So you’re wondering exactly how to replace a pull cord on a Lawnmower. No worries; anyone with an old lawnmower can tell you they’ve experienced the same repair issue.
The mower won’t start, so you yank and yank on the pull cord without success; after 15 minutes of pulling (and a few expletives :), the pull cord on the mower jams or breaks completely.
Unless your mower is an electric model or less than three years old, breaking or fraying the pull cord on a mower is fairly common. However, repairing or learning how to replace a pull cord on a mower does require a bit of general knowledge.
You need to know how the Pull Cord assembly is made, how it operates, and why you’re here: Which is “How to replace the pull cord on a lawnmower.”
Parts of a Lawnmower Pull Cord Assembly:
● Starter Pull Rope.
● Handle.
● Recoil spring.
● Pulley.
Knowing the name of each pull cord component should make it easier as you go through this guide and help you understand the role of each part.
When To Replace Pull Cord on LawnMower
When the Mower Pull cord won’t retract back into the Housing
When the Mower Pull cord is frayed or broken.
When the Mower Pull cord is stuck and won’t release.
How to Troubleshoot Pull Cord on a Lawnmower
Step 1 – Watch This short video that shows you step-by-step instructions on replacing the pull cord on a lawnmower.
Pull cord replacement Video – Similar to the Steps Below:
Troubleshoot Broken Pull Cord On Mower
Step 1: Examine the Pull Cord Assembly
A) Gather the right tools:
Needle-nose pliers.
Phillips or 4-in-1 screwdriver.
Nut driver
New Pull Cord (with correct length and thickness).
New lawn mower spark plug to match your mower (suggested)
Fresh gasoline on hand – to start the mower after repair.
Lighter or Matches (don’t panic, we’ll explain!).
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B) Determine What Parts Need Replacement
1. First, you must identify whether the Recoil Spring is in good condition and working correctly. If the recoil spring appears damaged or has no tension to recoil back to its origination point, it’s highly recommended that you get rid of that one and buy a new spring and pulley assembly.
It’s much easier than repairing or replacing just that recoil spring. However, if you’re in a hurry and want to repair the coil spring at home, see our suggested video below.
2. If the Recoil Spring appears to have the correct action and returns to its coil efficiently, you probably need a new Pull Cord Rope, which is relatively inexpensive. Some are sold with the handle, some without, but the main thing is making sure the new pull cord is the same thickness as the one you’re replacing.
3. Purchasing the correct pull cord thickness is a critical step. Amazon sells the most common pull cord with a handle included here: Briggs & Stratton pull cord.
A pull cord that’s too thick won’t fit properly, and a thin one will work OK but will have a shorter life. For this fix, match up the pull cord you remove with the one you buy.
How to Replace Worn-Out Pull Cord on a Lawnmower
Step-By-Step Instructions to Replace Pull Cord
1. Now, it’s time to pull the cord out of its assembly, ensuring the pulley is held firmly with your thumb. For this Step: Don’t let it retract, or you will have to start over.
2. Using both hands, gently wind the pulley assembly counter-clockwise gradually until the tension tells you it’s fully wound. Keeping a firm grasp, slowly let the pulley release until the rope hole on the pulley lines up with the hole in the housing.
Then, Insert a screwdriver to hold the spool firmly in place.
3. Measure the new pull cord against the old one to ensure you have the correct length. Do not remove the old one just yet.
4. Remember the lighter method mentioned above? Now it’s time to use it! Melting the end of the cord slowly with a lighter makes it easier to fit through both holes in the housing and in the handle. You could also push it through using your screwdriver.
5. It’s now safe to cut the knot off the cord attached to the pulley assembly and remove it. Insert the new pull cord, and double knot it to ensure it’s well secured.
6. Holding the wound pulley firmly, remove the screwdriver to unlock the pulley.
Slowly release the pulley to allow the new pull rope to retract into the pulley, secure it with your hand, and STOP when you have 18” of cord left to retract and tie it into a temporary knot. This will hold tension on the recoil spring.
7. Tie a double knot at the end of the “pull cord handle.”
8. Remove the temporary knot from the 18” of extra cord, and slowly let the recoil spring retract the extra cord. Test the Pull Cord assembly with a light pull and hold the handle to allow the pulley to retract slowly.
9. Place the starter assembly back on the lawnmower, fasten it, and insert the Pull Rope and Handle back in place.
10. Test the pull cord assembly with fresh gasoline and a new spark plug – by starting the mower, and off you go!
Some quick and essential tips:
Temporarily remove the spark plug on your mower before working on it.
After removing the pull cord assembly from the lawnmower, test it by pulling out the cord to see if it retracts back properly when recoiling.
Test the pull cord assembly after repair, after fixing each part, and before you reinstall it on the mower.
The problem could be a damaged spring. In that case, you might need to remove the pulley from the assembly.
Although most pulleys don’t require removal, it may depend on the quality of your lawnmower. It’s recommended to buy a new spring with the starter pulley (one unit) and install it.
Always have a small box or container handy for the small parts needing removal to avoid losing them.
How to Repair a Broken “Recoil Spring” on a Mower
Note: If you are miles away from a Hardware store and want to Repair a Recoil Starter Spring at home right now, You can usually do it at home.
The process is tricky, so we’ve provided this short video below to walk you through that repair.
Repairing Recoil Spring on Mower Video:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmo6oYOJJ4U]
3 Reasons Lawn Mower Won’t Start – & How To Fix It
1) The Pull Cord is Stuck
Check the reason behind it stopping to retract. Is it stuck, or did it just stop retracting?
If the pull cord is stuck, remove the entire assembly and follow the steps above to remove and, if necessary, replace the pull cord.
2) The Pull Cord Won’t Retract
If the pull cord isn’t retracting, the problem is most likely the Recoil Spring. Follow our steps or the YouTube video above to learn how to rewind a lawn mower recoil spring.
3) The Pull Cord Works Fine – But the Engine Won’t Start
Assuming you don’t have any clog in your fuel line, the problem could be that you’re using old gasoline (last year’s gas) or a bad spark plug. That’s easy to flush out the bad gas and replace it with a new sparkplug. Both are inexpensive solutions.
Remember, there are only two things required to start a combustible engine. Gas and spark.
Replace each of those two items together or one at a time, then try to start the mower again.
Conclusion
While the step-by-step instructions we’ve provided may seem intimidating, changing the pull cord on a mower or small engine is relatively easy for a typical homeowner. The average time spent on this project is about 30 minutes.
Watch the videos provided before getting started; they are a great visual tutorial and might save you time and frustration!
Good luck with your repair, and thanks again for visiting BestHomeGear.Com
References & Additional Reading:
- How to safely use a lawnmower around children – Healthychildren.org
- Mowing and Mower Safety – University of Minnesota
- Have you wondered if you can cut wet grass with an electric mower- Ehow.com
- What are the Best Pressure Washers Under $300? –Besthomegear.com
