Pullcoard retracts but not engaging been a good saw I like it

maybe you are missing a spring in there?? you faIL TO MENTION WHAT IT IS YOU ARE WORKING ON ALSO. MIGHT HELP IF YOU ADD THAT. IM THINKING SNOWBLOWER SO IF ITS NOT ONE I RETRACT MY REPLY.

Check for burrs on pals attached to flywheel that would catch on pulley when trying to retract rope.

Sound like a piece of wood may have driven the arm up which operates the guard, if you remove the screws holding the guard support plate to the saw you should be able to remove the guard assembly, the arm can then be re-bent down on the end so that it meets the angled plate on the back of the guard and pushes the guard through the entire stroke, the other reason could be a damaged guard, when the centre screw is removed the plates can be removed from the guard, note how the spring and plates are assembled prior to dismantling, check the inside centre of the perspex guard and ensure the 4 protrusions which engage with the drive plate haven't broken off, if sow the guard will need to be replaced, this may now be an obsolete part , if so purchase a Makita guard as they are the same

Determine whether or not the engine is locked up by removing the plastic outer shell including the pull cable. The cable reel once dis-engaged from the crankshaft should freely pull out and retract on its own. If the cable reel is still hard to pull, you can replace the reel. Otherwise the engine is binding probably cheaper to replace the whole unit than attempting repair.

Probably something jammed up inside the body of the saw where the guard retracts, like a chip of wood. I once had the same problem with my circular saw guard not retracting. Turned out there was a screw that had somehow gotten trapped in there and once that was removed, guard functions perfectly now. Definitely sort it out as soon as possible because this is very dangerous--you could make a cut, rest the saw on your leg and... earn a quick trip to the emergency room.

Many of these small saws have what is reffered to as an e start, the section that engages to the flywhell is seperate to the rope pulley, and is joined via a round coil spring, the idea is to soften out the compression and help to spin the engine over when cranking, one end of the spring fits into the outer flyheel engagment pinion, the other ends fits into a hole in the starter cord pulley, it does not fit into the main recoil spring, the securing screw for the assembly is a shoulder screw the idea is not to pinch the rewind mechanism when tightened, as this only screws into plastic it is very easy to over tighted and make the pulley post swell and stop the pulley rotating on the shaft, you may now need to leave the screw just a little slacker, the black plate under the starter is a conductor plate, this helps blow the cold air from the flywheel over the cylinder, this plate should always be there. When assembling the starter on the saw, keep pulling the rope as the cover goes on, this will ensure the pinion engages properly with the flywheel pawls.

Take to a compressed air hose and blast away sawdust,if greasy spray with mineral spirits,let dry.
Please rate. Thank you. jj505

This thread might be relevant to your problem: http://www.fixya.com/problems-solutions/t114846,p220455/Olympus-Digital-Cameras.aspx Comment on what you saw in there when you opened it up, compared to the other user. Good luck