It appears that the entire device has to be stripped including the engine to replace the rope & recoil spring starter. Is that right and if so how do you get the clutch drum off the main crank?

SimonClark, October 2009

-look down the drive point for the flexible drive, onthe end of the clutch.... theres an allen screw -likely an imperial size9/32?- pure guess- in that I noticed my Ryobi had made in USA.on it
Take out spark plug.Tear an inch strip of sturdy cloth about 18'' long, with the piston down ,shove it in the cylinder.(you could use cord)-leave the end stuck out.
This holds the shaft without buggering up the bore or the piston.
allen screw is a left hand thread.
clutch bell removal shows weights-remove springs by rolling out the end of one spring-after which the the whole is easily removed.
Weight carrier drifts of easily with a soft mallet to one of its tangs.
YOU'RE IN
(at this point you can remove the plastic case of the pull cord)

Steven Baxendale, October 2009