Need a fix to fish

[Schlott]

I broke the pull cord on my outboard last week, but with the nice weather all the shops are two weeks out. No chance prior to Memorial weekend. Can anyone tell me how to fix this? I put a new cord in it, but it doesn't work. Should the cord wrap around the flywheel as well as the starter? The cord recoils, but doesn't engage the engine?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Need a fix to fish

Schlott,
What engine do you have? Most likely when you put it back together you didn't get it right and the pawls are binding up. The pawls are little levers that will move out upon pulling the recoil and grab on to slots in the top of the flywheel. If possilbe (according to what engine you have) pull the recoil off and pull the cord while watching the little levers (pawls) to see if they move out when you spin the assembly by pullling the cord. If not, try to move them with your hand to see if they are binding up. If they're not binding up too bad, give them a little oil and try again.
BTW, no, the cord doesn't wrap around the flywheel!
Good luck,
JBJ