Recoil Assembly Won’t Come Off

[Demerest]

My recoil rope won’t retract so I removed the three bolts to take the recoil assembly off and something is causing it to get hung up. I have tried everything and can’t get it to come off. Any ideas?

 

[sparkwizard]

What type engine? Pictures?
Some don't come off of the shroud, so the entire shroud needs to come off to replace the cord.

 

[Demerest]

Here it is

 

[Demerest]

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[Triley41395]

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Is there anything under that homelight sticker

 

[Demerest]

Nope. Something is hung up on that thing that is bolted to the flywheel that engages with the recoil when I pull it.

 

[sparkwizard]

That rope is retracted. Can you pull it and get the engine to turn a little bit? That might release it.

 

[sparkwizard]

After looking at your pictures, I need to ask...how long has it been sitting?

I would get a piece of wood to cover that Homelite sticker, and I would give it a few sharp smacks with a hammer.

 

[Mr. Pink]

Can you pull it and get the engine to turn a little bit? That might release it.

 

[Demerest]

I have tried pretty much everything. I have removed lots of recoils but not Predators. I thought there was maybe some trick to it. Even the internet yielded nothing. It seems like the recoil spring is hung up inside. The recoil assembly is completely free, just won’t come off. The engine ran recently so nothing is seized.

 

[sparkwizard]

Can you pull the rope without connecting to the engine starter cup? Have you smacked the recoil assembly? It seems like one of the fingers that swings out to contact the cup is stuck out. Smack it again.

 

[Demerest]

The spring is engaged in the cup all the time. When I pull the cord it turns the engine over. When I let go the whole recoil assembly spins around and winds the cord up again.

 

[sparkwizard]

I'm looking at a spare one I had. The little fingers that swing out to engage the cup will not retract unless the recoil is flat on the shroud.
I would reinstall the bolts, then hit it with an old boot. If that doesn't work, kick it again. One of the fingers is engaging the cup.

 

[Demerest]

That is just what I suspected. I could see that it looked like one of the fingers was caught and hanging it up. I will give it a try.

 

[Demerest]

Well, it worked. Had a part fall out when I got it off. Maybe it’s time to replace it.

 

[sparkwizard]

Take that bolt out of the middle. DO NOT LIFT THE BLACK PLASTIC PIECE HOLDING THE ROPE AND THE SPRING!!!
Remove the metal piece and check it out.

 

[Demerest]

Success! The round metal piece was bent and deformed. It looked like maybe the previous owner had tinkered with it for some reason. I hammered it back in shape, reinstalled the part that fell out and it works great. Thanks to all that contributed.

 

[sparkwizard]

Good Job!