I'm almost ready to start my HF + CVT build. I bought a HarborFreight 2.5HP 80cc engine back in December and it's been sitting in the box until now. The engine most of the time won't fire up. There is a spark, the air intake is unobstructed, the fuel supply appears to be good, the choke lever works. I pulled the rope so many times I broke and mechanism and had to take it apart. One of the pop out wing things had come out of it's groove. It's all back together now, no harm done and I am more careful to not jerk the rope at the end of the pull.
When the engine does fire, it seems to be random because it will fire and run strong as if it had started on the first pull and not the 150th pull. There is the right amount of oil in the sump and I tried disconnecting the oil sensor wire, made no difference. I ran a full tank of gas last time the engine started, no problem once running at all. It runs strong.
Any ideas what could be making this engine a tough starter?
When the engine does fire, it seems to be random because it will fire and run strong as if it had started on the first pull and not the 150th pull. There is the right amount of oil in the sump and I tried disconnecting the oil sensor wire, made no difference. I ran a full tank of gas last time the engine started, no problem once running at all. It runs strong.
Any ideas what could be making this engine a tough starter?