be nice not to have fingers ripped off let alone an arm.

 

your better to pull slow untill engine starts on down stoke then giver a tug.... if you pull fast and its in compression stroke its gonna hurt

 

Mine did did that and I got tire of hurting my hand so I bought a new battery and just push the button now!

 

I found out just how painful it can be...didn't take me long to rebuild the starter!!

I agree with the above, lightly pull till it gets hard, let it recoil down and give it a yank...should pull easily. I didn't take me long to figure out the routine!! I've pull started many machines, but I can't recall any that snapped back like the 400.

If your pull starting, chances are the starter is shot...pretty common. A rebuild is pretty cheap and easy to do. Same goes for the battery or solenoid.

Just reading this thread made my hand hurt a little.