The starter rope is hard to pull and engine will not start. This is a craftsman model 917.377264. It appears that the engine flywheel brake is on . When I depress the control bar to the upper handle. it does not release the flywheel brake. How to adjust? Or could there be another problem?

Foy Haywood, August 2004

I just had a similar problem with my Honda lawnmower. On mine there were adjustment nuts on both ends of the cable that controls the flywheel brake. Adjusting them to apply more tension to the cable allowed the brake mechanism to be pulled clear of the flywheel, which solved the problem. Good luck. - Dave

Dave, May 2005