Was wondering what the plug(I ASSUME ITS A PLUG) at the 12 o'clock position on the recoil starter housing.Mine is "painted"blue and maybe at a 45 degree outward angle
04 400 sp

 

This is strictly a bolt you remove to check timing marks on the flywheel. Had a couple people over the years add oil through this opening and wondered why it wouldn't run... I need to write a book(before I forget everything) on some of the things people have done that didn't have the foggiest idea what they were doing.

 

Well I did kind of think it was an inspection hole,but didnt know really for what,and do know enuf "NOT" to put oil in it,hard enuf keeping water out of it let alone put a liquid in on purpose.
As far as that book goes OPT,it would be a funny read!!!!!

 

LOL that's funny. Spit my coffee out.

Silicone your rope handle in place and no water will get in the recoil. Hard core Mud runners on the HighLifters forums even remove the pull rope recoil and plug the hole for good.
Relying on the snug fit of the rubber rope handle over the rope hole to kept the water and crud out does not work. Just your foot or a branch can knock the handle out of place.

If you do need the pull rope one day its not like silicone is super glue.

 

Never thought of the silicone trick,will have to give it a go,thanks guys

 

I just did the silicone trick last week to my 00 SP 500. Cleaned the inside of the opening with acetone and a q-tip before I filled it with permatex. Dont put much faith in the silicone. Mine now has a rubber cap with a hose clamp over the opening and its filled with silicone.

 

I like the hose clamp idea even better. Thanks for the idea.

I took my recoil off once to change my bendix drive and water and minnows spilled out. That's how good the handle worked on its own.

 

No prob. I stopped at the hardware store to find a rubber 5/8" outside diameter cap but they did not have any. I ended up using a small piece of rubber roofing (epdm).