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#1
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
Pulled the Honda/Craftsman cord to start 'er up, and the cord has very
little tension on the return stroke. http://i.cubeupload.com/q5oXeb.jpg Pull stroke seems reasonably normal but the string won't rewind all the way. Leaves about a foot to a foot and a half loose. What makes it go tight? Springs? Pulled the cord, and the string doesn't go back. I can coax it back most of the way, but then when I pull again, it doesn't go back. Any debugging hints? |
#2
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
Danny D. wrote:
Pulled the Honda/Craftsman cord to start 'er up, and the cord has very little tension on the return stroke. http://i.cubeupload.com/q5oXeb.jpg Pull stroke seems reasonably normal but the string won't rewind all the way. Leaves about a foot to a foot and a half loose. What makes it go tight? Springs? Pulled the cord, and the string doesn't go back. I can coax it back most of the way, but then when I pull again, it doesn't go back. Any debugging hints? Yes, there's a spring, obviously. The idea (starting fresh) is to wind the spring up manually, hold it (tie it off) so you can attach the cord, and then let it reel in the cord to see whether the tension was appropriate. In your case, you obviously have the alternative choice to shorten the cord--but do it right and re-install the cord as suggested above. Probably a video of the process on youtube. Good luck! Bill |
#3
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Sun, 12 Mar 2017 22:06:44 -0400, Bill wrote:
Yes, there's a spring, obviously. The idea (starting fresh) is to wind the spring up manually, hold it (tie it off) so you can attach the cord, and then let it reel in the cord to see whether the tension was appropriate. In your case, you obviously have the alternative choice to shorten the cord--but do it right and re-install the cord as suggested above. Probably a video of the process on youtube. Good luck! It's the first pull of the season out here in California after lots of rain. The thing was outside (no shed ... gotta build a shed some day) all winter. Pulled it a hundred times, without it getting better (or worse). What would make the spring give up the ghost from sitting idle all winter? |
#4
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Mon, 13 Mar 2017 02:12:33 -0000 (UTC), "Danny D."
wrote: What would make the spring give up the ghost from sitting idle all winter? My guess is that even spring steel gets weak, Huckleberry. |
#5
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Sun, 12 Mar 2017 19:25:34 -0700, Oren wrote:
What would make the spring give up the ghost from sitting idle all winter? My guess is that even spring steel gets weak, Huckleberry. I just got back inside after using it to mow the lawn a bit. Even though I got it started, the cord was only half tight when the motor was running, and then pulling it again to restart whenever I stopped showed the same thing. So it's not really the motor that winds the string, although when the motor is running, the string is semi tighter. |
#6
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Mon, 13 Mar 2017 02:12:33 -0000 (UTC), "Danny D."
wrote: On Sun, 12 Mar 2017 22:06:44 -0400, Bill wrote: Yes, there's a spring, obviously. The idea (starting fresh) is to wind the spring up manually, hold it (tie it off) so you can attach the cord, and then let it reel in the cord to see whether the tension was appropriate. In your case, you obviously have the alternative choice to shorten the cord--but do it right and re-install the cord as suggested above. Probably a video of the process on youtube. Good luck! It's the first pull of the season out here in California after lots of rain. The thing was outside (no shed ... gotta build a shed some day) all winter. Pulled it a hundred times, without it getting better (or worse). What would make the spring give up the ghost from sitting idle all winter? RUST?. Try this before condeming the pring. Remove the spark plug and rotate the engine backwards. Does the rope wind in? If so the clutch id stiff. In either case the starter housing needs to come off. If just stiff youcan lubricate it. DO NOT shorten the rope!!! |
#7
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Sun, 12 Mar 2017 23:51:35 -0400, wrote:
RUST?. Try this before condeming the pring. Remove the spark plug and rotate the engine backwards. Does the rope wind in? If so the clutch id stiff. In either case the starter housing needs to come off. If just stiff youcan lubricate it. DO NOT shorten the rope!!! I just saw this, and I agree with you. http://i.cubeupload.com/EUxywq.jpg I can see rust on the end of the spring. I'll put some oil in there and work it back and forth to see if that helps. |
#8
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Mon, 13 Mar 2017 01:54:33 -0000 (UTC), "Danny D."
wrote: Pulled the Honda/Craftsman cord to start 'er up, and the cord has very little tension on the return stroke. http://i.cubeupload.com/q5oXeb.jpg Pull stroke seems reasonably normal but the string won't rewind all the way. Leaves about a foot to a foot and a half loose. What makes it go tight? Springs? Pulled the cord, and the string doesn't go back. I can coax it back most of the way, but then when I pull again, it doesn't go back. Any debugging hints? Cords stretch. the recoil spring weakens. Pull the cowling and fix both Huckleberry. |
#9
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On 3/12/17 8:54 PM, Danny D. wrote:
Pulled the Honda/Craftsman cord to start 'er up, and the cord has very little tension on the return stroke. http://i.cubeupload.com/q5oXeb.jpg Pull stroke seems reasonably normal but the string won't rewind all the way. Leaves about a foot to a foot and a half loose. What makes it go tight? Springs? Pulled the cord, and the string doesn't go back. I can coax it back most of the way, but then when I pull again, it doesn't go back. Any debugging hints? Maybe a good cleaning would help. Is the cord wet? Maybe it has expanded a bit. |
#10
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Sun, 12 Mar 2017 21:30:22 -0500, Dean Hoffman wrote:
Maybe a good cleaning would help. Is the cord wet? Maybe it has expanded a bit. Cord is dry as we've had days of dry weather, but I'll pull the cowling tomorrow and snap a few pictures. I'll also change the oil and dump the old gas out as it has been in there all winter outside. |
#11
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On 3/12/17 9:51 PM, Danny D. wrote:
On Sun, 12 Mar 2017 21:30:22 -0500, Dean Hoffman wrote: Maybe a good cleaning would help. Is the cord wet? Maybe it has expanded a bit. Cord is dry as we've had days of dry weather, but I'll pull the cowling tomorrow and snap a few pictures. I'll also change the oil and dump the old gas out as it has been in there all winter outside. There's a parts diagram he http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Honda/Lawn%20Mower/0/HR216%20SXA%20LAWN%20MOWER,%20JPN,%20VIN%23%20MACR-1000001/RECOIL%20STARTER/parts.html Or: http://alturl.com/fefnj I didn't look to see if it's the same brand as yours. It's intended just to show you how they're made. I think they're pretty much alike. |
#12
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Sun, 12 Mar 2017 22:05:17 -0500, Dean Hoffman wrote:
There's a parts diagram he http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Honda/Lawn%20Mower/0/HR216%20SXA%20LAWN%20MOWER,%20JPN,%20VIN%23%20MACR-1000001/RECOIL%20STARTER/parts.html Or: http://alturl.com/fefnj I didn't look to see if it's the same brand as yours. It's intended just to show you how they're made. I think they're pretty much alike. Thanks for that parts diagram where I can see the coiled spring (item #8) which is a sixteen-dollar part I can probably get at Sears. The sticker for the Craftsman number seems gone so I will have to dig for paperwork to find the right model. The lawn mower was bought at either OSH or Sears, probably OSH, around 2012 or so. Remaining stickers say it's a 161cm "Troy-Bilt" 21" self-propelled push mower with a Honda label on top (if that's not an oxymoron). |
#13
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On 3/12/17 10:30 PM, Danny D. wrote:
On Sun, 12 Mar 2017 22:05:17 -0500, Dean Hoffman wrote: There's a parts diagram he http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Honda/Lawn%20Mower/0/HR216%20SXA%20LAWN%20MOWER,%20JPN,%20VIN%23%20MACR-1000001/RECOIL%20STARTER/parts.html Or: http://alturl.com/fefnj I didn't look to see if it's the same brand as yours. It's intended just to show you how they're made. I think they're pretty much alike. Thanks for that parts diagram where I can see the coiled spring (item #8) which is a sixteen-dollar part I can probably get at Sears. The sticker for the Craftsman number seems gone so I will have to dig for paperwork to find the right model. Amazon and Ebay have the whole assemblies. |
#14
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Mon, 13 Mar 2017 03:30:20 -0000 (UTC), "Danny D."
wrote: On Sun, 12 Mar 2017 22:05:17 -0500, Dean Hoffman wrote: There's a parts diagram he http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Honda/Lawn%20Mower/0/HR216%20SXA%20LAWN%20MOWER,%20JPN,%20VIN%23%20MACR-1000001/RECOIL%20STARTER/parts.html Or: http://alturl.com/fefnj I didn't look to see if it's the same brand as yours. It's intended just to show you how they're made. I think they're pretty much alike. Thanks for that parts diagram where I can see the coiled spring (item #8) which is a sixteen-dollar part I can probably get at Sears. The sticker for the Craftsman number seems gone so I will have to dig for paperwork to find the right model. The lawn mower was bought at either OSH or Sears, probably OSH, around 2012 or so. Remaining stickers say it's a 161cm "Troy-Bilt" 21" self-propelled push mower with a Honda label on top (if that's not an oxymoron). TroyBuilt is now ( or has been) using Honda motors in place of Tecumseh on some models -Troy Bilt is made now by MTD |
#15
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Mon, 13 Mar 2017 01:54:33 -0000 (UTC), "Danny D."
wrote: Pulled the Honda/Craftsman cord to start 'er up, and the cord has very little tension on the return stroke. http://i.cubeupload.com/q5oXeb.jpg Pull stroke seems reasonably normal but the string won't rewind all the way. Leaves about a foot to a foot and a half loose. What makes it go tight? Springs? Pulled the cord, and the string doesn't go back. I can coax it back most of the way, but then when I pull again, it doesn't go back. Any debugging hints? The spring is likely broken.. Either that or the clutch is gummed up. |
#16
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
wrote in message ... On Mon, 13 Mar 2017 01:54:33 -0000 (UTC), "Danny D." wrote: Pulled the Honda/Craftsman cord to start 'er up, and the cord has very little tension on the return stroke. http://i.cubeupload.com/q5oXeb.jpg Pull stroke seems reasonably normal but the string won't rewind all the way. Leaves about a foot to a foot and a half loose. What makes it go tight? Springs? Pulled the cord, and the string doesn't go back. I can coax it back most of the way, but then when I pull again, it doesn't go back. Any debugging hints? The spring is likely broken.. Either that or the clutch is gummed up. When pulling the cord to start, do NOT pull the cord out to the very end of its travel. |
#17
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Mon, 13 Mar 2017 12:13:20 -0400, "Phil Kangas"
wrote: wrote in message .. . On Mon, 13 Mar 2017 01:54:33 -0000 (UTC), "Danny D." wrote: Pulled the Honda/Craftsman cord to start 'er up, and the cord has very little tension on the return stroke. http://i.cubeupload.com/q5oXeb.jpg Pull stroke seems reasonably normal but the string won't rewind all the way. Leaves about a foot to a foot and a half loose. What makes it go tight? Springs? Pulled the cord, and the string doesn't go back. I can coax it back most of the way, but then when I pull again, it doesn't go back. Any debugging hints? The spring is likely broken.. Either that or the clutch is gummed up. When pulling the cord to start, do NOT pull the cord out to the very end of its travel. Which is why I said DO NOT shorten the rope!! |
#18
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Mon, 13 Mar 2017 17:55:44 -0400, wrote:
When pulling the cord to start, do NOT pull the cord out to the very end of its travel. Which is why I said DO NOT shorten the rope!! I took the top off: http://i.cubeupload.com/bIuR7B.jpg And then the coiled-spring assembly: http://i.cubeupload.com/EUxywq.jpg Nothing seems wrong other than there is too much friction. I suspect the spring rusted being left outside all winter. I suspect the rust is causing the friction. Mea culpa. |
#19
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Mon, 13 Mar 2017 22:55:01 -0000 (UTC), "Danny D."
wrote: On Mon, 13 Mar 2017 17:55:44 -0400, wrote: When pulling the cord to start, do NOT pull the cord out to the very end of its travel. Which is why I said DO NOT shorten the rope!! I took the top off: http://i.cubeupload.com/bIuR7B.jpg And then the coiled-spring assembly: http://i.cubeupload.com/EUxywq.jpg Nothing seems wrong other than there is too much friction. I suspect the spring rusted being left outside all winter. I suspect the rust is causing the friction. Mea culpa. Sprat the "clutch", the pivot/axle and the spring with something like PB Blaster and work it in Then something like fluid film - or mabee LPS2 - a light grease to keep it dry and free. |
#20
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
On Sunday, March 12, 2017 at 8:57:26 PM UTC-5, Danny D. wrote:
Pulled the Honda/Craftsman cord to start 'er up, and the cord has very little tension on the return stroke. http://i.cubeupload.com/q5oXeb.jpg Pull stroke seems reasonably normal but the string won't rewind all the way. Leaves about a foot to a foot and a half loose. What makes it go tight? Springs? Pulled the cord, and the string doesn't go back. I can coax it back most of the way, but then when I pull again, it doesn't go back. Any debugging hints? Go to Harbor Freight and get a cheap tarp and cover the lawnmower with it. OR, a giant washtub upside down over the motor would help. |
#22
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Never disassembled lawn mower - what makes the cord go slack?
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