Just takes good strong hands! I used to be able to do this ok,but not now. Best to wind this spring out side of the recoil(make as small a spring roll as possible! )then insert it down into the spring cavity,hook the bent end into the notch,then let go..Watch your fingers! The manual says the opposite,start the spring in the housing first and wrap it counter clock wise. You may be able to do it that way better,but I never could. Worst case scrnario,order a new spring,comes prewound and a wire around the spring(securing it) then you hook the spring in the notch,push the spring assembly down slowly which will push the holding wire up out of the way when the spring seats.Good luck any which way you do it..

 

This thing is going to kill me. i got the spring in by starting on the outside four more sets of hands would of helped. I guess i dont understand the rest of your directions. I have the rope in and a knot tied but everytime i get more then 5 turns ccw the recoil spring jumps out. is there any other way this dumb guy can understand it? without you coming to NJ to do it for me.

 

If the bottom of the plastic rope holder is ok,no broken plastic tabs,then you may have the spring backwards or the lip of the spring the wrong way in the holder and the recoil cover if the spring jumps while turning the rope holder..

 

i had that all correct. i found a sight that said wind it only 4 times but that wasnt enough so i cut about 7 inches off of the rope and wound it 5.5 times and its good to go. i will install it tomorrow in the day light. It would of been easier if the rope was not molded in to the handle but its working. Again thank you!

 

I usually wound em about 7 times with a std rope length,but shortening the rope can allow less pre winding. Glad you got it fixed. I hated it too if a main spring jumped out,just hard on the hands getting it back right.

 

Once the spring jumps is out some times it just easier to get a new spring.

I broke my rope once on a snowmobile . I just brought the whole recoil to the Polaris dealer (any small engine place would do). They replace the rope and installed it in 5 minutes for $12.
Best $12 I ever spent.

Recoils make me nuts, I just do not do enough of them.

 

Trust me, I did enough of them over the years. Even getting paid for it doesn't make you like the job any better.The more you do the more you hate working on them.. Learned real quick to stock up on springs,ratchets,ropes,rope reels.

 

I just put the cover on and it even works so I was shocked that it went well. The bottom bolt is a pita getting it out wasn't bad but getting it back in was tight. I removed the cotter pin from the foot brake pedal and slid it out a little and that made life easier. As far as the recoil spring I'm happy with one and done. Thanks again for all of the advice.