Troybilt 5500 generator pull cord locks up...just had it for one year...cord was very easy to pull @ first...but lately it locks up when I try to start it...any suggestions?

Simplest solution is to repair or replace the pull cord. Small generators are designed to be simple. The pull cord assembly and spring are usually a single combined part. They are usually fairly easy to swap yourself.

Hello Chet,

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What Kind of Oil Do You Use in Troy Bilt 5550 Generator Hunker

a 10W-40 should work fine. Probably about 2quarts or less.

Give it a shot of starting fluid. If it runs initially, then most likely the jets on the carbureator are clogged. You should remove the carb and clean/rebuild it.

Try this again

how do i change the pull start cord

Old fuel will not make the engine lock up. While you will most likely need to clean the carb you should still be able to pull the engine over. Now the first thing to do is remove the spark plug and see if you can pull the engine over. If gas has drained into the engine there may be gas and oil in the head area. Do not stand in front of the spark plug hole when you try and pull it over just in case gas sprays out. If it still will not pull over then next remove the recoil starter and see if it is frozen up. With the recoil removed and the spark plug removed you should be able to turn the engine over by hand by grabbing the part that the recoil contacts, called the drive cup, that is bolted to the flywheel. Those are two somewhat easy things you can do to see if the engine is truly locked up.

The rings are stuck to the cylinder wall. Remove spark plug and spray some pb blaster in the hole.
3 or 4 seconds worth. Let sit a day then try. If no go repete. You can pry on the flywheel if yiu know where not to. Take your time Rushing it may brake the rings.