Skip to main content

Don’t Give Up! The Secrete to Fixing a Lawnmower Pull Cord

How to Fix a Lawnmower Pull Cord

Few things are more frustrating than going to cut the grass or clear your driveway of snow and ending up with the starter cord in your hand. Eventually, it happens to everyone. When it does, check out this video on how to fix a lawnmower pull cord.

video
play-sharp-fill

Steps for fixing a lawnmower pull cord

1) Remove the recoil

First, remove the recoil from the engine. Most are held in place with three to five bolts. After removing the recoil, remove the broken cord.

2) Measure and cut the old cord

Next, measure the old pull cord. Add about four inches to the overall length to account for the knots you need to tie on either end. Add additional length as needed if the cord broke farther from the handle.

Most of the time, however, the cord will break at the handle. In this case, you can simply reuse the existing cord. However, consider upgrading to a high-quality nylon cord for added durability.

Cut the rope to the appropriate length. Then, use a lighter to melt the ends. This seals the fibers and makes it much easier to thread the cord.

But the best seller is the ASE – Commercial 10W-30 which also qualifies as a SAE-30 weight. Available in Quarts, Gallons, cases and drums. It has all the components deleted from the automotive motor oils. No emission systems allows an oil more robust for these small sumps!

3) Tie on the handle

Remove the old lawnmower pull cord from the handle, feed through the new cord and tie a simple knot. Make sure the knot is nice and tight. Pull it back through the handle to help tighten the knot.

4) Load the recoil spring

The next thing you’re going to do is load the recoil spring. Turn the recoil in the direction that causes the engagement lugs to protrude. The engagement lugs connect the recoil to the engine and spin the flywheel.

Continue turning the recoil, making sure to apply enough pressure to prevent the spring from releasing and bloodying your knuckles.

Once you feel full tension on the spring, locate the hole on the pulley through which the starter cord threads. Align it with the outside hole on the recoil body.

5) Thread the new pull cord

With the two holes aligned, thread the new cord through about 12 inches. Make sure the cord isn’t tangled and then slowly release pressure on the recoil, letting it wind the cord for you until the handle is sitting against the recoil.

Next, tie a knot on the end of the cord. Pull the handle until the knot you just tied locks into place in the recoil pulley. Slowly let the cord retract.

6) Reattach the recoil to the engine

Finally, attach the recoil to the engine and you’re done. You just fixed your lawnmower pull cord.

What if the cord is too long?

You don’t have to go back and do everything over. Mark with a Sharpie where the cord meets the recoil. That’s where the handle should be.

Pull the cord out, keeping tension on the recoil. Make a loose knot near the recoil.

This provides slack to make a new knot where you made your mark earlier. Tie a good, tight knot and pull the cord back out, again keeping some pressure on the recoil so it doesn’t snap back. Untie the temporary knot you made earlier.

That’s how you fix a lawnmower pull cord. You’re ready to get back to cutting the lawn or blowing snow.

And for our Local customers, thank you for supporting our local store and local business!! We love Omaha our home town!

Troubleshooting a String Trimmer that has Lost Power

  Troubleshooting a String Trimmer that has Lost Power

A few simple maintenance practices can help restore the performance of a faulty string trimmer (Weed Eater).

Troubleshooting a String Trimmer

Check the Age of the Fuel

Today’s ethanol-containing gasoline can break down in relatively short time periods. If your blended fuel supply is more than two or three weeks old, blend a new batch of fuel. AMSOIL Saber Pro now features an additional fuel stabilizer to help offset these effects.

Check Air Filter Condition

A clogged air filter prevents the engine from receiving sufficient air to operate properly. Before removing the air filter, brush away loose debris from around the filter cover and filter element. Tap the filter on a tabletop or the palm of your hand to dislodge any dirt or debris. If you use compressed air, make sure you direct air through the filter from the inside to avoid lodging debris deeper in the filter. Avoid washing the filter as this can collapse its micro-fine structure. If cleaning doesn’t remove debris, replace the filter with the appropriate part recommended by the trimmer manufacturer.

Check the Spark Plug

Spark plug fouling occurs when oil, carbon or other foreign substances coat the tip of the plug and interfere with normal firing. Too much oil in the gasoline, inferior oil, a dirty air filter and/or continued operation at less than full throttle will eventually cause spark plug fouling. Replace the spark plug with a new one recommended by the trimmer manufacturer.

If a new plug is not immediately available, remove the plug and clean all carbon and oil deposits from the plug tip. Set the gap according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and reinstall the plug.

Clean the Exhaust Spark Arrestor Screen

On many trimmers, a small screen covers the exhaust outlet and prevents sparks from exiting the muffler and potentially starting a wildfire. For this reason, trimmers should not be operated if the screen is missing, punctured or disintegrating.

As with plug fouling, too much oil in the gasoline, inferior oil, a dirty air filter and/or continued operation at less than full throttle will plug the screen with carbon deposits. This prevents exhaust gas flow, which leads to power loss. To fix the problem, remove the spark arrestor screen and inspect it for plugging. If plugged, either replace it with the appropriate part recommended by the trimmer manufacturer or clean it.

To clean the spark arrestor screen, spray it with AMSOIL Power Foam® to soften the deposits before cleaning the screen with an abrasive pad. Reinstall the screen and test the weed wacker.

If these attempts to restore power fail, take the trimmer to your servicing dealer.

Use High-Quality Oil to Help Avoid Power Loss

Using a high-quality two-stroke oil with excellent detergency can help avoid many of the problems listed here. Two-stroke oils that burn cleanly help reduce plug fouling and spark arrestor screen deposits. AMSOIL SABER® Professional Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil withstands high heat and stress to protect handheld equipment engines against wear and harmful deposits. It can be mixed at conventional mix ratios (32:1, 40:1, 50:1) or the SABER Ratio (80:1, 100:1), offering the convenience of one mix ratio for all applications.

Just by using the AMSOIL 2-cycle oils you will have the last laugh when you first bring out your trimmers and yard tools and they start right away. Still after making the suggestion to your other Sioux Falls neighbors they will insist their method is better and struggle with starting and a un-necessary cloud of smoke. That’s right folks, AMSOIL’s Saber is practically smokeless and we get praise on its lack of foul order just as we do with our other 2-stroke oils for powerports.
Take care of your yard equipment and trust AMSOIL for your lubricants and also checkout our award winning fuel treatment designed for small engines – AMSOIL Quickshot – cleans, prevents fuel issues, stabilizes (non 2-cycle too) fuel and prevents the effects of ethanol.

Find all AMSOIL Saber PRO 2-cycle products and bottle sizes in our local Sioux Falls store
Synthetic Warehouse
4610 W. 12th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
402-933-3902

 

*All trademarked images are the property of their respective owners and may be registered marks in some countries. No affiliation or endorsement claim, express or implied, is made by their use. All products advertised here are AMSOIL-engineered for use in the applications shown.

weedeater

Premium Protection for Lawn and Landscape Equipment

Lawn and Landscape Equipment manufactures make Equipment – AMSOIL makes the Lubricants to make them Last Longer

Premium AMSOIL synthetic lubricants help lawn and landscape professionals succeed by preserving the power of their equipment and extending equipment life, allowing them to work more efficiently and save money. Extensive equipment testing demonstrates the superior protection and performance provided by AMSOIL SABER® Professional Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil (ATP) and Formula 4-Stroke® 10W-30/SAE 30 Synthetic Small Engine Oil (ASE).

Depend on AMSOIL for the premium value and performance for your equipment. OEM’s who make the best equipment are not in the business of making oils specific to their needs. Brand labeled aftermarket lubricant & maintenance products all have a catch. They must be profitable and to have application and brand specific blends can become quite costly so they are generally made with base oils which do a ‘OK’ job as long as the use is under normal stress. AMSOIL not only builds oils to exceed even the highest commercial stresses but they use only the premium base oils and additives packages available which are market specific. So the operator can have a product not only made for their equipment but will be certain it will outlast the normal expected life and them some. AND know that the AMSOIL product will even go the distance when unforeseen factors may normally render the end of the equipment life whether that be in storage, abuse or lack of maintenance.  AMSOIL Synthetics have you covered.

100:1 two cycle oil

Two-Stroke Power Equipment Testing

Carbon buildup severely affects the performance of two-stroke lawn care equipment, causing stuck rings and plugged exhaust ports and screens. The end result is power loss, smoke, rough running and hard-starting that frustrates workers, increases the need for equipment maintenance, contributes to early equipment failure and hinders the ability to efficiently and profitably deliver professional-looking lawns and grounds.

Outstanding Protection for Two-Stroke Power Equipment

Formulated with top-grade synthetic base oils, super-high lubricity and concentrated active cleaning agents, AMSOIL SABER® Professional Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil (ATP) effectively combats carbon buildup, providing outstanding protection and peak performance for the life of the equipment, keeping it on the job and contributing to the bottom line.

Preventing Stuck Rings

lawn1Following 300 hours of professional-use testing in Stihl* string trimmers at the manufacturer mix ratio of 50:1, SABER Professional kept pistons and rings virtually free of carbon and wear (see the picture on the left), while use of a leading oil brand caused significant carbon buildup around the ring area (see the picture on the right). This engine is nearing the failure point.

Fighting Exhaust-Port Plugging

After 300 hours of simulated severe use compare exhaust ports on this 2-cycle engineAfter 300 hours of simulated severe use while running SABER Professional, the exhaust-port on the left exhibited virtually no signs of blocking. In contrast, after 300 hours of simulated severe use while running a leading oil brand, the exhaust port on the right exhibited severe exhaust-port blocking. This engine barely idled at the end of the 300-hour test.

Preventing Spark Arrestor Screen Plugging

Using SABER Professional, the screen on the left did not require cleaning following 300 hours of severe-service testing.Exhaust gases flow through the spark arrestor screen (located directly on the muffler), which is prone to plugging. Using SABER Professional, the screen on the left did not require cleaning following 300 hours of severe-service testing. In contrast, using a leading oil brand, the screen on the right plugged after only 45 hours of runtime and required repeated cleaning throughout the test.

Four-Stroke Equipment Testing

Zero-turn mowers face high ambient temperatures that accelerate oil breakdown, leading to varnish and carbon deposits that stick rings and exhaust valves. This results in compression and power loss, smoke, increased maintenance and early equipment failure, all of which hinder efficiency and profitability.

Average SAE-30 oil depositsOutstanding Protection for Zero-Turns and Other Four-Stroke Equipment

Formulated with low-volatility synthetic base oils, a heat-stable additive system and concentrated carbon cleaners, AMSOIL Formula 4-Stroke® Synthetic Small Engine Oil (ASE) effectively resists oil breakdown and damaging deposits, providing outstanding protection and peak performance for the life of the equipment, maximizing productivity.

Preventing Exhaust Valve Sticking

Following 125 hours of severe-service testing in a Honda* 5 HP engine, Formula 4-Stroke Synthetic Small Engine Oil kept the valve guides in the engine pictured above left clean and functional. In contrast, using a leading oil brand, the engine pictured below left failed due to exhaust valve sticking. During engine dis-assembly, heavy deposits prevented test administrators from removing the valve.

Fighting Carbon Buildup

Pistons and rings virtually free of carbon and wear. Keeping piston ring and land areas clean is critical to maintaining the power and performance of zero-turn mowers. Following 500 hours of severe-service testing in the Kawasaki* FX 730 V engine, Formula 4-Stroke Synthetic Small Engine Oil kept pistons and rings virtually free of carbon and wear.

Sioux Falls AMSOIL – The Synthetic Warehouse – your lawn equipment lubricant HQ

We keep several products for your home lawn equipment and commercial enterprise. 2-cycle, 4-stroke, hydraulic oils, oils for hydro-static systems, water resistant grease, fuel and ethanol additives (stabilizer, intake “power Foam” cleaner, diesel fuel concentrate), tractor, skidsteer, bar and chain oils and more. Come in to Sioux Falls’s #1 Synthetic Oil Superstore and find something for all your equipment or just pop in for our informative color catalog!
Call anytime with tech questions at 800-579-0580 or the local store 402-933-3902.
We are at 4610 W. 12th St right across the street from the QT Fuel Stop and