To get to the pull rope, you need to remove the clutch assembly and the front plastic crankcase cover.
To remove the clutch assembly, I put a piece of hardwood in the crankcase below the piston on the downstroke, then gave the edge of the clutch baseplate a sharp whack with a socket extension and a soft body hammer.
The trick here is to prevent the crankshaft from turning. Make sure that piston cannot move.
There is an arrow and the word "OFF" stamped into the clutch base plate. Make sure you strike in the correct direction; that is, COUNTER-clockwise.
Also, don't block it with anything metal. You might bend or break the connecting rod or the piston.
Good Luck!
roszuei, September 2008
