Managed to snap the pull-cord on my petrol lawnmower. I've replaced the cord but now it doesn't retract after pulling. I've obviously missed something during reassembly. For reference it's a Power Devil mower with Tecumseh motor.

Any ideas?

If it's anything like the pull start on an old RC car I had, there is a flat steel spring inside that will need pre-winding before you assemble it. If you have ever taken a tape measure apart you will know what I mean.

It can be a bit of a game getting the pre tension right, but trial and error will sort it.

HTH :thumb:

Sound's like the return spring need's tightening up,take it off again undo the knot and thread the cord back through the housing,turn the cord pully round several time's to tighten the spring behind. thread the cord back through housing and re-knot onto rubber hand grip.

Beat me to it Chip :D

Aargh, took it all apart in order to follow your advice and found that the spring was in 3 peices :mad:

I've only used the bloody thing 3 or 4 times since I bought it but as it was only £80 new it's not going to be worth fixing it.

Ah well, that'll teach me to buy cheap crap.

Leave off the cover and just wrap the cord around when you want to start it. Or make a new spring; MIG Welding wire and a pencil ;)

My £80 petrol mower is over 7 years old now, still on the original spark plug; just need the water draining from the carb every season (crappy modern-day petrol) and a coat of hamerite on the underside of the deck every 2 years to stop it rusting.

The Tecumseh engine it uses is basically an almost indentical copy of a Briggs and statton engine :lol1:

Look in Yell.com the UK's local search engine - search for UK businesses (http://www.yell.com) for lawnmower repairs, give 'em a ring and they proabably keep spares. Cheaper than a new motor.

For the record, Tecumseh aren't that bad...........