Pull starter rope craftsman 358-791050

It is threaded onto the end of the crankshaft (with regular R-Hand threads). I spray some PB Blaster solvent on it, let it soak. and the whack it on the inside "ears" with a flat blade chisel or a piece of small hard wood. I know...you have to lock up the engine so the crank won't move...and you can. Here is the entire process.

Remove the tube that holds the flex-drive shaft from the front of the motor cover. Remove the throttle cable from the carburetor. Mark and unplug any wires for the on/off switch if possible. Now if you have pulled the driveshaft tube out of the way, the clutch drum is up next. Inside it, screwed into the very end of the engine's crankshaft is a Torx #25 screw. Before you loosen it, ou will have to lock up the engine. Remove the spark plug. Pull on the starter until the piston is down, then insert a length of clean, soft rope into the engine. The engine will come up and compress the rope, thus locking it in place to allow clutch drum and clutch removal. Loosen the T-2015 screw inside the drum.. It probably won't come completely out...it is made this way. Next, remove the clutch. It is screwed onto a small threaded section of the crankshaft Removal is counterclockwise.. It will be pretty tight. To help, apply peneterating oil. Whack the ears of the clutch near the center with a dull flat-blade chisel and hammer unless there are bolts. then use wrench. It will turn counterclockwise for removal and there will probably be a removal direction arrow on it's face. After getting that off, remove the Torx screws holding the cover to the engine. The starter unit should be mounted inside as it mates with the bottom of the flywheel to start the motor. Remember to preload tension (5-7 turns) on the starter unit. Make sure the handle is installed. Jam the unit with a screwdriver or something so you can insert and tie off the new rope. Then remove jam device and let recoil pull your new rope into place. Reassemble and you are done. Disassembly requires Torx head drivers ranging from T-15 to T-25.

The starter rope normally rewinds automatically when the recoil unit is functioning properly. If the pull rope has stayed out, disassembly will be required. Here are instructions for that problem. The recoil spring can break and is replaceable, but the nylon hub in the starter recoil unit is usually the problem or the rope has broken and jammed inside.
Remove the tube that holds the flex-drive shaft from the front of the motor cover.Remove the rear engine cover. Remove the throttle cable from the carburetor. Mark and unplug any wires for the on/off switch that go to the ignition coil (underneath front cover) if possible. Now if you have pulled the driveshaft tube out of the way, the clutch drum is up next. Inside it, screwed into the very end of the engine's crankshaft is a Torx #25 screw. Before you loosen it, you will have to lock up the engine. To do so, remove the spark plug. Pull on the starter until the piston is down, then insert a length of clean, soft rope into the engine. The engine will come up and compress the rope, thus locking it in place to allow clutch drum and clutch removal. Loosen the T-25 (Star bit or Torx head) screw inside the drum.. You may be able to remove it with a long thin-blade screwdriver also.It probably won't come completely out...it is made this way. Next, remove the clutch. It is screwed onto a small threaded section of the crankshaft Removal is counterclockwise.. It will be pretty tight. To help, apply peneterating oil. Whack the ears of the clutch near the center with a hammer and a dull flat-blade chisel or a small piece of wood unless there are bolts. then use a wrench. It will turn counterclockwise for removal and there will probably be a removal direction arrow on it's face. After getting that off, remove the Torx screws holding the cover to the engine. The starter unit should be mounted inside as it mates with the top of the flywheel to start the motor. Remember to preload tension (5-7 turns) on the starter unit. Make sure the handle is installed. Jam the unit with a screwdriver or vise grips so you can insert and tie off the new rope. Then remove jam device and let recoil pull your new rope into place while holding the handle. Reassemble and you are done. Disassembly requires Torx head drivers and a good flat-blade screwdriver. Here are more details for servicing the starter/recoil unit....With the starter/recoil unit OFF the machine, with no rope in it, and no tension on it.....grasp the little nylon hub and turn it (clockwise is I recall) round and round 6-7 times until you feel the recoil spring get nice and tight...DO NOT LET GO OF IT!...hold it in place and then JAM the starter/recoil unit in place (still tight) inside it's housing by either clamping it with a tool like vise grips or by sticking a screwdriver thru it and thru the vents in the cover. If you have ANOTHER person to help you...one of you hold it in place....and make sure it is lined up to where you can NOW insert the new lenth of pull rope. Always use new rope....Feed the end thru the hole in the recoil unit and tie it off, by wrapping it around itself outside the nylon hub and then screw the little self-tapping set screw back in holding the rope down. OK...then feed the opposite end into the hole in the front engine cover and attatch the T pull handle....Now mind you, you are still jammming or holding the recoil in place against the spring!...Now, unclamp it or unjam it and slowly let the recoil pull the NEW rope you just installed back onto the pulley. Make sure it is fastened well on top of the pulley around the nylon hub and also fastened well onto the T pull handle. That is it. Then reconnect your wires, put your throttle cable back thru the engine cover and reinstall the Torx screws in the cover...and you are doneervicing the recoil unitl

Remove the tube that holds the flex-drive shaft from the front of the motor cover. Remove the throttle cable from the carburetor. Mark and unplug any wires for the on/off switch if possible. Now if you have pulled the driveshaft tube out of the way, the clutch drum is up next. Inside it, screwed into the very end of the engine's crankshaft is a Torx #25 screw. Before you loosen it, ou will have to lock up the engine. Remove the spark plug. Pull on the starter until the piston is down, then insert a length of clean, soft rope into the engine. The engine will come up and compress the rope, thus locking it in place to allow clutch drum and clutch removal. Loosen the T-25 screw inside the drum.. It probably won't come completely out...it is made this way. Next, remove the clutch. It is screwed onto a small threaded section of the crankshaft Removal is counterclockwise.. It will be pretty tight. To help, apply peneterating oil. Whack the ears of the clutch near the center with a dull flat-blade chisel and hammer unless there are bolts. then use wrench. It will turn counterclockwise for removal and there will probably be a removal direction arrow on it's face. After getting that off, remove the Torx screws holding the cover to the engine. The starter unit should be mounted inside as it mates with the top of the flywheel to start the motor. Remember to preload tension (5-7 turns) on the starter unit. Make sure the handle is installed. Jam the unit with a screwdriver or something so you can insert and tie off the new rope. Then remove jam device and let recoil pull your new rope into place. Reassemble and you are done. Disassembly requires Torx head drivers ranging from T-15 to T-25. Here are more details involving the starter/recoil assembly.
With the starter/recoil unit OFF the machine, with no rope in it, and no tension on it.....grasp the little nylon hub and turn it (clockwise is I recall) round and round 6-7 times until you feel the recoil spring get nice and tight...DO NOT LET GO OF IT!...hold it in place and then JAM the starter/recoil unit in place (still tight) inside it's housing by either clamping it with a tool like vise grips or by sticking a screwdriver thru it and thru the vents in the cover. If you have ANOTHER person to help you...one of you hold it in place....and make sure it is lined up to where you can NOW insert the new lenth of pull rope. Always use new rope....Feed the end thru the hole in the recoil unit and tie it off, by wrapping it around itself outside the nylon hub and then screw the little self-tapping set screw back in holding the rope down. OK...then feed the opposite end into the hole in the front engine cover and attatch the T pull handle....Now mind you, you are still jammming or holding the recoil in place against the spring!...Now, unclamp it or unjam it and slowly let the recoil pull the NEW rope you just installed back onto the pulley. Make sure it is fastened well on top of the pulley around the nylon hub and also fastened well onto the T pull handle. That is it. Then reconnect your wires, put your throttle cable back thru the engine cover and reinstall the Torx screws in the cover.

Your starter/recoil unit has malfunctioned. Disassembly/inspection down to the point where you can get the recoil off will be required. Remove the engine cover screws. The recoil unit may be part of the cover or may be under it. You will easily be able to access it. Replacement parts for your mower are readily available.

Remove the tube that holds the flex-drive shaft from the front of the motor cover.Remove the rear engine cover. Remove the throttle cable from the carburetor. Mark and unplug any wires for the on/off switch that go to the ignition coil (underneath front cover) if possible. Now if you have pulled the driveshaft tube out of the way, the clutch drum is up next. Inside it, screwed into the very end of the engine's crankshaft is a Torx #25 screw. Before you loosen it, you will have to lock up the engine. To do so, remove the spark plug. Pull on the starter until the piston is down, then insert a length of clean, soft rope into the engine. The engine will come up and compress the rope, thus locking it in place to allow clutch drum and clutch removal. Loosen the T-25 (Star bit or Torx head) screw inside the drum.. You may be able to remove it with a long thin-blade screwdriver also.It probably won't come completely out...it is made this way. Next, remove the clutch. It is screwed onto a small threaded section of the crankshaft Removal is counterclockwise.. It will be pretty tight. To help, apply peneterating oil. Whack the ears of the clutch near the center with a hammer and a dull flat-blade chisel or a small piece of wood unless there are bolts. then use a wrench. It will turn counterclockwise for removal and there will probably be a removal direction arrow on it's face. After getting that off, remove the Torx screws holding the cover to the engine. The starter unit should be mounted inside as it mates with the top of the flywheel to start the motor. Remember to preload tension (5-7 turns) on the starter unit. Make sure the handle is installed. Jam the unit with a screwdriver or vise grips so you can insert and tie off the new rope. Then remove jam device and let recoil pull your new rope into place while holding the handle. Reassemble and you are done. Disassembly requires Torx head drivers and a good flat-blade screwdriver. Post back if needed.

Remove the tube that holds the flex-drive shaft from the front of the motor cover.Remove the rear engine cover. Remove the throttle cable from the carburetor. Mark and unplug any wires for the on/off switch that go to the ignition coil (underneath front cover) if possible. Now if you have pulled the driveshaft tube out of the way, the clutch drum is up next. Inside it, screwed into the very end of the engine's crankshaft is a Torx #25 screw. Before you loosen it, you will have to lock up the engine. To do so, remove the spark plug. Pull on the starter until the piston is down, then insert a length of clean, soft rope into the engine. The engine will come up and compress the rope, thus locking it in place to allow clutch drum and clutch removal. Loosen the T-25 screw inside the drum.. You may be able to remove it with a long thin-blade screwdriver also.It probably won't come completely out...it is made this way. Next, remove the clutch. It is screwed onto a small threaded section of the crankshaft Removal is counterclockwise.. It will be pretty tight. To help, apply peneterating oil. Whack the ears of the clutch near the center with a dull flat-blade chisel and hammer unless there are bolts. then use wrench. It will turn counterclockwise for removal and there will probably be a removal direction arrow on it's face. After getting that off, remove the Torx screws holding the cover to the engine. The starter unit should be mounted inside as it mates with the top of the flywheel to start the motor. Remember to preload tension (5-7 turns) on the starter unit. Make sure the handle is installed. Jam the unit with a screwdriver or vise grips so you can insert and tie off the new rope. Then remove jam device and let recoil pull your new rope into place while holding the handle. Reassemble and you are done. Disassembly requires Torx head drivers

Disassembly will be required to get to the cause of this problem. This problem alongwith the rope being pulled out and not drawing back in are among the major consumer complaints.
Some may think the worst in this situation, that the engine has gone bad and "locked" up. Most of the time though, the problem is misalignment of all parts on the main shaft or the recoil unit itself. It is plastic and the shaft is steel and wear occurs. This can be fixed however but there is some teardown work involved and it does require mechanical abilities to do it.If you are somewhat inclined, start taking the machine apart (starting with the tube that holds the flex shaft that turns the string head). That would be your starting point, directly in front of the engine/coil/starter/flywheel assembly. You will need to remove the throttle cable from the carb and disconnnect the kill switch wire from the ignition coil. From there it is on to taking the front engine cover off (covers the clutch housing/clutch/starter recoil/flywheel/coil. So you see, there is quite a bit of disassembly involved to get to the starter recoil unit

there should be a retaining C Clip that will need to be removed from the shaft look closely!

remove pulley that rope goes on, wind it with new rope, wrap it till it is full, then feed rope thru hole in housing, put pulley back in place, put rope thru pull handle, pull thru till you feel spring catch tie a knot and that should do it......be careful when removing pulley not to dislodge recoil spring

Take the 4 bolts/screws loose that hold the shaft onto the weed-eater body, You will see the clutch drum, you need a long T20 TORX driver to loosen the screw in the center of the drum shaft. The screw probably won't come all the way out, so just pull the drum off as you loosen it.

Next you will see 3 flat clutch discs.

You may need to remove the spark plug and stuff some starter rope in the combustion chamber to keep the shaft from turning.

Unscrew these one at a time with a pair of large slip joint pliers. Be careful not to bend them and note which way they face. They unscrew clockwise I believe.

Once you have these out of the way, continue taking apart the plastic housing to gain access to the starter rope assembly. There is a spring under the rope reel, so remove the screw holding the reel in place and carefully remove the rope reel and spring.

Replace the rope, put the reel back in place and make sure the sping egages the little tab. Then wind it a few turns until there is moderate tension on the spring.

Feed the rope through the body and tie it to the T-handle. Replace the hold down screw that keeps the rope reel in place.

Test the pull tension before reassembly. It should retract the rope fully without too much tension and should not be loose. Lubricate the rope reel where it rubs against the housing with some light grade oil or lithium grease.

If everything functions, put it back together in reverse order.

Remove the rope from the combustion chamber and make sure there is no debris in it. Install the spark plug. You should be ready to go.