If you own a walk-behind or a push mower, chances are you need to use a pull cord in order to start it up. The friction created by trying to get your mower to start can cause the cord to break or deteriorate over time, but it is a problem that can be quickly fixed.
Begin by disconnecting the spark plug, as you don’t want to accidentally turn your mower on whilst you are working on it. You will then need to loosen the bolts that secure the starter shroud to the top of the mower’s engine (there’s usually 3). Lift the starter shroud off of the mower and place it, upside down, on a flat surface.
Holding the mower’s starter shroud with one hand, turn the centre pulley counter-clockwise until it refuses to turn any further. Use a pair of wide-jaw vise-grip pliers to hold the pulley in place. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to take hold of the knot in the hole near the centre of the pulley and pull out the damaged section of mower pull cord.
Take the new pull cord and insert the end (ensuring that the handle is on the opposite end) into the hole in the mower’s starter shroud. Guide the end of this cord into the pulley and towards the knot hole; when you see it in the hole, use the needle nose pliers to take hold of it and pull out about a foot of cord. Tie the end of the cord into a knot, singeing the end with a flame to stop is from fraying.
Pull on the cord from the outside of the mowers starter shroud until the knot is seated firmly into the knot hole. Remove the vise-grip pliers, allowing the cord to recoil around the pulley. Replace the starter shroud onto the engine and retighten the bolts that secured it to the mower. Once you have reconnected the start plug, your mower’s pull cord should be good as new and ready to go once more.
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