1985 Johnson recoil spring....help...

True to form, if it's not one thing it's another....After getting my carb rebuilt & reinstalled, I went to get her started & after several pulls the cord stopped rewinding. I opened up the housing and sure as he##, the recoil spring had broken. I picked up the replacement and have spent the better part of the day trying to get it back together.

The model I have (1985 Johnson 30hp) has one end of the coiled spring attached to a pin in the base "pan", and the other end attaches to a pin on the winding wheel. I've gotten the spring coiled into the pan & attached on the lower section, but every time I try to attach the loose end to the winding wheel, it breaks loose.

Anyone have experience working with this confguration that can suggest a tip or two? Running out of cable ties.....(not really, but going through them quickly....)

Re: 1985 Johnson recoil spring....help...

Have you tried looking at the shop manual for your motor? If you don't have one, consider it (the OEM book is the only one worth owning).

Re: 1985 Johnson recoil spring....help...

And I assume you're wearing safety glasses? I would not even go close to a recoil spring without safety glasses.

Re: 1985 Johnson recoil spring....help...

I was just gonna say, wear that PPE

Re: 1985 Johnson recoil spring....help...

Thanks for the suggestions. Managed to get it all put back together, but now it won't start - it wants to. Pulls and recoils nicely...kicks a little only when the throttle is fully engaged but quickly dies. Any suggestions on where to start?

On the PPE..I always have it on.....my friends even call me the "Safety Nazi"...

Re: 1985 Johnson recoil spring....help...

hi how are ya i have the same motor and i`m having the same problem with the reciol not going in most times or when it does slowly with a lot of messing with it .does it mean its broke ya think? or some thing else can be done to make it coil in faster any help would be great thanks .never worked on one before so not sure how to fix thx

Re: 1985 Johnson recoil spring....help...

barryrider said:

hi how are ya i have the same motor and i`m having the same problem with the reciol not going in most times or when it does slowly with a lot of messing with it .does it mean its broke ya think? or some thing else can be done to make it coil in faster any help would be great thanks .never worked on one before so not sure how to fix thx

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You should start your own thread.
Even though were working on the same motor it gets confusing for both us and yourself Something may be dragging or need a little lube.

Re: 1985 Johnson recoil spring....help...

ianbze31 said:

Thanks for the suggestions. Managed to get it all put back together, but now it won't start - it wants to. Pulls and recoils nicely...kicks a little only when the throttle is fully engaged but quickly dies. Any suggestions on where to start?

On the PPE..I always have it on.....my friends even call me the "Safety Nazi"...

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Check for spark.Should be nice blue with a audible snap.If you had the flywheel off did you torque the nut right.Is the choke closing all the way?
Carefully try squirting a little fuel into the carb.