Unfortunately, you may encounter a generator that is difficult to start manually. Fortunately, if you have consistently maintained your equipment, the issue is usually easy to resolve.

Generally speaking, a portable generator may be difficult to start due to hydraulic lock in the cylinder, a faulty recoil starter assembly, damage to the flywheel or flywheel key, a seized piston, or a damaged compression release mechanism.

We have outlined these five causes, along with the corresponding troubleshooting methods. We have numbered them in the order you should follow when attempting to diagnose why your generator is having trouble starting. It is best to begin with the simplest explanations first, and then proceed to examine the generator in greater depth as needed.

Let’s get started!