Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): snowblower starter cord broke, recoil spring, starter cord

Question
QUESTION: Toro snowblower with Tecumseh engine HSSK50 67401S.
Pull start cord broke.  I removed and replaced starter cord.  I can't figure out how to put tension back on the pull cord assembly.  When wrapped up and reattached to the engine, I can pull one time and it cranks the engine.  However, it doesn't retract.

Thanks!

ANSWER: Jack

Remove the pulley housing. - Make sure you hold on to the string between the handle and the housing and remove the handle. - Slowly let the recoil housing take in the string. DO NOT just let it go. - Have a flat head screwdriver handy. - Looking at the housing (pulley side up), turn the pulley counterclockwise (or whatever way pushes the end of the string towards the hole but not through the hole just yet). It will get harder to turn as you spin it, if not, spin it the other way. You are setting the tension on the recoil spring (which takes up the slack on the string). The number of turns it will take depends upon the amount of slack in the string. You should not need to turn the pulley any more than 2 complete turns. You will typically, but not always, hear a click as you turn the pulley as the tension is being set. - Put the screwdriver wherever you can to keep the pulley from releasing. If there is no spot to do this, you will have to find a way to keep the pulley from moving while performing the following steps. - Look for the end of the string around the pulley. - While holding the housing, spin the pulley slowly to line up the end of the string to the hole. - Spin the pulley to "push" the string towards the hole. - Pull the string through the hole. It should have some tension on it already. If it doesn't, turn the pulley to take the string back in and then turn the pulley one more turn counterclockwise and then put the string through the hole again. - While holding the pulley and housing assembly, pull the string to take up any slack on the pulley created by turning to set the tension. - While holding the end of the string, release the pulley to see if it takes up the slack from the previous step. If it doesn't, you need to set the tension tighter by repeating the steps above and adding one more turn. - Tie a lose knot on the end of the string so that it will not recoil back into the housing. - Re-install the pulley housing. - Feed the string through whatever parts that it needs to go through taking care not to let the string go. - Feed the string through the handle. - Tie a loop knot on the end of the string and feed it back into the handle. - If the tension is set on the recoil, your handle should be pulled back into position - Try a few pulls to start your machine. I hope this helps you. You may have to play with the number of turns to get the tension just right but this is the basics for the setting of the recoil string.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I can't get any tension on the pulley regardless of the direction I spin it.  It simply freewheels.

Answer
Have you checked the spring to make sure the clip on the spring is not broke.Here is a picture of what it should like.The Spring is Most Likely the Starter Dawg/Tang Spring that is Under the Metal Cap the Holds the Recoil Starter Pulley into the Recoil Starter Housing.