Recoil spring on 73 Seahorse 4 installation

The starter cord on my 1973 Seahorse 4 broke and when I took off the cord spool the recoil spring came flying out. Now I can't figure out which direction the spring goes back it to tension it correctly, clockwise or counter. The cord should come out the bottom of the spool, right but that turns the starter what I thought was the wrong way to turn over the motor. Any help would be greatly appreciated as our boating days are almost over up here at 10,000 ft elevation. Thanks.

Re: Recoil spring on 73 Seahorse 4 installation

(Manual Starter Cord/Spring Installation)
(This pertains to the side mount type manual starters such as the 4hp models)
(J. Reeves)

Have the rope/cord wound around the starter pulley in the proper direction and tuck the end of the cord under itself to lock it in place.

Assemble the manual starter to the engine, having the inner sping loop inserted over the related pin, BUT leave the starter spring UNWOUND and simply hanging thru the slot of the manual starter housing with the long length of the spring out side of the manual starter.

Now, using your ingenuity, rig some kind of device to force that plastic gear up into the flywheel teeth, jamming it so that it will stay engaged in those teeth.

It is now simply a matter of putting a wrench on the flywheel nut and turning it in the proper direction to pull that spring into the manual starter housing which will properly rewind it. After the spring has been pulled in completely, continue to crank it further until sufficent pressure is upon the spring. Usually three turns of the flywheel is enough.

Now, keep a firm grip on that small plastic gear so that the starter does not rewind. Using a sharp pointed scribe, pick the loose end of the starter cord free and run it out its proper exit, then attach the handle to it. That should do it.

Re: Recoil spring on 73 Seahorse 4 installation

Thanks a lot Joe. Sounds better than the way I was trying to do it but a coulpe more questions. What is the proper direction for the line on the spool and I'd be turning the flywheel clockwise, right? Also you pull the spring all the way into the housing? it appears it was left outside the housign before with a slight kink in it to hold it from entering all the way. Thanks again.

Re: Recoil spring on 73 Seahorse 4 installation

Yes, turn the flywheel clockwise.

No, if the spring went all the way into the housing, there would be no way to have a recoil tension on it.

Use heat from a hand held propane torch to heat the outer end of the spring so that you can create a roll or some kind of design to prevent it from being pulled into the housing.