Pull starter string is broken - Briggs & Stratton Garden

Remove spark plug turn trimmer so that spark hole is down and pull starter rope until all old fuel is evacuated from cylinder, place spark plug back in and try. If this is not problem and especially if it is still hard to pull you may have a ring that has broken and partially hung in cyl.

replace the starting pull cord Graeme, Check the attached links,instruction and guides, Good luck
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How do I replace Graeme, Check the attached links,instruction and videos on starter rope replacement. Good luck
"I hope this helped you out, if so let me know by pressing the helpful button. Check out some of my other posts if you need more tips and info."
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Hi Mark
Perhaps a bit late now.... Just spotted this so I imagine it's all fixed by now.
But for others with this sort of problem.
Assuming the pull cord is not broken, stuck or tangled. Switch off or short plug to ground, for safety then remove the spark plug to allow the engine compression to escape. You should be able to turn the engine over really easy with the pull rope, otherwise the engine might be seized or the rotary pull mechanism jammed.
Also... can the shaft to the string line be rotated as in the crankshaft of the engine.
Good Luck

The pull string is in a housing underneath the fan. Remove the left (as you're holding the blower with the outlet facing away) housing. The blower fan is visible. Use a 1/2" light duty impact driver, it's a conventional clocking leftie loosie rightie tightie. Remove nut, thick flat washer, fan, and another thick flat washer. Three screws are holding the pull string housing. Remove the housing. Three more screws and thin flat washers, and the spool is in your hand. Reassemble in reverse order.

You need to take the Starter cord assembly off and see if the Nylon gearing that 'grabs' the centrifical wings is broken OR those wings are rusted in a way that they do not make contact with the nylon piecs of the Starter.

you may have blown your engine. try to move the piston up or down when you take off the spark plug. if it does not move you may have broken a piston ring and the piston may be stuck because of the broken ring. you can also try to check the starter string where it is coiled in the spool. it may be just tangle up. remove the casing and check the string off of the engine.

sounds like the impeller on the underside of the starter mech is broken

The pull string is probably tangled up. There are usually vents which enable you to see into the machines pull string assembly. Loosen the fasteners and pull off the cover exposing the pull string. You can unwind and untangle and then it should recoil perfectly. If that does not work continue to dismantle the pull string assembly because you probably have a broken starter pawl which is located on the back of the pull string assembly.

Either you have a broken rewind spring, or the starter mechanism is dirty to the point where the force of the recoil spring is not sufficient to pull the rope back in.
WEAR SAFETY GLASSES while disassembling your starter mechanism to see what the problem is. Upon reassembly, it is a good idea to lube the post in the starter housing (the one the pulley slides over) with some graphite or teflon lube.