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My 2003 Honda Rancher has been doing this for a while and I can find nothing on the net about fixing it. At times when you try to start it will start normal, but other times it just clicks once and it sounds behind me, but I do not hear good. You can pull the start rope and change where the piston is, and it will start as it should. At times there is so much compression that you can barely pull the rope. It will try to kick back and jerk the handle out of your hand. I am thinking timing, but can find nothing about advancing or retarding the spark. Timing gears/chain/belt or something else? miles

A clicking noise is usually from a battery to weak to drive the starter motor. Check your battery connections. And consider replacing your battery if more than a few years old.

New battery. Like I said, if you move the piston a little, it will spin it from a dead stop. I think it is sparking before the piston gets to the top, and tries to force it backwards. Seems to be where the piston stops when it is killed that matters. If it is close to the top, on the way up it will not turn over, but if not it will spin and start. Anyway that is the way I see it. miles

Bad starter. It's got a a "dead spot" on the armature and when it lines up at the right position it won't engage. Mine was doing it and a new (used off of ebay for $30) fixed it.

Whatever you do don't go trying to adjust the timing, it'll screw it all up. The timing is electronic and can't be adjusted.

All engines do that. Setting the timing is what controls how far before the top it fires, measured in degrees before top dead center in the rotation of the drive shaft. It's possible that something slipped and it's firing even earlier.
Does yours have a compression release for use when using the pull rope? I had a Kaw that had one. Just flip a lever and it released the compression so you could get it moving without jerking your arm off. It was like the kick start bikes.

Assuming this is correct, How does pulling the starter rope move the Armature? The gear should not be engaged. miles

If valves have never been adjusted it could not hurt. I would start here. Also at this time check for a sticking valve or a non-operational compression release if yours has one. Typically runs off the cam.

The click you hear is the bendix engaging the starter gear, so yes, it is staying engaged. Turning the engine over manually will rotate the starter armature slightly as it disengages. My money is on the starter.

Rereading this it seems likely to me that Crow Hunter and Badger are correct especially considering the click. I will say, that out of adjustment valves as I mentioned previously, can contribute to premature starter failure by making it work harder. So if a replacement starter does in fact fix your problem, I would still check the valve settings.

Brushes on Honda starters are easily replaced. They are kind of a standard maintenance item in the villages of Alaska. They come as two separately packaged brushes. (They are different.)

Thanks all for you input. I will start with the starter and progress from there. miles

check brushes as suggested .

Ed

Let us know what you find out.

It may be a while as I have other things going on, and it is still usable. miles

nothing like a good break-down to change priorities...

My money is on one of these two. I bet if you pull the plug , it spins right over.

I have seen more wasted money on new batteries and starters on these small engines than Heinz has pickles.