Click here for a new starter---- amzn.to/2KrchLS Click here for my website--- www.stevessmallenginesaloon.com/ Click here for my Parts and Tools Store---- www.amazon.com/shop/stevessmallenginesaloon
Hello Steve--- I remember at age 12 my dad took me to a lawnmower repair and sales outlet and I purchased a "damaged in shipping" Teco 2 stroke lawnmower on time. As many other small engines it had a grooved pully for starting.That was how you started it every time.Wrap the rope around and pull.Recoil start was a luxury in 1963.I made enough money to pay the $35.00 for the machine that summer and then some.Enjoying your vid and a good homebrew here in Sooke!!!
I didn't have a notch so I just folded the cord and made the wraps clockwise on top of it so it was tight and let go easy. Our generator started right up on the first pull. The commenters saying it was commonplace back-in-the-day stopped my low temperature-induced panic. There's absolutely no need for using a drill. Sincerely, thank you for this video.
Tony De Leo I'm 40 yrs old and when I was in my 20s my father in law gave me an old Locke reel mower. It has a piece of cord and a handle to start it. It's still a prized possession and nothing cuts grass better.
Used that trick back in the 70's to start industrial lawn mowers when I worked in the council parks department(UK),but you always made sure no-one was behind you first.
I’ve been starting my old Honda Hr215-sxa model like that for a few months now , got a 3pc adapter set at harbor freight and a 19mm socket , I use a cheap black and decker drill to start it , works like a charm !!!
You can do this with any small engine with any kind of cup, lay the start of rope horizontally on cup then wrap around the cup onto itself, after a couple wraps it locks tight and you can pull start it. Great video
Brings back memories As a 9 year old in the 1960's we had a two wheeled garden tractor that had a place for different attachment. My dad took an old Radio Flyer wagon and removed the broken front wheels axle and pinned it to the tractor. I would start it like this then jump in and throw the lever for forward and tool all around the abandoned 13 acre vegetable and rhubarb farm we lived on. The start cord was always tied to the crossbar between the handlebars of the tractor when done starting.
I am watching this video after watching your latest video on emergency starting of a generator. The information you give here is very helpful and I will try it if needed. Thanks for sharing this information with us all.
Not all starter Cups have the slot for a cord. Sometimes you have to whittle one in yourself. I prefer the drill trick. It works wonders if you know how to do it correctly. Do not let go of the trigger of the drill until the socket is fully removed from the nut
My emergency was today and I put a cordless drill and a socket on the crank and she turned right over... I had a what I call a home made cordless drill starter lol... nice video as usual steve...👍👍👍
That's waiting for an emergency stop to the hospital right there. The way not to start a small engine without a recoil, provided you have a reversing clutch when that thing bucks. Learned that lesson in the 80s like that and destroyed the drill. 5-10hp fired up engine VS a puny drill is disaster ready to happen without a reversing mechanism or even using a drill period.
I have an old kohler generator welder and got tired of wrapping the rope around to start it so I welded a pulley onto a chainsaw clutch and used it to start it. Used a lawnmower belt, works great.
Thank you so much for this video. Not only was I able to make my wife happy, but after hurricane Sally came through I was able to get my generator started and hooked up to our well so that we can feed and water 18 horses that we use for our nonprofit equine therapy program that benefits children and adults who have special needs and military veterans. If you are ever in Mobile Alabama let me know and I will take you out to dinner.
Thanks! There are ways to start without the notch, but if you prefer the notch and your generator doesn't have one, now would be the time to cut a notch in (and file the edge smooth so it doesn't tear your rope), instead of waiting until SHTF.
i was wondering if you could cut a notch. the way he talked he made it sound like engines without the notch wheren't made to be crunk like that and it either wouldnt work or would damage it.
Great tip! Thank you. I'll be looking at my generator in the coming days to check the cup. By the way. This is how I started an Eclipse reel lawnmower, with a Briggs and Stratton engine, 60+ years ago.
You can emergency start without the notch the first winding laps over the tail and from there just keep winding and when you pull the string tension from you pulling will spin that flywheel just fine done it heaps of times no different to having the notch.
That is how we started lawn mowers and mini bikes before recoil pull cords were common. My take away is to check under the recoil cover for the notch. Thanks.
Oh Snap! I just dissed Steve yesterday about not mentioning this in his re-roping video and this 2 year old video shows up in my notifications. Touché my guru friend!
This is how all our old farm equipment was set up. All of grandpa's equipment pumps tiller lawn mower all had this type starter. But ya always had to carry a pull rope.
Hey Steve, this is how we used to start ALL OV our small engines. Recoil starters made their debut job the early 60s for me. I still have a few Clintons & Briggs. Their antiques like I am. Keep your videos coming.I love watching them.
On the fire dept all our Briggs and Stratton 16 HP portable pumps started with a rope. Fuel on, choke, wrap cord and pull. Usually started on second or third pull. You could really haul on it.
Thanks for this, had a panic on thinking I’d have to make a trip out to buy a new pump pull starter. Didn’t have the beer though!😊🍺 Best wishes from the UK🇬🇧🇺🇸
Good One Steve - I have a vintage Evinrude outboard motor which is the same principal of using a cord on top of the outboard motor to get it started - then ready to fish - Thumbs Up Steve for this video .
Wish I saw this last night, could have used it on my outboard motor, starter died. Guys helped me, did the same thing, used a notch in the flywheel and an anchor rope. Saved my bacon!
A couple years ago I was out in my hunting camp using a generator and electric space heater in my 5x8 home made camper. It was -30C and I was ready for bed and I pulled the rope and it broke. Luckily I had some paracord and was able to replace the rope with it and continue on for the rest of the trip.
I do this every day lol Also if you don't have a on/off switch always good to drop a bit of petrol into air intake we use these generators well it's actually AC/dc welders on the boat it's not good to do it,but it's always good to know! If you hold the wire coming from the switch hole hold it tight to metal that turns it off.
Good for you Steve!!! I was sooo afraid you were gonna show people the impact or cordless drill approach. Yikes! LOL. Good video brother! way to keep on helping people!
You can start it even w/o a notch. I use paracord inserted into one of the holes of the cup and wrap the cord around a few times. You do not want a knot at the end of the line because when you pull you want the cord to come out of the cup for safety sake.
Back in the 50's I remember using a cord on several different small motors. I don't recall a retracting starter on our engines at all. Plus our tractor was crank start and our car came with a crank just in case the battery died. Just don't wrap your thumb around the crank. Keep the thumb on the outside that way if it kicked back the crank did not hurt your thumb.
Thank you Steve, a very informative video and helped me solve a problem ive been having all day with a floppy pull cord. looking forward to watching some more of your videos
There's a popular YT channel where there is a guy that runs various tests using small engines( not gonna call him out) but he only uses a drill. I know that's dangerous but some of us don't have the strength to pull and pull on a crank rope. That's our only option.
Another way to start without recoil mechanism is an impact wrench, or a very powerful electric nut driver driving a socket over the nut on the engine shaft. Be sure to turn it the right way!
OMG, my uncle had a homemade lawnmower that he had to start like this. This brings back memories. He probably spent more time fixing it than actually mowing grass with that piece of shit. 😅
One tid bit i would like to add.I have a Briggs powered gen set.Turn the motor to where its at the tight spot of compression.Then turn the choke on and make sure the switch is on and the gas is on.Give the rope a quick pull.When it fires be quick and turn off the choke..Mine will start almost every time on the first pull.It is about 16 yrs old.Change the gas out and change oil out every year or so.Works great.
Back in the day most all small engines were started this way. I remember we had a small john boat with a little engine on it that we always had to wind the rope around it to start. It never had a recoil on it.
Thanks for the video. I have an older generator, where the recoil starter failed. They don’t make them anymore so I’m unable to get a replacement. This is how I start the generator… It’s the only way now.
I think the drill method, although could hurt your hand is for people like me with a shoulder injury.with there drill, you could use a bar hose clamped to the drill and put against your leg to prevent torque on your hand. I var not tried that. Love the videos
As far as I know that was the only way to start a lot of lawnmowers when I was a kid, and never forget the wonderful British Seagull outboard engine , an absolute swine to start, but would not stop unless it ran out of fuel.
I used to start my 50hp two stroke Evinrude like this when battery was toast and I was to cheap to replace it. Once you learned where to set the throttle it never took more than two tries.
Dude. You did help. My goddamn starter just broke and our power has been jacked for five days now. Shredded the innards of the lock spring mechanism. I just checked my 4kW and I DO have the notch!
I once owned a cylinder mower and wanted to start it with the rope starter unit taken off. There was no notch. So I wrapped a rope around the combined flywheel/fan and pulled long and hard. I don't know what went wrong, maybe the rope was caught by a fan blade, but the rope suddenly pulled back hard, really hard at the end of the stroke. The pain was very intense and ran all along my arm and into the base of my back. Well that was a fluke I thought. It couldn't happen again. But I was wrong, it did exactly the same thing again. My back was bad for months. So please be very very wary fellas, about trying new starting tricks with long pieces of rope!
Hi Steve, love your channel! any thoughts about a old homelite generator with a 8 hp engine ( plugs on end of gen) that pulls over very hard. how to make it easier to pull? thank you
Yeah, all the comments about using an electric drill to start the engine in an emergency. Before I saw Steve's video I' tried the power drill technique with near disastrous results. The kickback spun my drill backwards and wrapped my glove around my drill. Then, milliseconds later, when the engine engaged and started, it took off in the forward direction, pulling my drill, glove and hand along with it. Luckily for me, it also somehow pulled my glove off (instead of my hand) and kept running with the drill and glove attached to the motor. I don't even want to think about what may have happened if my glove hadn't come off. Later, I also learned that the kickback destroyed the gears in my expensive Makita drill, leaving it with zero torque. DO NOT USE A POWER DRILL. Sounds like a great idea, but it IS NOT. LISTEN TO STEVE''S ADVICE.
i Remember when i was a Kid Longgggg Ago in the mid 60's seeing commercial walk behind mowers not having recoil starters they started them just like shown in the video all the time.
I just bought an old soviet rototiller thats 2 strokes and comes from factory without a kickstart.Verry spartan but i like it because its antique and a piece of history.
You can start it without the notch. I've started mine by just wrapping the rope tightly over itself. That way it holds itself long enough to start the machine.
@@StevesSmallEngineSaloon You’re a Good Man Steve! I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours! Thank you for helping me and so many of us landscapers, gardeners, home owners and other folks who love hard work and appreciate a good beer 🍺:)
My very old snow thrower recoil broke, so I put a socket the size of the big nut in my drill and now have an electric start. It's great except when it stalls and I have to drag that beast back to the drill! lol
Great Vid....I have a question,,,,i am sure there is a video for this. How do I treat the gas on a generator because I don't use it that often. I suppose starting it often will prepare it for when a surprise pops up and it HAS to start. Keep us informed.. Thx Steve
Buy a conversion kit to change it over to propane or natural gas. I started mine two weeks ago when an ice storm was predicted. It hadn’t been started since 2019. Started third pull.
Steve, Notch not critical....with no notch, simply wind the rope around the pully, holding the end of the rope at 90 deg to the rest of the rope and extending about 1/2” to 1” past the reel, make sure the 2nd wrap around the pully lays directly on top of the bit of rope end. When finished with the 2nd wrap, gently/ firmly pull the rope taut as you continue wrap the rope. When all the rope is wound, pull to start.
I was a masonry contractor and our mixture starter cord broke and my helper he kept trying to do it like you showed with the rope kept slipping off so he tied the rope on and pulled it and it started we like to never got it cut off it beat the clutch and the fuel valve all flush with the housing
I have a dumb question: if the rope is too long and the engine starts, is there a chance that if the rope does not disengage the rope will wind back up on the spinning pulley and rip the rope out of your hand? If so, then shouldn't the rope be short enough to completely disengage on one pull stroke? Thanks.
When the power goes out and the generator pull start won't work, I kick back, light a kerosene lamp and have a beer. Thank you for the video on emergency starting a genset. I grew up in the era when lawn mowers and small outboards started with a rope which was always kept handy, and you always made sure you kept your thumb well back starting the model T and brick'n the camel! I appreciate your advice about NOT using a cordless drill to e-start the generator; it begs a broken wrist. Not smart!
Steve I didn’t realize you were going to do that. I had a problem one time and I just filed a knock in it.I remember some generators don’t use starters they use the generator. Generator Is basically a electric motor. Why don’t they do that anymore.
@@razingcanez717 and when your engine started, use your lawnmower to drive you to the ER for your broken wrist caused by the drill driven by the engine
@@RedfishInc it's safe most of the time, but most drills have a brake that locks the drill to prevent stripping tightened bolts, that brake causes the engine to spin the drill violently and injure your arm
I can tell from experience at 14 years old an open flywheel is VERY VERY Dangerous and will rip your fingers right off!!! I got my fingers in one when I was 14 and it ripped my skin and meat off of 3 fingers 1 right down to the bone all the older guys said it was my young quick reflexes that saved me from losing my fingers that day.
Click here for a new starter---- amzn.to/2KrchLS
Click here for my website--- www.stevessmallenginesaloon.com/
Click here for my Parts and Tools Store---- www.amazon.com/shop/stevessmallenginesaloon
Hello Steve--- I remember at age 12 my dad took me to a lawnmower repair and sales outlet and I purchased a "damaged in shipping" Teco 2 stroke lawnmower on time. As many other small engines it had a grooved pully for starting.That was how you started it every time.Wrap the rope around and pull.Recoil start was a luxury in 1963.I made enough money to pay the $35.00 for the machine that summer and then some.Enjoying your vid and a good homebrew here in Sooke!!!
Right on Darryl...
I didn't have a notch so I just folded the cord and made the wraps clockwise on top of it so it was tight and let go easy. Our generator started right up on the first pull. The commenters saying it was commonplace back-in-the-day stopped my low temperature-induced panic. There's absolutely no need for using a drill. Sincerely, thank you for this video.
Tried this! Thanks!! Works
I hate to admit it but I am old enough to remember when that was the only way we had to start an engine. Thanks for the tip.
That's how I had to start the lawn mower as a kid, didn't know there was another way until I got older. :-)
Well when I was a kid we left the brachiosaurus mow the grass.
Tony De Leo I'm 40 yrs old and when I was in my 20s my father in law gave me an old Locke reel mower. It has a piece of cord and a handle to start it. It's still a prized possession and nothing cuts grass better.
@George Vinson Almost the same impact as colour TV
same.
Used that trick back in the 70's to start industrial lawn mowers when I worked in the council parks department(UK),but you always made sure no-one was behind you first.
I’ve been starting my old Honda Hr215-sxa model like that for a few months now , got a 3pc adapter set at harbor freight and a 19mm socket , I use a cheap black and decker drill to start it , works like a charm !!!
You can do this with any small engine with any kind of cup, lay the start of rope horizontally on cup then wrap around the cup onto itself, after a couple wraps it locks tight and you can pull start it. Great video
Great tip....
Brings back memories As a 9 year old in the 1960's we had a two wheeled garden tractor that had a place for different attachment. My dad took an old Radio Flyer wagon and removed the broken front wheels axle and pinned it to the tractor. I would start it like this then jump in and throw the lever for forward and tool all around the abandoned 13 acre vegetable and rhubarb farm we lived on. The start cord was always tied to the crossbar between the handlebars of the tractor when done starting.
Ha-ha my Grandpa also had one didn't have any of the attachments for it but it ran like you said push that lever forward and away it go
I am watching this video after watching your latest video on emergency starting of a generator. The information you give here is very helpful and I will try it if needed. Thanks for sharing this information with us all.
Not all starter Cups have the slot for a cord. Sometimes you have to whittle one in yourself. I prefer the drill trick. It works wonders if you know how to do it correctly. Do not let go of the trigger of the drill until the socket is fully removed from the nut
My emergency was today and I put a cordless drill and a socket on the crank and she turned right over... I had a what I call a home made cordless drill starter lol... nice video as usual steve...👍👍👍
That's waiting for an emergency stop to the hospital right there. The way not to start a small engine without a recoil, provided you have a reversing clutch when that thing bucks. Learned that lesson in the 80s like that and destroyed the drill. 5-10hp fired up engine VS a puny drill is disaster ready to happen without a reversing mechanism or even using a drill period.
I have an old kohler generator welder and got tired of wrapping the rope around to start it so I welded a pulley onto a chainsaw clutch and used it to start it. Used a lawnmower belt, works great.
old kohlers are the best arent they
Thank you so much it's 3 in the morning and my rope broke, your a life saver
You're Welcome...
Thank you so much for this video. Not only was I able to make my wife happy, but after hurricane Sally came through I was able to get my generator started and hooked up to our well so that we can feed and water 18 horses that we use for our nonprofit equine therapy program that benefits children and adults who have special needs and military veterans. If you are ever in Mobile Alabama let me know and I will take you out to dinner.
Right on Lon...
Thanks! There are ways to start without the notch, but if you prefer the notch and your generator doesn't have one, now would be the time to cut a notch in (and file the edge smooth so it doesn't tear your rope), instead of waiting until SHTF.
i was wondering if you could cut a notch. the way he talked he made it sound like engines without the notch wheren't made to be crunk like that and it either wouldnt work or would damage it.
Great tip! Thank you. I'll be looking at my generator in the coming days to check the cup. By the way. This is how I started an Eclipse reel lawnmower, with a Briggs and Stratton engine, 60+ years ago.
Right on Denny....
You can emergency start without the notch the first winding laps over the tail and from there just keep winding and when you pull the string tension from you pulling will spin that flywheel just fine done it heaps of times no different to having the notch.
top notch
Yep. Just did it with some Paracord on Briggs n Stratton.
Piece of cake.
That is how we started lawn mowers and mini bikes before recoil pull cords were common. My take away is to check under the recoil cover for the notch. Thanks.
Oh Snap! I just dissed Steve yesterday about not mentioning this in his re-roping video and this 2 year old video shows up in my notifications. Touché my guru friend!
This is how all our old farm equipment was set up. All of grandpa's equipment pumps tiller lawn mower all had this type starter. But ya always had to carry a pull rope.
Excellent-my rope just broke and I had to take it in for repair!
Hey Steve, this is how we used to start ALL OV our small engines. Recoil starters made their debut job the early 60s for me. I still have a few Clintons & Briggs. Their antiques like I am. Keep your videos coming.I love watching them.
On the fire dept all our Briggs and Stratton 16 HP portable pumps started with a rope.
Fuel on, choke, wrap cord and pull. Usually started on second or third pull.
You could really haul on it.
Thanks for this, had a panic on thinking I’d have to make a trip out to buy a new pump pull starter. Didn’t have the beer though!😊🍺
Best wishes from the UK🇬🇧🇺🇸
Glad I could help
Great video I always knew you could start small engines with a rope and handle like that but I never knew about the notch and knot technique
Glad I could help
Good One Steve - I have a vintage Evinrude outboard motor which is the same principal of using a cord on top of the outboard motor to get it started - then ready to fish - Thumbs Up Steve for this video .
Thanks Pete....
Wish I saw this last night, could have used it on my outboard motor, starter died. Guys helped me, did the same thing, used a notch in the flywheel and an anchor rope. Saved my bacon!
Right on Craig...
A couple years ago I was out in my hunting camp using a generator and electric space heater in my 5x8 home made camper. It was -30C and I was ready for bed and I pulled the rope and it broke. Luckily I had some paracord and was able to replace the rope with it and continue on for the rest of the trip.
Right on
I do this every day lol Also if you don't have a on/off switch always good to drop a bit of petrol into air intake we use these generators well it's actually AC/dc welders on the boat it's not good to do it,but it's always good to know! If you hold the wire coming from the switch hole hold it tight to metal that turns it off.
Good for you Steve!!! I was sooo afraid you were gonna show people the impact or cordless drill approach. Yikes! LOL. Good video brother! way to keep on helping people!
You can start it even w/o a notch. I use paracord inserted into one of the holes of the cup and wrap the cord around a few times. You do not want a knot at the end of the line because when you pull you want the cord to come out of the cup for safety sake.
Back in the 50's I remember using a cord on several different small motors. I don't recall a retracting starter on our engines at all. Plus our tractor was crank start and our car came with a crank just in case the battery died. Just don't wrap your thumb around the crank. Keep the thumb on the outside that way if it kicked back the crank did not hurt your thumb.
Thank you Steve, a very informative video and helped me solve a problem ive been having all day with a floppy pull cord. looking forward to watching some more of your videos
Right on Buddy, glad that helped...
I have learned so much from you, man. I appreciate you so much. I can successfully work on my own stuff and I teach other people so I remember myself.
Thank You...
There's a popular YT channel where there is a guy that runs various tests using small engines( not gonna call him out) but he only uses a drill. I know that's dangerous but some of us don't have the strength to pull and pull on a crank rope. That's our only option.
Another way to start without recoil mechanism is an impact wrench, or a very powerful electric nut driver driving a socket over the nut on the engine shaft. Be sure to turn it the right way!
I'm glad both of my outboard motors come with spare ropes and they're always on board when I'm underway. 😊
Right on
SAME
OMG, my uncle had a homemade lawnmower that he had to start like this. This brings back memories. He probably spent more time fixing it than actually mowing grass with that piece of shit. 😅
One tid bit i would like to add.I have a Briggs powered gen set.Turn the motor to where its at the tight spot of compression.Then turn the choke on and make sure the switch is on and the gas is on.Give the rope a quick pull.When it fires be quick and turn off the choke..Mine will start almost every time on the first pull.It is about 16 yrs old.Change the gas out and change oil out every year or so.Works great.
Great video as allways!
Where are you located in Canada?
Thanks Keven
You do not need a notch, just wrap the cord over the tail end and keep winding. If you do this it will start just fine. BTW paracord works great!!!
Back in the day most all small engines were started this way. I remember we had a small john boat with a little engine on it that we always had to wind the rope around it to start. It never had a recoil on it.
hi Steve, thank you for your helpful video. it's hurricane season and this is a real help
You're Welcome...
Thanks for the video. I have an older generator, where the recoil starter failed. They don’t make them anymore so I’m unable to get a replacement. This is how I start the generator… It’s the only way now.
You're Welcome...
Thank you, your tip worked perfectly!
You're welcome!
Good tip Steve my Gen does have such a notch. and I have an old junk chain saw Im stealing the rope from just in case.
Right on
I think the drill method, although could hurt your hand is for people like me with a shoulder injury.with there drill, you could use a bar hose clamped to the drill and put against your leg to prevent torque on your hand. I var not tried that. Love the videos
The ol start your engine without a starter TRICK. …. . Thx Steve 👍
As far as I know that was the only way to start a lot of lawnmowers when I was a kid, and never forget the wonderful British Seagull outboard engine , an absolute swine to start, but would not stop unless it ran out of fuel.
Great idea Steve.
I hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas
Thanks, you too!
I used to start my 50hp two stroke Evinrude like this when battery was toast and I was to cheap to replace it. Once you learned where to set the throttle it never took more than two tries.
Dude. You did help. My goddamn starter just broke and our power has been jacked for five days now. Shredded the innards of the lock spring mechanism. I just checked my 4kW and I DO have the notch!
Right on buddy...
Old school. Love it.
Thank You...
Its a sad day in society when people do not know what choke means....
You’re the man ( along with mustie 1
I once owned a cylinder mower and wanted to start it with the rope starter unit taken off. There was no notch. So I wrapped a rope around the combined flywheel/fan and pulled long and hard. I don't know what went wrong, maybe the rope was caught by a fan blade, but the rope suddenly pulled back hard, really hard at the end of the stroke. The pain was very intense and ran all along my arm and into the base of my back. Well that was a fluke I thought. It couldn't happen again. But I was wrong, it did exactly the same thing again. My back was bad for months. So please be very very wary fellas, about trying new starting tricks with long pieces of rope!
Hi Steve, love your channel! any thoughts about a old homelite generator with a 8 hp engine ( plugs on end of gen) that pulls over very hard. how to make it easier to pull? thank you
Ty for the video I have an old Wisconsin robin motor on my tiller and the recoil just broke
You're Welcome...
Yeah, all the comments about using an electric drill to start the engine in an emergency. Before I saw Steve's video I' tried the power drill technique with near disastrous results. The kickback spun my drill backwards and wrapped my glove around my drill. Then, milliseconds later, when the engine engaged and started, it took off in the forward direction, pulling my drill, glove and hand along with it. Luckily for me, it also somehow pulled my glove off (instead of my hand) and kept running with the drill and glove attached to the motor. I don't even want to think about what may have happened if my glove hadn't come off. Later, I also learned that the kickback destroyed the gears in my expensive Makita drill, leaving it with zero torque. DO NOT USE A POWER DRILL. Sounds like a great idea, but it IS NOT. LISTEN TO STEVE''S ADVICE.
Thank You...
Thats how we started lawnmowers in the 50s n 60s old is new again.
Thanks Mr.Steve for your help I really appreciate it
You're Welcome...
i Remember when i was a Kid Longgggg Ago in the mid 60's seeing commercial walk behind mowers not having recoil starters they started them just like shown in the video all the time.
You can also use the cordless drill with a socket wrench and spin that flywheel nut to start it.
Worked good ty for the video it worked on my old Wisconsin tiller
Right on
I just bought an old soviet rototiller thats 2 strokes and comes from factory without a kickstart.Verry spartan but i like it because its antique and a piece of history.
COOL...
Thank you Steve that did help me
You're Welcome...
Great job, thanks Steve 👍👍👍
You're Welcome...
This is how we used to start our home made mini- bikes in the 60's! LOL
Right on....
Man i thought you was doctor oz you are doctor oz of small engine good info tfs buddy
LOL, Right on...
Lots of people have para cord around these days. That should work.
You can start it without the notch. I've started mine by just wrapping the rope tightly over itself. That way it holds itself long enough to start the machine.
Always on the point, always helpful!
Glad you think so!
@@StevesSmallEngineSaloon You’re a Good Man Steve! I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours! Thank you for helping me and so many of us landscapers, gardeners, home owners and other folks who love hard work and appreciate a good beer 🍺:)
My very old snow thrower recoil broke, so I put a socket the size of the big nut in my drill and now have an electric start. It's great except when it stalls and I have to drag that beast back to the drill! lol
Great tip!
Thank You...
Years ago before they invented fancy pull starters, using a pull rope was how we did it.
Thanks!
Welcome!
Wow i didn't even know about that. Thanks ill definitely remember that one 👍👍
You're Welcome...
Great Vid....I have a question,,,,i am sure there is a video for this. How do I treat the gas on a generator because I don't use it that often. I suppose starting it often will prepare it for when a surprise pops up and it HAS to start. Keep us informed.. Thx Steve
Buy a conversion kit to change it over to propane or natural gas. I started mine two weeks ago when an ice storm was predicted. It hadn’t been started since 2019. Started third pull.
Actualy you dont need a notch if you wrap the rope correct
@Brad R Beat me to it👍 lol
Was anybody else thinking “For the love of God man fix that drill cord.” Good tip.
Vety helpful information
Glad you think so!
I've thought about using a 1/2" impact to do this.
Any thoughts about that?
Thanks!!
It works.
@@richardcranium5862 Watch his other video where he explains why you shouldn't.
No too much torque and impact and u will wreck all
3/4 of a beer. I like 👍
Thank You...
You can by a attachment made for drills to start small engines safely
When i was a kid we had reel mowers that how we started them
Steve, Notch not critical....with no notch, simply wind the rope around the pully, holding the end of the rope at 90 deg to the rest of the rope and extending about 1/2” to 1” past the reel, make sure the 2nd wrap around the pully lays directly on top of the bit of rope end. When finished with the 2nd wrap, gently/ firmly pull the rope taut as you continue wrap the rope. When all the rope is wound, pull to start.
I was a masonry contractor and our mixture starter cord broke and my helper he kept trying to do it like you showed with the rope kept slipping off so he tied the rope on and pulled it and it started we like to never got it cut off it beat the clutch and the fuel valve all flush with the housing
Nice. Thanks for the tip.
You're Welcome...
I have a dumb question: if the rope is too long and the engine starts, is there a chance that if the rope does
not disengage the rope will wind back up on the spinning pulley and rip the rope out of your hand? If so, then shouldn't the rope be short enough to completely disengage on one pull stroke? Thanks.
When the power goes out and the generator pull start won't work, I kick back, light a kerosene lamp and have a beer. Thank you for the video on emergency starting a genset. I grew up in the era when lawn mowers and small outboards started with a rope which was always kept handy, and you always made sure you kept your thumb well back starting the model T and brick'n the camel! I appreciate your advice about NOT using a cordless drill to e-start the generator; it begs a broken wrist. Not smart!
Steve I didn’t realize you were going to do that. I had a problem one time and I just filed a knock in it.I remember some generators don’t use starters they use the generator. Generator Is basically a electric motor. Why don’t they do that anymore.
I’ve started plenty of engines without a “emergency notch” just wrap it
You could use a cordless drill and a socket.
@@razingcanez717 and when your engine started, use your lawnmower to drive you to the ER for your broken wrist caused by the drill driven by the engine
@@ukrainica9121 yeah, drill-starting engines is not safe
@@smallenginesgarage7168 it's plenty safe... unless you're a little girl.🤣
@@RedfishInc it's safe most of the time, but most drills have a brake that locks the drill to prevent stripping tightened bolts, that brake causes the engine to spin the drill violently and injure your arm
I can tell from experience at 14 years old an open flywheel is VERY VERY Dangerous and will rip your fingers right off!!! I got my fingers in one when I was 14 and it ripped my skin and meat off of 3 fingers 1 right down to the bone all the older guys said it was my young quick reflexes that saved me from losing my fingers that day.
You do not need to have the notch in the starter cup, wrap the rope around the cup tight it will spin when pulled.
Thanks Steve. Who would have thunk it?
You're Welcome...
Smart man
Okay, I am about to give away my age.
I remember when all mowers started this way. No recoil.
This is the way you had to start all the old small engines& yes ,seems like the rope always hit you in nose area
I've done this for years, being too cheap to buy a replacement pull starter!
Great tip!
Thank you
No problem!
That a boy Steve!! Here's to ya, cheers!