About knock...
Startup knock is not the kind that can really cause damage to the engine. It's the high-load knock - detonation - that's damaging. I wouldn't worry too much about that knock.
Basically, when the engine knocks, the fuel burns before it's supposed to, pushing the piston down the bore when it wants to move up the bore - causing a great deal of stress on the piston, connecting rod, crank, and bearings.