Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Hard starting Honda GX340, honda engines, compression release

Question
My Honda GX340 pressure washer "Excel 1990" is hard to start.   I used it the other day with no problems, rope pulled very easy and started on first pull.  I shut it down after about 45 minutes of operation.   When i went to restart it was very difficult and there was more compression than normally experienced when I pulled the rope.   A few of the attempts to start yielded backfires as if the timing were off.   Once it started it seemed to run fine except on occasion it would have trouble handling the load.   As I recall this engine alters the valve timing to allow for an easy pull start?  If so what might be the recommended fix?

Answer
This engine is equipped with a compression release, if it fails to operate correctly it will be hard starting, as you doing so under full compression. Follow this link to the shop repair manual for the, GX240 GX270, and the GX390, they are very similar to the GX340 and will help you a great deal. Also check your flywheel key. Sounds like it could have sheared too, it will have the very same exact symptoms. Here is the link:   http://www.honda-engines-eu.com/it/engines/models_range/gx_range/gx340/shop.jsp#
If for some reason the link fails let me know.

                                           Tom