Recently, the rope recoil mechanism on my lawnboy mower would not recoil completely or not at all. I removed the complete recoil assembly and the rope in order to rewind the coil, which appeared to be functioning properly. I rewound the coil without any problem but rewound one turn too much and suddenly lost all spring tension. Now, I cannot get the coil to rewind at all. I cannot inspect the coil spring as the coil spring housing is riveted. Is this problem fixable or must the entire recoil assembly be replaced? Thanks.

1) Remove the recoil housing
**NOTE: normally you DO NOT need to remove the rotor pulley or spring to replace the rope.
This is the area that causes so many guys a lot of extra trouble!
2) Locate the string that is left and the hole it is threaded thru
3) Determine how much string has broken off of the rope that came out
*Note: if more than 1 inch is left, then the rope needs to be replaced
4) Obtained a length of rope appropriate for your engine, it is always better to have too much rope.
You can always shorten if it is too long.
Make sure both ends are melted to a point for easier threading thru handle and rope rotor
5) Wind the rotor in the direction of what the rope would pull,
(this will tighten the spring) until the spring is completely wound.
Remove 1/2 to 1 revolution.
6) Install the rope (with the handle installed on one end) thru the recoil housing and towards the rope rotor.
Tie a knot in the end of the rope, leaving a 3/8" tail free.
Then allow rope to wind onto the rotor until all rope is wound.
8) Pull the rope several times to position rope properly into rotor.
*note : there should be NO droop in the handle after released
9) When the unit is functioning proplerly, re-install housing onto engine.