Evinrude 2; Year? Reinstalling recoil starter spring

charlie1939 · #1 July 28th, 2002, 08:50 PM

"Evinrude 2", single cylinder OB, Model #2502D, S/N E0003182.

1. What year is this?

No help at www.evinrude.com for pre-1990 motors!

2. What is the trick to reinstall the recoil starter assembly?

By mistake, I removed the machine screw holding the recoil starter to the cover. I cannot figure how to rewind the coiled spring, get it aligned with the cast outer web inside the cover and then get the rope pulley located and screwed back together.

Allen Henry · #2 July 29th, 2002, 12:08 AM

Charlie,

If your numbers are right and it is a 2 hp motor, it looks to be a 1975 model. try this site to double check:

http://www.kencook.com/kccwww/marinepubs/oml06.html

Trp251

charlie1939 · #3 July 29th, 2002, 08:14 AM

Thanks Trooper, any thoughts on the recoil spring?

gsnyder · #4 July 29th, 2002, 08:34 AM

Charlie--Recoil springs can be tough. I disassembled a recoil spring on my 1967 Evinrude 3 hp, and, given my amateur mechanical ability, I took 8 months to figure out how to finally install a new one. I can't tell you how many times that #@$%# spring popped out of my hands and unstrung itself on my garage floor. After I finally figured out that you can attach the spring loops to the pulley and starter head spindles, then squeeze the whole thing back together, then hope that it was the right direction, then coordinate that with the rope direction, then wind up the spring to the proper tension, I got good enough to try a few different options. I did lots of winding and used lots of wd-40. Ultimately, it worked. Anyway, recently I got a couple of manuals which explain the process in far simpler terms and make it sound doable. (Johnson service manual and Clymer) You might also just invest in a professional mechanic unless you have lots of time. Otherwise, if you have lots of time, trial and error can teach you a lot. Good Luck.

charlie1939 · #5 July 29th, 2002, 11:05 AM

Thanks 7 1/2,

I did figure it out after taking the whole starter assembly apart. Your ideas were right on the money. It has to be wound up and all the parts replaced exactly correctly, I missed aligning a key properly the first time(s). But live and learn, sometimes it is a tough school to get the knowledge! Then, of course, you forget it by the next time you need it. However, I find the challenge of the problem to be enjoyable, so the time doesn't matter so much to me, don't ask my wife though....