Pull cord stays out. Mechanic says I need new

Depends on your make and model.
Some are really easy, some impossible.
The easy ones go like this.
You remove the top of the motor, which is held on with a few screws. You will then have a bowl shaped piece, usually metal, which you will turn upside down, and see the cord-winder reel inside the top of it.
You will remove the cord winding reel, and wind a new cord onto it. However, the cord winding reel is spring loaded, and it takes knowledge and experience to do that.
The harder ones, I cannot begin to describe.
Be blessed.

on the side where the pull cord was remove casing pull the cord through the hole on the casing wind the spring back on the strimmer not to tight but tight enough for the cord to return once pulled. Attach the cord onto the spring this will be obvious there is a little hole the cord goes through then pull a bit of cord through tie a nott then pull the cord back so the nott is tight against the spring ,let the spring spring back the gord shoul wind onto the spring reattach the casing and job done hope this helps

I have had this situation before on a lawnmower. I didn't have a craftsman, but is probably the same issue. Basically, the spring that recoils the cord back in either broke or came unwound. When the mower is not running, the cogs on the pull chord keeps the cord from coming out. When the mower is running, the spring is not wound enough to hold the chord in and thus releases or doesn't hold it in.
Try pulling the pull chord assembly off and rewind the spring.

Just went through this pain today. Here's how I did it. Use allen wrench with T handle to remove the shroud over the carb controls and plug. Then remove about 10 screws and split the case. Use tool that comes with the unit to remove the nut holding the impeller. Behind the impeller, use torx head to get the other bolts to remove the motor. There are two other screws on the other side that hold the motor on. Drop the motor from the case carefully. It is still attached by wires to the throttle and kill switch. Note how the throttle linkage is connected because it will come apart for sure. On the one side of the housing you are looking at the plastic cord spool with the spring unit behind it. My chord simply pulled out of the spool. It was held on with a 10mm nut and start washer (not a good design). If the chord broke, remove the remnant from the take up spool. To rewind the new chord or replace the one that pulled free, you need to wind the spring to put tension on it. Make sure the take up spool engages with the spring tang otherwise it will turn free and not tense the sprint. Once engaged with the tang, the spool should set to the bottom to be level with the metal chord guide. Turn the spool clockwise 3-4 turns until you feel it tighten. With a 2nd pair of hands, hold the tension on the spool and tread in your chord. Route the chord through the take up reel into the hole on the side. Loosen the 10mm nut with the star washer and route the end of the chord through it. Tie a simple knot in the end to prevent it from pulling through. Tighten the 10mm nut which clamps on the chord. Now, slowly, let the spring tension take up the loose chord until fully retracted. Make sure the metal chord guide fits in the slot to channel the chord properly into the take up reel. Hold the spool down and give the chord a gentle test or two. The chord should retract easily and fully. Simple as pie!!! Reverse the disassembly and you are back in business.

You can buy the whole part...cord,handle,recoil spring all in one piece and remove the old install the new...or you can just buy a legth of pull cord and swap everything over.
First take off the top 4 phillip screws and remove the plastic cover....don't forget to pull off the oil fill cap, next drill out the center of the three pop rivets that hold the recoil spring in place, use a drill bit a little smaller than the rivet, next tap the rivet out using a punch and a hammer, next install the pull chord by first rewindind the coil spring then locking it oin place so it wont twist back and install the new line(pull cord)...next install it on the top of the motor and install 3 new 1/4" aluminumn pop rivets 3/8" long with a pop rivet gun all can be purchased atb Ace Hardware...reinstall the reverse of dismantle proceedure and happy mowing...don't forget to attach the black plastic/rubber pull cord handle.
Happy Mowing!!

you should remove the housing usually 4 bolts
dont remove anything else then look at the pully and remove the old chord tie a knot in the new chord and slot it into the hole on the pulley
you should then see a notch in the edge of the pulley this is for the chord to sit in while you turn the pully enough times to tension the recoil spring once tensioned enough so that it recoils all the chord slot the chord through the hole in the outer casing through the pull hande and knot it job done then refit

okay,after you have dissembled replace pull cord set aside now place the spring into the casing by catching the end into the retaining slot and wind it down into the casing hang onto to it now feed the cord end thru the hole afix handle onto cord then place into casing make sure that the spring and cord pulley dog together now holding pulley down in casing pull alittle cord out between case housing and pulley and preload spring by turning pulley around with cord 4 to 6 times secure pulley you should be all set good luck

Hi,
If I'm understanding you correctly, the pull chord is out and will not retract so you can pull again?
If this is so, I'm thinking that there may be some obstruction keeping your spring from returning the rope. The spring is wound like a clock spring. When you pull the rope, the spring wants to bring it back. Sometimes a twig or dirt or other type of abnormality might prevent the spring from retracting your pull rope.
You might need to loosen the engine cover to remove the obstruction.
Good luck!

The Rip Starter pull cord? A sprin usually winds it back in automatically. If yours is running (or not) and cord is hanging out, the thin is jammed, the spring is broken or disconnected, or there is a bunch(!) of **** in there gumming it up.
Rap on it with a screwdriver handle, oil it, take it apart and see.

Just went through this pain today. Here's how I did it. Use allen wrench with T handle to remove the shroud over the carb controls and plug. Then remove about 10 screws and split the case. Use tool that comes with the unit to remove the nut holding the impeller. Behind the impeller, use torx head to get the other bolts to remove the motor. There are two other screws on the other side that hold the motor on. Drop the motor from the case carefully. It is still attached by wires to the throttle and kill switch. Note how the throttle linkage is connected because it will come apart for sure. On the one side of the housing you are looking at the plastic cord spool with the spring unit behind it. My chord simply pulled out of the spool. It was held on with a 10mm nut and start washer (not a good design). If the chord broke, remove the remnant from the take up spool. To rewind the new chord or replace the one that pulled free, you need to wind the spring to put tension on it. Make sure the take up spool engages with the spring tang otherwise it will turn free and not tense the sprint. Once engaged with the tang, the spool should set to the bottom to be level with the metal chord guide. Turn the spool clockwise 3-4 turns until you feel it tighten. With a 2nd pair of hands, hold the tension on the spool and tread in your chord. Route the chord through the take up reel into the hole on the side. Loosen the 10mm nut with the star washer and route the end of the chord through it. Tie a simple knot in the end to prevent it from pulling through. Tighten the 10mm nut which clamps on the chord. Now, slowly, let the spring tension take up the loose chord until fully retracted. Make sure the metal chord guide fits in the slot to channel the chord properly into the take up reel. Hold the spool down and give the chord a gentle test or two. The chord should retract easily and fully. Simple as pie!!! Reverse the disassembly and you are back in business.