Does anyone know what to do when your lawn mower cord gets stuck? This is a Poulan Briggs and Stratton. We use it to feed much of our livestock, so I need it to be down the least amount of time possible.

-- Lynn (johnnypfc@yahoo.com), June 29, 2001

Answers

Lynn:

Try this: Look at the housing which houses the starter cord. It should be held on by either three or four bolts or screws. Take it off and turn it upside down to where you can see the cord pulley. Try to determine where it has jammed and if you can free it. If you can't then you will probably have to take the pulley off. Normally it is held on by a couple of metal ears which can be pried up to release the pulley. Remove it very carefully as there will be a spring underneath. Now do what you need to to get the cord operating properly, as it may require cutting the old cord off of the pulley if it is really jammed. When you reassemble it, you will need to reattached the pulley to the spring, then wind it up without the cord on. While securely holding the pulley, insert one end of the new cord and make your knot. (If the cord is frayed you might as well go with a new length of cord.) Then slowly release the pulley so it winds up cord on it. Give it several test pulls to be sure you are satisified as to the length of cord on the pulley. Now push the ears back down to where they are just clear of the pulley. Pull out a bit of cord, put on the old handle and make the knots to secure it.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), June 29, 2001.

First look to make sure the blade of the mower is not physically jammed... i.e. buildup, mud, rope wound around the shaft, ect.

cheers,

-- Max (Maxel@inwindsor.com), June 29, 2001.

Ok the cord is just fine. There is a coiled wire under the cord that sprang out when I opened it. I put everything back together twice recoling the wire and reattaching it. Now the cord pulls out with no tension and stays out. Any ideas?

Ok, and if not on that we do have a RIDING MOWER I can use but it has no bag. Can I get a bag for it?

If anyone calls I will be out trying to attach a bag to a mower! Lynn

-- Lynn (johnnypfc@yahoo.com), June 29, 2001.

Ken, I just reread your post, I think the heat is getting to me! I will work with that spring some more and coil it up as if a new cord. Lynn

-- Lynn (Johnnypfc@yahoo.com), June 29, 2001.

Lynn, The problem is in the spring. There is a knack for repairing those recoilers, and is one thing that I never could do. If you get real desperate, and have another like Briggs sitting around, simply swap the housings. The housing is the metal part that covers the cord and spring mechanism. I used to mow alot, and swapped them all the time. I used to keep old Briggs motors around just for the parts; you would be surprised what will interchange!!!!!

-- clove (clovis@yahoo.com), June 29, 2001.

I am resting in the house (obviously) right now totally agreeing with you about that spring. I can't get it to recoil right! I can get it in the right places then when I turn it upside down it uncoils again! Any ideas?

We actually threw away 2 mowers when we moved in here, I wish we had not. I REALLY like the push mower better! When I opened the housing it was actually the spring had unsprung not the cord. Hope I am not repeating myself. Anyway maybe my husband will have time to look at it.

Can a person buy those springs new?

-- Lynn (johnnypfc@yahoo.com), June 29, 2001.

Lynn, I believe the trick with the spring is to assemble it with the spring slight wound up then when you release things the spring will draw the cord back into the housing.

Generally speaking, anything that involves a spring and a piece of string will cause you frustration but can be mastered.

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), June 29, 2001.

you need to install the spring with the rope pulled out entirely. once the spring is installed properly, the force will wind the rope around the pulley itself.

pull the rope out all the way, hold it to keep it from winding back around the pulley as you install the spring(vise grips or c clamp on the rope at the entry hole is one way to hold it out and free up a hand. install the spring, winding it against the force as you do(needle nose pliers help alot). if properly installed, once you release the rope it'll be pulled into the housing and wound around the pulley

-- nobody (nothing@nowhere.no), June 29, 2001.

I had the same problem. Once I rewound my mower, I stopped pulling the cord so far. When you pull the cord to start the engine, don't pull it all the way. Just pull it about 3/4 of the way out. This worked for me and I never had the problem again. Hope it works for you. Eagle

-- eagle (eagle@alpha1.net), June 29, 2001.

My husband did it! He did an excellant job! The only thing we did not think to put more grease on the spring, so I may have to go back and oil it. I am not going to open that spring up for any reason, some how I will go around that! Thank you a thousand times thank you! Oh yes, and I will go easier on the pull cord! Lynn

-- Lynn (johnnypfc@yahoo.com), June 29, 2001.

Lynn, A person can buy any part for a Briggs and Stratton. They are easy to work on, and not not too many things can go wrong with them. Keep your eyes peeled for a junk Briggs engine, maybe on heavy trash day in your town, take off all the parts that will come off with a wrench or screwdriver, put them in a box in the shed, and you will automatically have a source for parts.

I have often found that when parts are needed for a Briggs, and maybe not in your case, the engine has just about worn itself out, and used parts are the way to go.

The following parts are always useful: set of wheels, carburator and gas tank assembly (a high wear item), the retractor assembly, the air cleaner and screw (I have lost a bunch of them), a shear pin, a muffler if you can get the old one out, oil fill cap, gas cap, blade, etc.

A very resourceful person may be able to go the rest of their life without ever buying a mower, if you have the ability to repair what others may set out for the trash.

Remember, if you keep the oil filled and changed, keep it inside and out of the moisture, it will last a long time.

-- clovis (clovis97@Yahoo.com), June 30, 2001.