QuestionHi, I tried to start my cub cadet and the pull starter cord broke. Do I need a special cord? Any tips on replacing it?
AnswerIt's not really a special rope that you use. They will sell a repair kit at most hardware and auto parts stores or you can just take a piece of the old rope and buy four or five feet like it.
To replace it you'll need to remove the starter and maybe the entire flywheel shroud. (Or blower housing as it's also known) Then you'll remove the old rope. There's usually no need to remove the starter assembly from the housing so just leave it in place. Just turn the pulley, or reel, the rope winds on so that the spring tightens up. Try turning it a turn or so and then letting go, it should spin if you're going the right direction. After you see which direction it winds, wind it tight and then line up the hole in the reel to the hole in the starter housing that the rope goes through. Then feed the rope in and tie a knot in it. Then let go and the rope will wind back on.
You'll need to burn the end of the rope or you won't be able to feed it through the hole and a small piece of wire hooked through the end sometimes makes it easier to feed. Also, tie a knot in the opposite end of the rope so it doesn't get pulled into the starter when you let it wind up. You might use a C-clamp to hold the reel in place while you thread the new rope in.
Then trim to fit, burn the trimmed end to keep it from unraveling and you should be good to go
