Merc 6 HP rewind

[joellerich]

I need help getting the rewind working. I thought the rewind spring broke, because the cord will not retract.On inspection of the spring it is not broke. I have tried several times to get the the cord to retract.Cannot make it work. I am doing something wrong. I need a Mer. service manual pages, describing the install process. This does not look like a difficult problem, but after 3 more 4 tries, I need some expert advice. This on a 6 HP 1960’s vintage engine #1490090.
HELP

Thanks

John

[dave-bernard]

may be just old grease. spray it with WD40 to clean. worth a try. don’t forget to get into the spring where you cant see.

• This reply was modified 5 years ago by dave-bernard.

[billw]

Tricky little devils, they are. Yes, try lubing with a penatrant, to help soften all the old, stiff, grease. Also, check your tab lock washer on the main through bolt and nut. Is it broken? Does it look like somebody putzed with it? The basic plan with this type of recoil is that when everything is lubed and assembled properly, you put a big screw driver in the bolt’s slot, loosen the lock tabs, slightly loosen the nut and preload the spring one full turn. Nut is left hand thread, by the way. (Turn the bolt itself, with the screwdriver, counter clockwise, looking from the top, to preload it.) Then tighten the nut and lock the tabs. Sometimes the tabs break off and it just kind of unwinds it’s own tension.

Long live American manufacturing!

• This reply was modified 5 years ago by billw.

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