starter rope on tecumseh engine?

How to remove the recoil starter assmbly

Dave Barrett
September 2010

Just replaced my rope, took 5 minutes once I found out how. Remove the recoil unit and place it housing down on your bench. Holding the pulley still, wind the housing clockwise until it stops (lots of turns, but it will stop). There is a small round notch on the outer edge of the pulley, back the pulley off until the notch aligns with the rope hole in the housing. Slide a screwdriver thru the pulley spokes and housing spokes to keep the pulley wound. Now feed the new rope from the outside into the rope hole in the housing. Continue feeding the rope into the round notch in the pulley, then tie a knot in the end of the rope so the rope can't go back thru the notch. Make sure the other end of the rope is thru the handle and knotted so it can't slip thru the handle. Now hold the pulley, remove the screwdriver, and slowly let the pulley retract. It will pull the rope into the housing until the handle seats in the rope hole. Re-install the recoil unit on your Tecumseh, and you're done!

Jim L.
March 2010

When installing new rope; first the recoil unit HAS to have the spring tension put back in so....rewind it until it is tight (with no rope tied to it), then lock it in place with something like a screwdriver stuck through it to hold the tension and then thread the new rope through the hole to the spool and tie it off securely. Then and and only then can you remove the screwdriver while holding the spool...then let the reel recoil and reinstall it on the flywheel with the self-tapping screws that were first removed.

Roy C.
December 2007

Depends on the model. Assuming vertical crank - remove any plastic covers/cowls if any. Some unbolt, some unclip. The bolts/screws are not hidden - if you cant find any, chances are you can gently lever it off. The recoil assembly will either be attached by 2 or 3 small self tappers, or it will simply be bolted to the top of the engine with 4 bolts. If there doesn't seem to be any way of detatching the recoil, you will have to remove the cowling. Remove fuel tank, Unbolt dipstick tube if fitted. Remove 4 bolts securing cowling to gain access to recoil pulley. Horizontal crank engines will be similar.

Phil Saunders
November 2007