Not related to the pull starter, but did you pull the hub caps off the back wheels to check what the inside was like.
On just about every one of those talons I see (they were 10 deep at the tip a few months ago), the back wheels are completely cheap plastic (which is bad enough), but then Talon made it so the hole the axle goes through is only supported by about 8 bits of plastic. If they made the supports completely solid, there wouldn't be an issue.
After a few years going round corners on the lawn, the back wheels simply fall off due to the plastic supports snapping through lateral forces.
Just thought I should check as the last thing you need is someone bringing it back angry that the wheel fell off after 1 mow.
