Recoil starter

[plymouth4]

HI,
I’m working on a 6hp 1973 johnson 6R73S starter. How do you engage the spring to set the tension so the cord will rewind.
Also, the inner spring how does it engage??
Thanks, GVB

[fleetwin]

Not sure I understand what you are asking….Am guessing you are trying to install a new starter rope, am I correct? Don’t understand what you mean by “engage”…Can you post some pictures?

[plymouth4]

fleetwin,

Thanks for replying, I had to take the starter off to get to the carb. for a cleaning. The starter inner spring one has a hook
on it to engage so that the tension can be set to rewind the rope. What does the spring hook attach to.?
Thanks for helping.
GVB

[plymouth4]

Yes I’m installing a new rope. Could not get the proper tension set so that the rope would rewind. Spring is good.
Thanks GVB Unable to provide Pics.

[fleetwin]

OK, so you didn’t take the spring out of its lower retainer on the intake manifold, correct?
http://www.marineengine.com/parts/johnson-evinrude-parts.php?year=1973&hp=6&model=6R73S&manufacturer=Johnson&section=Rewind+Starter
Yours had the aluminum pulley, correct?
The split end of the shaft #4 should just fit down over the inner spring tang #3…
Is your starter reassembled now, is there spring tension if you turn the pinion counter clockwise?

The manual describes winding up the spring using a large screw driver inside the pulley, but this method is near impossible. Someone came up with a great idea though…Cut a slot in a 3/8″ bolt that will fit down inside the pulley over the roll pin, this way you can wind up the spring with a ratchet. I will have to consult the manual to see how many turns it gets wound, you will wreck the spring if you go too far. Once the spring is wound up, you can position a pair of pliers under the pinion to keep it locked into the flywheel so it will jam and not unwind while you install the rope. There is a specific length of rope and a specific way of knotting the rope on the pulley also to keep the knot from jamming on the rope guide….D

[plymouth4]

Yes I did take the spring out of the lower retainer. Yes aluminum pulley.
Will work on it and report back. Having trouble keeping the the spring and retainer together. Keeps falling out.
Does the bottom retainer have to come out or loosen??
Thanks for the advice.

[fleetwin]

Yes, the bottom retainer must be at least loosened in order the get the spring properly secured. How did you get the spring out of there, you must have had to loosen up the lower retainer to remove the spring. Once the spring is properly reinstalled in the retainer, you should be able to just drop the pulley in place, then rotate it until it engages the other spring tang…

[plymouth4]

HI Again,
Finally found time to put the starter together, guess what it works. Good recoil, attached the spring the way you suggested and everything
turned out fine.
Thanks for your help.
GVB

[fleetwin]

Glad it worked out OK….Usually, the starter does not have to be removed to get the carb off…Just lift it very slightly and gently push it off to one side. These recoils can be a challenge to work on, and you surely don’t want to damage the spring….

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