Recoil kick back

[kawasakikid]

I have a 98 Evinrude 15 HP 4 stroke, when I try to start it with the pull cord sometimes it kicks back & gives me one heck of a snap back on my arm, is this common or do I have a recoil problem? Unfortunately it does not have electric start.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

[ohio stan]

sounds like you have a broken flywheel "key" You will have to pull the flywheel to check this.

 

[ondarvr]

If it's an occasional kickback, while not normal, isn't rare either, many small motors do this. Sometimes adjusting the low speed screw can help, it may be covered by a brass plug that needs to be removed.

 

[Chinewalker]

Kickback might be caused by timing too advanced. Back off the throttle a bit...