My craftsman eager 1 lawn mower pull cord snapped at the knot. We took off the top, tied a new knot and replaced the top. Now when you pull the cord, the cord doesnt rewind by itself. My question is how do you reset the spring that rewinds the pull cord. If it can be fixed, should I take it to a professional repair shop- thanks

Len in Oakland, May 2009

I have 2 Eager-1 lawn mowers, and I have not found any way to rewind the spring. Both of mine broke the rope and I never heard the spring uncoil, for some reason these are not made to rewind, Maby so you can go buy a new one. I have worked on small engines all my life, and these are a piss poor product. I think it's made this way for safety, so some dumbass would not get hurt and maby try to sue because there was no warnning label on the pull rope. WHAT HAS OUR WORLD COME TOO!!!!!

OLD SCHOOL, June 2009

Hi Len
I think that you need to re-tension the spool spring. Wind the new cord onto the spool with more rope than you need. Then pull the cord (thus tensioning the spring) Keep the tension in the spring and wind on a bit more rope onto the spool. Fit the spool back in the case. Re thread the rope through the handle (keeping tension in spool) cut rope (Dont let go of rope) at a point that the rope sits just below the spool wall, then retie the knot.
Good luck

Maurice, May 2009