So recently my predator engine would have a sort of hard spot to pull, I believe on the compression stroke. Before, you could pull and get it to turn over eventually. However now it simply wont start at all, even if you pull through the hard spot. The hard spot goes away when you pull the spark plug. I've pulled the crankcase cover and the only thing I've noticed is that the camshaft moves back and forth relatively easily but I made the assumption that it was because the crank cover wasn't there to hold it down. No governor on the engine btw. Any ideas? I've already tried resetting the valve lash back to .003, changing oil, and the pull cord spring, but I actually believe the reason the spring broke was because of how hard it is to pull. I believe we've actually broken it again!
Predator 212 Hard Spot in pull
- Thread starter khan
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mckutzy
Well-known member
Is the compression release present(pretty sure it's on the cam) when you removed the side cover? As in it didn't fall off or is stuck some how.
tundrabeagle3
New member
Does it backfire when your pull starting it?
rmm727
New member
Was the lash set on the correct tdc?
This is what I suspected it was. I however have no idea what that compression release looks like so I looked around the case to see any chunks of camshaft missing but didn't see anything. However like you said, it could be missing.
Also it doesn't backfire when pulling and the valve lash was set on the compression stroke tdc
Kart Simpson
New member
I was having the same problem and it was the valve lash setting. I reset it to .003 on the compression stroke and it resolved the issue. I know you said you set yours to that but I also assume that you know for sure that the dots on the cam and crank are lined up?
Knew I forgot something! I never lined up the dots! So when they are lined up is it at TDC?
Kart Simpson
New member
Yes line up the dots, reset your valve lash to .003 on both and be sure it is on the compression stroke when setting them and you should be all set.
Doh!! You won't forget that again 
Just thought I'd post a conclusion
As it turns out, some chunks of plastic had gotten wedged in the decompression lever of the cam from removing the governor
Luck it did no damage, removed the pieces, checked the valve lash, put it back together, started right up, runs just as good.
Moral of the story, don't be stupid
As it turns out, some chunks of plastic had gotten wedged in the decompression lever of the cam from removing the governor
Luck it did no damage, removed the pieces, checked the valve lash, put it back together, started right up, runs just as good.
Moral of the story, don't be stupid
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