when trying to start my mower the pull cord pulls back violently ?

Chances are of what happened is someone ran something over that was hard and sheared the flywheel key. So now the Ignition timming is off. So when you try and start it, the ignition is firing too late. Pull the top cover off, remove the flywheel and replace the flywheel key, replace everything and you should be fine as long as the crankshaft isn't bent underneith the mower.

David
July 2007

sounds like you sheared (broke) the flywheel key. it happens when you hit something with the blade.

bob
June 2007