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Help repairing John Deere 14PZ Push Mower?

I have a John Deere push mower serial #GX14PZA011922 that had a broken pull start rope. I took it apart, which included cutting off the backs of the rivets that held the housing on, and installed a new rope. I replaced the rivets with nuts and bolts and put everything back together exactly as it was before, except now when I pull the rope, it doesn't recoil and the motor doesn't turn over. I did notice that the mechanism in the center of the rope coil housing was rusty. Could that be the problem? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
Carol, May 2011
(This is actually an addition to my question above.)
I didn't disassemble the recoil start assembly. I just removed it from the fan shroud so I could get to the sheave and wind the new rope onto it. The recoil spring is not engaging for some reason. H-E-L-P!

Carol, May 2011
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