Klf 400 Starting problem

[sw74gls]

Hi just joined today, i have a problem with my Klf 400 starting, it backfires, and kicks back (and hurts your shins), and can take a lot of kicks 50 or so until it fires up, once started and warm she runs fine until the next time, also if you put choke on or throttle while trying to start it kicks back violently, I have changed plug, air filter, cleaned the carb (was'nt dirty), battery is good, spark is good, im stuck, as i say once it finally starts without kicking back she runs lovely up and down the rpm range no problem, I would really appreciate you're suggestions, many thanks...

[Ausmarty]

I have a similar problem that I have been trying to nail down for some months now, It's destroyed 2 starter reduction gears and the main flywheel sprocket from the backfiring,seems like the timing is to far retarted and kicks back, Iv'e done the carb battery gone through all the electrical system to no avail, sometimes it just loses spark you come back 5 mins later and it fires straight up.
I'm thinking it could possibly be an ignition coil, the pickup coil that sends the signal to the cdi or the cdi itself, Which if you go by process of elimination will get quite costly.
Sorry if I have hijacked your thread but I or we would be interested to hear of anyone that has gone down the same path

Cheers, Marty

[YurFatMom]

I would check the timing and check the compression. It could also be that you have the carbs mixture screw set too lean.

[Ausmarty]

Thanks for your reply ourfatmom, The pulser coil which runs off the flywheel is not adjustable so the advance retard is done through the cdi, In my case the rings and valves have just all been redone, I have tried the mixture but didn't notice much difference, It also idles a bit rough only sometimes to a stage it will die, if I set the idle a bit higher it seems to be ok.
How about you sw74gls ?