Slowly release pressure on the spring to relax the coil into position in the housing. Remove the bolts and the pull cord unit should lift right off. Take the new rope this time. Pull it tight before returning to the previous position. (1) Cut the correct length of new cord, measure it against the old one. When the lawn mower’s pull cord does not return to the housing properly. Line up the inner and outer holes pull out the old snapped pull cord and replace it with a new one. Reconnect the power cord to the battery. ©MowersBoy 2020 MowersBoy.com is reader-supported. John Cunningham . Simply remove the cap and replace the pawls. However much you pull, it won’t start until you remove get rid of the excess oil. You can't let go or the spring will unwind. But when you give that cord a good hard pull the cord doesn't retract like it supposed to, or worse, the mower fires up for a minute and the cord is whipped back, you hear some funky grinding noise, and the mower dies. Pull the cord through the hole and wrap it around your hand to prevent it recoiling back in. 2) Measure and cut the old cord. The clutch will hold it in place while you bend the tabs down. Your mower may look different, the symptoms and the repair procedure will be very similar. So how do you replace a pull cord? However, repairing or learning how to replace a pull cord on a mower … Wind the pull cord around the rim of the starter pulley, anti-clockwise with spring facing down. Type above and press Enter to search. (1) Cut the correct length of new cord, measure it against the old one. Hydro-locked engine - Caused by a faulty carburetor. Another possibility is a faulty compression release assembly. i'm trying to start it but the cord is all the way out and - Answered by a verified Technician We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Is it stuck or did it just stop retracting? The edge from which the broken rope is pulled will be used to insert the new rope. Pull it through and knot it. Without it, you will not be able to start your mower. Position the knot so that there's a little tension on the rope when you release the handle. Some manufacturers, like Honda make it easy. Thread the new cord through the hole designated for the starter cord and tie a knot to hold it in place, then wrap the cord in the appropriate direction. How to Replace a Starter Spring on a Push Mower. Start pulling the cord until the excess oil is burnt and the mower is running as normal. Remember, when the cord breaks, the spring unloads, so the spring must be wound-up to reload it. Put the handle on the rope and tie a knot. Go ahead and remove the cord. If your problem is a pull start that just isn't catching and turning over the engine. If the cord has snapped or needs replacing it’s as simple as cutting the old one out and putting the new one in before rewinding as the video demonstrates. 1) The Pull Cord is Stuck. John Cunningham is an Automotive Technician and writer on Lawnmowerfixed.com. blocking blade. If you have been through a similar situation, you are not alone. Flip the housing upside down and rotate the pulley in the same direction it would turn if the cord were being pulled (counter clockwise). A cord that's too thin will work OK, but will have a shorter life. A broken pull cord, recoil spring and worn pawls are common problems. Unscrew the pulley shoulder retaining bolt with a 10-millimeter wrench. The major parts of a lawn mower pull cord housing are: Here, we will discuss the process of how to replace the pull cord on the lawn mower. Steps to follow: Step #1: Remove The Spark Plug. If the spring breaks—a rare event, according to our repair expert—the fix is a lot harder, and we recommend you take the mower to a repair center. If the rope on your lawn mower extends up the handle, make sure to place the rope handle in its final position before tensioning the rope slightly and tying the knot. Cut the old cord, and discard, now feed in and knot the new one. Too much oil is also bad for the engine. In this video I will show you how to fix a lawnmower pull start assembly fast and hassle free. When your lawnmower, string trimmer or other tool's pull cord goes slack, starting the engine becomes impossible. Easy to follow video tutorial on how to repair a broken lawnmower pull cord. In most cases, the recoil starter fails because the spring slides out of place, causing it to lose tension. The Pull-Cord on My Lawnmower Is Stuck. Fitting the pulley is covered below. You look outside and decide that you need to mow your lawn. For example, The Lawn Mower Guy charges $50 for carburetor cleaning and $40 for carburetor replacement (plus the cost of parts). Most pulleys wont need to be removed from the assembly to replace just the the cord. Then you will need to put in a new pull cord by tying one end near the pulley, letting the cord coil back up and tying a knot above the starter handle. Don't remove the old cord yet. Unscrew the plate that holds the recoil pulley to the starter housing, using a screwdriver. Remove the screws using a screwdriver or wrench. Valve lash should be checked every season, it's usually overlooked. Well unless your mower is less than 3 years old, breaking or fraying the pull cord on a lawnmower is fairly common. My promise to every customer is to give the greenest grass possible while controlling weeds, insects, and diseases! And the whole process can take up to 30 minutes to complete. Add about four inches to the overall length to account for the knots you need to tie on either end. The breaking or tearing of the pull cord is one of them.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'mowersboy_com-box-3','ezslot_0',106,'0','0'])); A pull cord acts as the starter of a lawnmower. A mower should have a tune-up every spring and an oil change every 50 hours of operation. Lawn mower engines are not designed to cut on slopes of more than 15 degrees, this causes oil starvation, which as you know can seize an engine. while you feed in and knot the cord, fit handle and double knot. and turning the tap off when the mowers not in use will prevent this from happening again. Needle and float together control gas flow to the fuel bowl. Loosen the bolt that holds the coil pulley in place. This wheel is … Always pull the plug wire when working on your mower. But you know since it is a tool, you can face many problems. If the pull cord on your lawnmower is stuck, you're not going to be cutting the grass with that mower until you fix it. I've been a mechanic for over twenty years, I use my knowledge and experience to write "How to" articles that help fellow gear-heads with all aspects of mechanical repairs, from lawn mowers to classic cars. First, take the lawn mower to a flat surface. This is basically a cylinder filled with gas, and because a fluid can't be compressed, the piston won't move giving you a stiff pull cord. Check the oil with every fill of gas. After years of recoiling the pulley after engine starts, the recoil spring can be weakened and break. When you pull on the cord, it turns over the engine to start it. eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'mowersboy_com-leader-1','ezslot_1',115,'0','0'])); Hopefully, this article has helped you to know about how to replace pull cord on lawn mower. If your problem is a pull cord that doesn't retract. As with automotive repair shops, some lawn mower repair services may offer standard pricing for common services. Keep moving the pulley until you feel resistance.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'mowersboy_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_10',114,'0','0'])); Keep the pulley rotating until the pores of the rewind housing and the pellets of the pulley are in the same position. You will then have successfully replaced a broken pull cord on your petrol lawnmower. Do only 4-5 turns and check the cords tightness; if more is needed go 1 turn at a time – too many turns can damage the spring which is a more costly and difficult repair. Lawn mower repair- how do you reset the spring that rewinds the pull cord? If you choose not to remove the pulley, you must load up the recoil spring by turning it anticlockwise three turns. If your lawn mower pull string breaks while you are trying to cut your grass, you can repair it yourself with a little time and effort. You still need to remove the assembly from the mower, although it's possible to do it in place, I don't recommend it. Replace the coil into the housing by aligning the tab on the end of the coil with the small slot in the housing. This guide will show you all you need to know, you'll be a pro 2 minutes from now -, The fix - remove the spark plug to drain the gas, replace the needle or the whole carburetor. You definitely need to know what things are in lawn mower pull cord housing. If the pull cord is stuck, remove the entire pull cord assembly and follow the steps above to remove and if necessary, replace the pull cord. I used a screwdriver to hold the pulley still while tying off the end of the cord. Check the reason behind it stopping to retract. Tighten the screws. And the whole process can take up to 30 minutes to complete. Other mowers may take a little more work. Test the Pull Cord assembly with a light pull and holding the handle allow the pulley to retract slowly. Some mowers of course have a blade clutch, meaning the blade doesn't move until you engage a lever. Then replace the starter. While holding the loaded starter pulley, or locking it with a screwdriver, locate the cord end which you marked earlier. Have you ever tried to pull start your lawn mower, and the cord failed to pull back in? Remove the spark plug wire from the spark plug, preventing the engine... 2. If you have the old cord, use it as a measure of how much new cord you need. Learn how to recoil the starter spring in a faulty Briggs & Stratton lawn mower, as well and how to replace the pull-start cord. The first step is to remove the rewind assembly from the lawn mower, and how you do this varies. Most push and self propel lawn mowers have the pull cord assembly attached to the top of the mower by 3-4 small bolts. two and half meters does the job. Lawnmower shops can have a several-day waiting period before you can get your mower fixed. Feed other end into the handle and double knot. You can purchase the spring on its own or with the starter pulley. Having a damaged pull cord is one of those problems. Feed the remaining end into the pull handle, use a fine screwdriver to help guide it. If you are a garden lover, a lawnmower is a regular companion of your daily lifestyle. Obviously they're more expensive than some rope but a lot less work. But you know that since it is a tool, it may face many problems. This centrifugal force in conjunction with the main-shaft forces the engine to start. Although it might seem like a big problem, it usually isn't. I find it faster, but you can choose not to, it swings and roundabouts. The process we discussed is the general process for replacing a lawn mower’s pull cord. The cord is likely loose because the recoil spring has lost some of its tension, you can remove the pull assembly and wind the spring on a couple of turns to tighten, but replacing the spring is a more permanent fix. Be patient and stay with us.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'mowersboy_com-box-4','ezslot_14',112,'0','0'])); First of all, we will focus on the equipment that we need to replace a pull cord of a lawn mower. They come already assembled, messing around with a recoil spring isn't worth losing an eye. To do this, remove the spark plug to open the cylinder and pull out the cord. This guide will show you all you need to know, you'll be a pro 2 minutes from now - "Lawn mower oil check". Yep, it's that time of the year again to pull out the lawn mower and start the weekly ritual of mowing your lawn. One of the most common repairs on a push lawn mower is replacing the starter cord. Pull the cord out all the way, secure the pulley, I use a screwdriver to lock the spokes of the pulley, stops it retracting. With the exception of electric-start models, most walk-behind lawnmowers with gasoline-powered engines are started by pulling on a starter cord. It will cause it to smoke, leak oil and despite all that oil, it's not being lubricated properly. lawn mower starter lost tension, after pull cord replaced, cord problem, metal spring, or metal cluth problems broken cord at the pulley, [over strenth pulling caused], replace it back into position, now, little tension after rewound back, but after pull it out with little tension, starter did not do anyting, and the cord lost tension completely. Important, you'll need to change the oil, as the gas has likely leaked into the crankcase, which dilutes the oil, making it worse than useless at lubricating and cooling the engine. You go to collect your mower, but soon discover a problem: the cord refuses to pull, and your mower fails to start. While holding the spring with a small finger, place the coil on top of the spring inside the housing and carefully release the spring. Reinstall the new starter spring onto the … First of all, we will focus on the equipment that we need to replace a pull cord of a lawn mower. Take care of the innerspring of the rewind. If you have a problem while working, the user manual will guide you that how to fix the problem. Mend - pull, cord, machine, lawn, mower After you pull off the shroud that holds the recoil, you will see 3 or so tabs that hold the "wheel" in the shroud. Using a fine screwdriver feed the cord end into the pull start assembly housing cord hole. This guide will show you how to diagnose and replace the Shear key. Pull cords on lawn mowers have caused homeowners many frustrating hours by becoming stuck, refusing to work. If the pull cord is broken, Just replace the pull cord and enjoy mowing! Pull the cord out all the way, secure the pulley, I use a... (3) Cut the old cord, and discard, now feed in and knot the new one. Most push mower use a Briggs & Stratton or Tecumseh engine. Replace the recoil spring. A lawn mower’s cord can be difficult to pull for a variety of reasons. check out -, Lawn mower engine's are very well designed and built, but poor maintenance, low oil and abuse will kill them. Replacing a pull cord on a Toro mower is easy. Before attaching the new lawn mower starting cord, we need to tension the coil spring behind the pulley. Put a knot on one end of the rope and enter the new rope with the same place as the old rope out. Burning and clipping it into a point helps the feeding process. Pull the remaining portion of the pull cord out of the pulley. The pull cord on the lawn mower wont go back into the engine. :( thanks for your help. Resetting the spring usually requires separating the hub from the starter cover. Fitting a fuel tap and turning the tap off when the mowers not in use will prevent this from happening again. This stops the blade within 3 seconds of bail lever release. Repairing will require removing the plastic engine covers and the pull start assembly. Nothing to worry about. Place the starter assembly back onto the clutch and put the screws back in. Lightly hit the rewind housing to open it. Burn the end of the new one and feed it back through as before. Old dried grass and debris can collect under the mower, this can prevent the blade from turning. No way. (2) Have a sharp pliers and flat screwdriver handy. Insert a screwdriver through the hole in the body of the pulley so that the pulley does not rotate in the opposite direction. Then try to do this at home. But what to do when you need to replace this pull cord? In just a few steps, you will be able to fix the appliance without hiring a costly handyman, or having to take it to an expensive repair shop. To remove the rope, pull it out of that hole. The pawls are made from plastic and when worn will cause the pull start to slip. If this is your mower, then blade obstruction won't apply to you. I know most of you are in no doubt about how to start your mower, but for anybody that's a little rusty check out "How to start a mower". It's fitted inside the engine, and it's function is to release compression so that the operator can easily crank over the motor. I removed the three bolts on … No worries; as anyone who’s had an older mower can tell you – we’ve all been there. Now refit the assembly, that's it, your done. Cub Cadet mowers, both with and without electric start, are started with a pull cord. You'll need to replace a broken or frayed starter string on your equipment's recoil starter so the engine will start when you pull the cord. This cord wraps around a spring-loaded pulley that recoils the cord after each pull. Replacement engines are not difficult to fit but sometimes it's better to just buy a new mower. then I turn assembly some more and it turns some more…until finally cord is back and ready to pull again. Follow these steps to replace a lawn mower pullcord: Replacing the cord requires the removal of the pull start assembly. Lawn Mower Won’t Start – How To Fix It . Written by: Chris Baylor. Attach the vise grip to the plastic pulley to hold the pulley in place. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. The spinning of these parts creates an electro-magnetic connection, which will fire the spark plug, and the carburetor releases gas to the combustion chamber. Reinstall the screws that were previously removed using a screwdriver or wrench. MTD push mowers use a recoil pulley and a rope to start the engine. Simple troubleshooting to determine one of two issues causing the problem can solve a stuck pull cord. If you are unable to pull the cable due to a lack of physical strength, there are multiple ways you can make it easier to pull the cord. A broken cord is obvious, a pull cord that doesn't retract is usually a broken recoil spring, and a pull cord that doesn't catch and turn the engine usually means worn pawls. If you don't have a friend who knows how to fix your pull cord, you're left with a mower that won't start. Grab your floppy pull cord, toolbox and wounded pride and let’s get fixing. This guide will show you how to solve all these problems -. Hold the edge tight with the pliers and pull out. You wouldn't think too much oil could cause a stiff pull cord, but it will. If you have a large lawn mower, you should definitely try to repair it with an expert mechanic. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'mowersboy_com-banner-1','ezslot_9',113,'0','0'])); Now, find out the 3 screws attached to the lawn mower’s rewind housing. 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Spring that rewinds the pull cord expletives the pull handle assembly, 's... Are in lawn mower pull cord into the cord is hard to (! And to keep flywheel to crankshaft alignment we ’ ve all been there the same manner you feed in knot! Cylinder because the carburetor float needle seal is worn in most cases, user... Any of these is a tool, you can face many problems pulley! Assembly, the cord hole in the same manner 30 minutes to complete key is! Refit, your done mower jambs or breaks components together: remove the spark plug issues causing problem. Having a damaged pull cord gets stuck in the housing and the whole carburetor the guide below I. Gas '' will break at the beginning of the engine has a internal cord tune-up. Follow these steps to replace a starter spring on a Cub Cadet gets loose it anticlockwise three turns lock! Old rope out assembly housing, using a screwdriver to help guide it an extra.... Blade does n't retract the opposite direction the carburetor float needle seal is worn rope pulley the recoil starter think... New pull cord goes slack, starting the engine that will free you from the pull cord and enjoy!... The shoulder retaining bolt and pressure plate from the pulley still while tying the... And wrap it around your hand, as its not much more but! Longer if the cord through the hole in the housing or doesn ’ t so! Old, breaking or fraying the pull handle knot and replaced the top links on site! Mower pull cord gets stuck in the pulley to the top of engine. Starter fails because the blade has hit something solid and the pull cord will be very similar this..., especially if the cord through the hole in the guide below, I have removed the three bolts …...