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Collection, Preservation and Display of Old Lawn Mowers

Atco 14" De Luxe recoil pull: Losing the will to live!

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Not a particularly technical issue this, but I am losing the will to live with my recoil. 

Pulled it a few times today, and the recoil stopped ... i.e. cord fully extended and not returning. Had this happen the other day, removed it, got it back together and it worked. Obviously, that was more luck than judgement, as I just cannot seem to fix it today.

What process should I follow? 

 

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Thanks, Darren

Forums

hortimech Mon, 24/06/2019

This would probably be quicker to do than tell you how to do it ;-)

First, check the spring, it should be 'bent' back on itself at the outer end and be 'hooked' into the spring case. If it isn't, you will get the problem you are having. 

Remove the starter handle from the rope, If the spring is okay, place the spring into starter housing, remove the centre bush from the pulley and then locate the pulley into the starter housing ensuring that the tab on the underside of the pulley locates into the spring. Now fit the bush into the pulley and turn it until it clicks into place, fit and tighten the centre screw. Now turn the pulley to tension the spring and thread the rope through the rope exit hole, tie a slip knot in the rope end and allow it to return. If the rope is still slack, just tension the rope further by pulling the rope back slightly and turning the pulley a turn more. Once you have the correct tension, refit the handle.

 

wristpin Mon, 24/06/2019

You may find that you will need to bend the hook end of the spring slightly so that it picks up on the lug on the back of the pulley. Pressing the pulley against the spring and turning it the wrong way sometimes encourages the spring to engage with the lug. When you feel the pulley drop into engagement , then turn the correct way to tension the spring.

As has been said - a lot easier done ( with practice) than explained.

 

 

 

 

Darren - FAC Tue, 25/06/2019

Thanks both. 

I was particularly hot and bothered yesterday, and I just wanted to do some mowing, so I was being a bit more dopey than usual and not thinking about what I was doing. I could understand how it should work, in terms of getting the lug in the hook of the coiled spring, but everytime I put it together it would not recoil. I finally got it, but then in bolting the casing back on in haste and giving it a hefty pull, I managed to shear one of the arms where the bolt goes. Not only that, but the cord failed to return again. I gave up at that point, and just got a bit of cord around the flywheel and started it like that ... so at least I got the lawn done. 

Anyhow, I've used some epoxy on the arm of the recoil case, and it seems solid, but whether it'll hold up I don't know. The case is aluminium I think. If it works great, but if not I've managed to source a replacement which looks to be the same. These old mowers that were meant to be inexpensive, fun things to restore, are starting to cost a lot! Still, I am enjoying learning, when I'm not pulling my hair out.

With the arm of the casing glued in place, I've had another crack at getting the recoil to work. I've eventually figured out that the lug was popping out of the spring when I pulled the cord. Now I've put a better bend in the spring it seems to be working fine, so for the moment the drama is over.

Thanks again.

Darren