Gas Pressure Washer: Why doesn't my pressure washer recoil starter work?

If the pressure washer engine doesn't spin as you pull out the recoil starter rope, you probably need to replace the recoil starter, because it's not spinning the flywheel.

If the starter rope won't budge when you try to pull it, the engine may be locked up or the recoil starter may have failed. If you tipped the pressure washer on its side recently, oil may have filled the cylinder, preventing the engine from spinning. Remove the spark plug and then pull the starter rope to see if the engine spins. If it does, pull the starter rope a few more times to clear oil out of the cylinder through the spark plug hole. Then reinstall the spark plug and try to start the engine. The engine may sputter and smoke when starting. If the engine starts, then it will likely run smoothly once it burns off oil inside the cylinder.

If the engine won't spin with the spark plug removed, then the piston may be bound up inside the cylinder or the recoil starter may have frozen up. Pull the recoil starter off the engine and replace the recoil starter if you can't pull the starter rope with the recoil starter off the engine.

If the recoil starter spins after removing it from the engine, then the engine is locked up. You'll likely need to have a service technician examine and repair the locked-up engine.