HARD TO START

The reasons for an engine to be hard to start can be caused by a wide variety of individual or combinations of concurrent problems and the best place to begin is to do a quick check of the engine:

Is the tank full of fresh gasoline?
Does the air filter need to be cleaned or replaced?
Check the condition of the spark plug.
Is the fuel valve turned on?
Is the On/Off switch turned ON?
Is the choke in the correct position or the primer functioning?
Check the oil for correct fill level and quality. *(see note below)

If the problem isn't located or resolved during the quick check procedure, you'll need to check for the following problems:

Improper fuel/air mixture reaching the carb
Weak spark
Improper timing
Low Compression
Not turning fast enough to start

Suggested troubleshooting order: FUEL - IGNITION - TIMING - COMPRESSION

*Note:

The oil level should not be a factor in a hard to start situation unless the engine is equipped with a low oil shutoff system, but should always be checked prior to use.