I’ve got a couple of 15 Johnsons with broken recoil springs 1989 and 1991. I loaned them out and they came back broken where they attach to the recoil pulley. These motors came from a failed resort and have mega-hours on them, and have probably been repaired many times. The spring retainers were missing on both and I have new retainers. Is there any way of reforming the loop on the end of the springs? I already ordered new springs, but was wondering if anyone has a method for doing that to salvage the old springs. I tried and the metal just snaps off. I’m guessing the metal gets formed and then heat-treated to harden it and give it the spring characteristic.
Dave