On Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:01:12 -0700, Jon Danniken wrote:

If you're really insistent, locate a diagram for that specific model, or pay
a few bucks and have a shop fix it for you.

I called Sears at 800-235-5878 who located the part for me in stock at a
local store. They have diagrams and prices for all the Sears Craftsman
parts at http://searspartsdirect.com so I could have ordered it through the
web also.

Interestingly, I took it apart and found what happened.

Apparently you pull the string and that rotates the single-piston
crankshaft directly; then, when the crankshaft spins on its own, two
counterweights fling out, disengaging the starter rope coil from spinning
at the same speed as the engine.

Something caused this disengaging mechanism to stop working, which melted
the plastic on the engaging mechanism, which froze the spring up when it
finally cooled.

End result: Extremely bad design in Craftsman gas weed whackers! I'll never
buy them again!