[scl]

Couple of trains of thought here!
I love Honda engines on equipment. Start great, last long etc... BUT! I broke a recoil spring the other day and sent my guy out to get a new spring. My local small equip. guy sells him a whole recail assembly and says thats the only way you can get the parts. No pieces, just the assemblies. I donn't think he's blowing smoke as I was looking for the flipper springs for a pressure washer once and was told the same t hing by another dealer. What gives? Does anyone know of an outlet for parts on the net?
Second, the cause of the recoil problem is the recoil kicking back when you pull the rope. Seems like a decompression valve is inop on this 5 horse Honda. Do they have a decrompress valve and if so, has anyone ever fixed one or replaced one.
My compactor has become temeramental and needs to be tamed before he breaks my arm.
Thanks
Scottp

[Bill Schwab]

No decompression valve on a Honda. And, most all manufacturers are trying to sell basic components rather than parts tot hose components. Two trians of thougth here....If the parts cost more than it does to replace a motor, they would rather sell you a motor, and, sometimes, components can be cheaper than parts themselves. Look at it this way....We keep a fully assembled recoil for every piece of power equipment on the job that uses them. It is much easier to train guys to pull 4 bolts and hand me back an broken starter than it is to teach them to thread a rope through a small hole and back wind the unit.

Initially, yes you will pay more this way. But, look at lost production, that $60.00 or so you paid for the part is well worth the price.

As far as Honda doing this with recoil springs, that's a new one. Have you tried Landscaper Supply for parts yet? Or, have you tried to carefully bend the broken end so the spring is usuable?

[GLAN]

Same here as Bill.

I stock extra recoils for every piece of equipment.....Most things I can get the individual parts we need, some times it's just more cost effective to buy new units.... we stock as many as 3 recoils per type of equipment.

Those that I can easily rerope, I do, or a part here or there. But if a couple parts are worn/missing, easier to just by a new recoil unit.

[agla]

www.j-thomas.com

[Stonehenge]

SCL, I had the same thing happen on one of our compactors. We had to replace the assembly, and it was around $50. I have a lot of equipment that runs a 5hp Honda, so I just keep one extra assembly sitting around.

Even so, Bill hit the nail on the head. A few years ago I asked one of my guys to re-thread a new starter cord for this assembly - 30 minutes later I came back and he was no further along than when I'd left. I don't consider myself particularly gifted when it comes to repairing things, but sometimes they make me look like a freakin' genius....and I don't like it.

[scl]

Oh I agree as to keeping the extra recoil. Even so, typical parts that break are those little plastic flippers or the tiny springs underneath. Hardly $60 worth of parts and replaceable by me in under 5 minutes. I tried bending the recoil spring back and I broke, My bad, and thats okay. But it just seems a little crazy to buy a new recoil to get two plastic recoil flippres. This did all start over a broken starter rope that one of my pter's tried to fix, and just didn't get quite right ie.. didn't tie the handle knot right. So then I got invovled.
I've got the reroping of my Partner saw down to a 5 minute science, and keep extra rope for it and whatever else in the trailer. The cruxt of the problem is the vilent and scary kickback of the engine and starter rope. Gotta get this one figured out.
Thank for the replies.
Scott

[Bill Schwab]

I have not had a Honda kick back at me, have you pulled the flywheel and checked to see if the flywheel key is perfectly straight? If it was bend even in the slightest, it would mean the magnets pass by the coil at a different time than they are supposed to and the timing may be on the tad bit advanced. If so, there is your kick back. Or, it could be the other way. If the coil is mounted just slightly over from where it is supposed to be, the same thing could occur. Typically, if this happens, and engine won't start, but I have seen it the way I described as well.

[agla]

Did anyone check out this catalog? It looks like a great place to get parts.

http://www.j-thomas.com/Catalog/142.htm

[Stonehenge]

Well I'll be - looks like SCL needs parts #44 and #45. Good stuff Agla. I'm going to print out the page of that link and leave it at the shop.

[scl]

Now thats what I'm talking about AGLA! Just finished printing it off and ordering a catalog.
Bill, good thought on the key. I'll tear it down when I get achance and have a look.
Thanks to all!
Scott