Craftsman briggs and stratton lawn mower pull cord replacement

Your lawn mower may be tuned up and ready to go, but you won't be cutting any grass if the pull cord is broken. It's only a minor setback, though, because the cord isn't difficult to replace, especially if the lawnmower has a Briggs & Stratton engine, as many do. Before you begin the procedure for replacing the cord, however, the manufacturer wants you to know that the spring is under tension and can pop free when you remove the starter housing. You could be injured if this happens, so you must remove the housing and wind the cord carefully.

Tip

Before beginning disassembly, prepare a place for the screws to keep them organized and avoid losing any.

Download the owner's manual from the manufacturer's website and keep it handy so you can consult it if you get stuck.

Changing the Pull Cord on a Briggs & Stratton Engine

1. 1.

   Disconnect the spark plug so that the engine can't start while you're working.

2. 2.

   Unscrew the decorative shroud that covers the motor housing. There are usually four hex-head screws that are easy to remove with a hex-head bit and a drill or ratcheting driver.

3. 3.

   Locate and remove the three screws holding the gas tank to the starter housing and move the tank out of the way, instructs Garden Tool Expert. You don't need to disconnect the fuel line or empty the gas tank. Remove the single screw holding the oil dipstick and set the dipstick aside.

4. 4.

   Find the four screws holding the starting housing to the engine, remove them and lift the housing off the engine. Turn it over to reveal the starting coil and pull out the old cord.

5. 5.

   Prepare a new length of identical cord by cutting it to the correct length – which depends on your lawnmower model – and fusing the ends by heating them and rolling them in your fingers. Feed one end through the starter handle and tie a single knot to hold the handle onto the cord.

6. 6.

   Wind the starting coil through six to seven complete rotations, advises Ben Huttash, and then insert a screwdriver in the coil and at the top of the housing to keep the coil from unwinding. Line up the hole in the coil hub with the one on the housing.

7. 7.

   Feed the cord through the hole in the housing and the one in the coil hub and tie a single knot in the end. Pull on the cord to give it tension, and then remove the screwdriver and let the coil slowly rewind. There should be enough tension to bring the handle flush with the housing.

8. 8.

   Set the housing back on the engine and replace the screws to hold it. Replace the dipstick, gas tank and motor shroud in the same way. If there's a bracket on the handle for the cord, pull the handle back to the bracket, fit it in and tighten the bracket with a wrench.

   Things You Will Need

   • Hex-head screwdriver bit

   • Drill or ratcheting driver

   • Screwdriver

   • Replacement cord

   Warning

   After feeding in the new cord and tying it off, avoid letting the coil rewind quickly. It could pop off its pivot and release the spring, which could cut you as it unwinds.

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