How to Repair the Recoil Starter Rope on My Mower
Small walk-behind gasoline-powered lawn mowers that don't have an electric start function use a pull rope to start the engine. The operator pulls on the rope to start the engine, then lets go as the pull rope recoils into the starter pulley. Over time, the recoil starter rope may deteriorate and break, and need to be replaced. It only takes a few minutes with some basic tools to install a new rope. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- New starter rope with handle
- Wide-jaw vise-grip pliers
- Needle nose pliers
- Socket set
- Cigarette lighter or matches
Instructions
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1
Disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug by pulling on the black rubber boot covering the tip of the spark plug.
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2
Loosen the three bolts holding the starter shroud to the top of the engine. Lift the starter shroud off of the engine and place it upside-down on a work table.
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3
Hold the starter shroud with one hand and rotate the pulley in the center counterclockwise until it won't turn any further. Clamp the pulley in place using the wide-jaw vise-grip pliers.
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4
Grab the knot in the knot hole with a pair of needle nose pliers, and pull out the broken rope.
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5
Insert the end of the new rope (with the handle on the opposite end) into the hole in the starter shroud, and direct the rope toward the knot hole near the center of the pulley. Grab the rope through the knot hole with the needle nose pliers, and pull out about 12 inches of rope.
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6
Tie a knot in the exposed end of the rope. Singe the end of the rope with a lighter or matches to prevent the rope from unraveling.
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7
Pull the rope from outside the starter shroud until the knot is firmly seated in the knot hole.
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8
Release the wide-jaw vise-grip pliers, allowing the pulley to recoil and wind the rope inside the pulley.
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9
Place the starter shroud back onto the engine, and tighten the three bolts to lock it in place. Re-connect the spark plug wire to the spark plug.
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Tips & Warnings
When replacing a recoil starter rope, always use rope designed for small engine starters.
Always disconnect the spark plug wire from the spark plug before working on a small engine to prevent the engine from accidentally firing.
References
- Photo Credit mower image by Tomasz Wojnarowicz from Fotolia.com
