The solution above will work provided that the problem is simply that the pull cord snapped at or near the point it connects to the fly wheel. There are two other possibities: 1) The cord broke at some other point, probably because it was already frayed. This may indicate a problem in the fly wheel assembly (such as a sharp edge fraying the cord) or it may have happened simply because of normal wear and tear. In the former case, it is best to replace the entire fly wheel assembly; in the latter, a new cord will need to be installed (and can usually be obtained at a hardware store. 2) The cord broke because the recoil spring jammed or broke first. This is a fairly common reason for the cord to break. If, when you remove the fly wheel assembly and attempt to put tension of the fly wheel before reinstalling the cord, you either can't turn the wheel or can't get any tension, the the recoil spring is jammed or broken and you will need to replace the enitre assembly. On most standard push model mowers, a replacement assembly only costs about $20-$30, so if you are not sure of the cause of the starter cord breaking, you might want to consider replacing the whole assembly anyway. A new assembly will pull smoothly and freely (when properly installed), whereas a repaired one will always tend to be a bit stiff, so putting a new assembly on an older mower is really not a bad option, as it will extend the life of the mower with easier starts.
John, September 2004
