Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
My Small Engine Recoil Starter Cord Won't Retract
My Small Engine Recoil Starter Cord Won't Retract. The starter cord on small engines is wound around a pulley inside the starter cover. This pulley houses a recoil spring that keeps the starter cord and pulley under tension. The starter cord won't retract when this spring breaks or gets ripped loose from the pulley. To solve this problem. you need...
The starter cord on small engines is wound around a pulley inside the starter cover. This pulley houses a recoil spring that keeps the starter cord and pulley under tension. The starter cord won't retract when this spring breaks or gets ripped loose from the pulley. To solve this problem. you need to replace the recoil spring cassette. This spring can still be under a lot of tension, so wear safety glasses when installing or removing it.
Things You'll Need
Screwdriver
Recoil spring cassette
Use the screwdriver to remove the screws holding the starter cover in place over the flywheel on your small engine. Take off the starter cover. On most small engines, the pulley and starter cord will be attached to the cover. Turn over the cover to work on the recoil spring.
Unwind the starter rope all of the way out of the pulley. Disengage the recoil spring from the pulley if it's not already loose. On most small engines, a small tab in the center of the pulley can be popped up to release the tension. On others, you need to unwind the pulley by hand to release the tension.
Loosen the screw holding the pulley to the post on the starter cover. Take the pulley off of the starter cover. Use the end of the screwdriver to pop the recoil spring cassette out of the center of the pulley.
Replace the recoil spring cassette with a new cassette. Put the new cassette inside the pulley. Wiggle the pulley back and forth until the end of the spring catches on the pulley.
Wind the pulley two full rotations clockwise. Wrap the starter cord around the pulley. Set the starter cover in place over the flywheel. Pull the starter handle and cord out about 6 inches. Screw the cover's retaining screws to tighten the cover in place.
Let go of the starter handle and it should automatically recoil. If it doesn't recoil, the spring isn't engaging the pulley. Repeat the process to ensure no mistakes were made. If the recoil spring still won't retract the starter cord, replace the pulley.
Tips & Warnings
Recoil spring cassettes and pulley assemblies can't be repaired if they're broken. They need to be replaced.
