actually a honda pressure washer i could easily start then suddenly hard to pull rope

i carried the presure washer in the back of my truck out to the fairgrounds . when i pulled the rope to start it the first time i heard some clatter that sounded like something fighting it's way out of the pull rope assembly as the engine started up . i used it till it ran out of gas . when i went to restart either i lifted the whole thing off the ground or the rope pull handle was ripped from my hand smacking me hard enough to leave a bruise the shape of the handle as it recoiled . yes i repeated this several times and several bruises until it started again and i was able to complete the job . i did look around for something that may have actually flown out of the starter assembly in the grass but found nothing nor did it again make the noise of something banging around. i asked my brother to take a look at it . he said it was just fine and i needed to stand on it's frame as i pulled the cord. he started it several times to show me it would start . i might out weigh him but he has a good 1/2 a foot if not 3/4 on me and hands the size of a baseball glove .i had 3 imprints of the pull handle on my chest and never did get it to start again not because it would not but because i could not pull hard enough nor fast enough without it lifting off the ground . i have owned it at least 5 or 6 years and was always able to start it before without issues . any ideas ? oh , i should say the engine sits so the pull start assembly is on the side rather then on top.