Did you get this fixed? If not, I just had the same thing happen to my Craftsman, 6.0 mower. I called a Sears repair center. They said that there is a replacement kit that can be purchased. Although, the existing housing rivets must be drilled out in order to get to the recoil. The replacement screws or rivets, whatever they are, are included in the kit. I plan to purchase the kit and give it a try. I will write back.
Dan D., August 2007
