4 hp Briggs starting problem

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

I have a tiller with an approximately 35 year old Briggs and Stratton engine on it. It is model 112212 type 0863. If you are fairly strong and can pull the starting rope pretty hard it will start ok, but I am old and have lost much of the strength n my arms and upper body due to arthritis, other health problems and age. If you cant pull it really hard, it kicks back bad. I have noticed that if I pull it slower I feel compression twice, one right after the other, I have never seen that in an engine before. It does not have any type of compression release, and I am stumped. Does anyone have an idea?

[Mht]

I have seen a partially sheared flywheel key change the timing enough to cause a small engine to kick back. I had a troy bilt tiller with a tecumseh engine that had this happen and it would jerk the rope out of your hand if it fired but didn’t start. This doesn’t explain feeling compression twice when pulling the rope slowly though.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

I have replaced the flywheel key, also pulled the head and cleaned carbon, but there was very little build up. I am suspecting a faulty cam shaft. I noticed there were some cam kits available for that engine, which to me means there may have been a problem since that engine would be 35+ years old.

[Eugene]

I replace a 4 hp BS engine with a 6 HP Predator engine from Harbor Freight. Had to use the tiller at about 1/2 throttle to be able to control the tiller.

Harbor Freight has a 3 HP engine for $130-. That engine would probably work.

[Pap]

I agree with Eugene. It sounds like you might need to get a new engine. HF engines are hard to beat for the money.