How to Repair the Lawn Mower Pull Start

Most push mowers require a cord to be pulled to start the engine. But with continuous use and weather damage, pull cords have been known to break off or get pulled into the internal coil too far as to become too small to grip.

Instructions

1. Locate and remove the screws that hold down the mower's top housing. Typically, the mower will have five screws, one at each corner and one in the center.

2. Remove the plastic covering to expose the mower's internal components. Locate the circular disc that houses the pull cord. Identify if there are any foreign objects intertwined or on the disc that would make the pull start nonfunctioning. If this is the case, fix the problem and reassemble the mower, then see if the mower will start. But this will not be the case the majority of the time.

3. Take off the screw or loosen the nut and bolt to the pull cord's plastic disc-like housing, depending on which one your mower uses. There might be a plastic tab that holds the disc that you might have to bypass, but in most cases, the disc will be able to be unscrewed and lifted out of the mower.

4. Check to see if the pull cord has gotten tangled around the disc. If this is the case, then you will not need a replacement cord. Just unwind and rewind the cord so enough slack is given for the operator to grasp and pull to start the engine. But if the cord is broken, you will need to replace it.

5. Unwind the entire cord down to the knot that holds it in place. Make sure you note whether the cord is wrapped around the disc clockwise or counterclockwise, as this will be a problem if it is not done properly. There should be a marking on the disc that tells you which way to wind the cord. Attach the new cord and reassemble the mower.