Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): Snowblower, vise grip pliers, rope thread

Question
The start string on my snowblower won't pull.  Why?

Answer
Hi Dave,

If it won't budge at all, remove the recoil shroud and take a look at the assembly.  You might have a rope that has slipped out of the reel. Below is my proceedure for replacing a broken recoil rope.

You will need to remove the entire cooling shroud. There should be 4 bolts
on the sides. You might need to remove the fuel tank also.
Pre-wind the recoil reel by hand [about 6 turns, to set the spring
tension] and clamp it with Vise-Grip pliers. Remove the old rope. Thread
the new rope through the shroud housing eyelet and to the reel hub. Let
the reel re-wind itself until it is full. If there is not enough spring
tension you can wind it a couple of turns more by slipping the rope around
between the reel and shroud. Re-clamp the reel. Cut the rope to length and
thread it though the handle. At all knots, burn and melt the rope with a
lighter to prevent untying. Re-assemble.

Let me know how you make out.
Michael