My mountfield petrol lawnmowers pull cord was pulled out and now it wont go back in. It never snapped or anything it just wont wind back up. Any sugestions??

Jason, October 2011

Daz sorry mate but I've been repairing machines for many years now and the normal cause is through neglect.ie (not keeping the machine well maintained I have regular customers and through neglect have the same problem)
After a damn good clean out they work OK (on the air line that is)
I agree it may be the spring but take the easy way first?
As pleasant says without knowing what it is and actually seeing the machine It's hard to rectify.

salvager, October 2011

ive never come accross a recoil with those symptoms that you can sort with wd 40 its most likely to be the spring unless like pleasent stated it has old style clutch on it
if its a new ish machine it probably has there chinese engine on it ive had many recoil faults on those

daz, October 2011

very difficult to suggest any answer without knowing what make and model of engine is fitted.

Different engines have different causes and symptoms.

The mainsapring could have fractured. On certain Briggs engines there was a clutch fitted in the recoil and if failed would case the same problem etc etc

pleasant, October 2011

Yes It's a common problem.all the bits of grass ETC get choked up behind the pully.
take off the cover (3 bolts normally) and clean thoroughly making sure that you use penetrating oil to free up the pully wheel.but do not disassemble the pully wheel leave attached to cover.
WD40 is good or similar so that you can spray right behind the wheel.
(It's OK the spring is attached so it wont come flying out)
try a few times before reassemble to make sure and re-fit.
hope this helps

salvager, October 2011