Re: 1972 4hp Evinrude Starter Retract Spring Replacement
The best way is with the special spring winding tool. But since you don't have that, here's how (from hazy memory because I had the tool and never did it this way).
Take it all apart. Make sure the flat washer is in the spring cup. A dab of grease will help stick it in there. Lube the plastic bushings in the rope pulley and make sure they are both in place. Turn the spring loose and let it straigten out. Hook the inner end into the rope pulley. Place the spring in the slot in the spring retainer, and rope pulley into the retainer also. Now turn the pulley in the normal direction that it turns when you pull the rope--Clockwise if I remember correctly. As you turn the pulley, it will draw the spring through the slot and into the retainer. Smear a bit of grease on the spring as it goes in. The rest is just reassemble it the way you got it apart. When you bolt it to the powerhead, rotate it till the pinion gear fully engages the flywheel and then rotate back just a hair so it isn't jamming tightly into the flywheel teeth, then tighten the adjustment screw in the slot.
