Starter rope replacement 1998 8hp Evinrude.

[cprodave]

The rope on my E8RECR broke. As a test of how to restore spring tension with the old broken rope still in-place i started winding counterclockwise (as viewed from below). This is the direction indicated by "WIND" molded onto the wheel. I rotated the wheel maybe 6 full turns CCW but did not feel any gain in spring tension . How many rotations should it take to build up adequate tension? I don't want to break anything! I already screwed up by not replacing the rope at first sign of fraying--it would have been easier.

 

[cprodave]

Photo added.

 

[Crosbyman]

the spring may be broken or unhooked off the retaining pin due to the backlash on the spring when the cord broke.

up to you.... but maybe you should open the whole thing up and inspect
the innards

The Johnson red book hasa few hints on fixing up older but similar starters
Recoil Starters (duckworksmagazine.com)

 

[cprodave]

the spring may be broken or unhooked off the retaining pin due to the backlash on the spring when the cord broke.

up to you.... but maybe you should open the whole thing up and inspect
the innards

The Johnson red book hasa few hints on fixing up older but similar starters
Recoil Starters (duckworksmagazine.com)

I opened up and inspected the innards, Good news was that nothing was broken. I found the innermost hooked end of the Spring had come off the Pulley #7 p/n 435741 although the Spring was still wound tight and remained in-place. Long story short as I attempted to Hooked End positioned correctly in the Pulley the Spring flew out of place. Rewinding the Spring and getting the Spring back into the #4 Housing p/n 339037 is quite a challenge.
Are there any tips/trick for rewinding the Spring, getting the Spring into the Housing and then getting the Hooked End of the Spring into the mating area of the Pulley?
Also the Root Cause for the Starter Rope fraying/breaking might be a sharp edge "as manufactured" on the #2 Rope Guide p/n 336148. Has anybody else noticed this sharp edge?
Thanks in advance...

 

[cprodave]

I made this crude tool and got the Spring rewound into the Housing but how do i get the Hooked end of the Spring to mate into the slot of the Pulley? I have been unsuccessful using 50lb monofilament line to pull the hook inward for proper alignment. Any proven ideas/tips?

 

[racerone]

I think you put the one end on the pully.----Then put the pulley in place.------Then wind the pulley until the spring is fully in the housing.----Actually quite painless and simple.

 

[cprodave]

Racerone, thanks, it worked although it is probably easier to get the Hook in the Slot using a new Spring vs. an aged one that has taken a "set".
Anybody have any input re: Rope Guide fraying the Rope?

 

[Crosbyman]

try to polish off any friction areas if any on the guide'S inner surfaces....
you can always buy a new guide maybe the fixed the "problem"

what was the life span on the pull cord 23 years...???

if so, I would not declare this an issue to fix.

make certain you reinstall a quality pull cord ! rubbing a bit of parafin or bee's wax may help reduce friction.

 

[Crosbyman]

btw if the wear/break area is the same you can always slip on a 10-12 inch piece of heat shrink tubing over the pull cord . It should not impeed the operation while protecting the wear zone.

 

[cprodave]

To clarify how the Rope broke...I bought this 1-owner motor 2 or 3 years ago. I have no idea whether the original Owner ever replaced the Rope. About 3 months ago I noticed the Rope was fraying. Not wanting to deal with a Broken Rope I then replaced the Rope with the most similar (but temporary) Rope I could find at a local hardware store. Although the Hardware Store Rope had similar outside braided material with similar core material, it was slightly smaller diameter. The "next size up" at the hardware store had diameter too large to fit in the Pulley. Meanwhile I ordered/received correct OMC/BRP 5/32 inch diameter Rope p/n 322236 but hadn't gotten around to installing it (prime fishing/hunting season here in Virginia!) It is possible that I installed the Hardware store rope with 1/2 inch or so slack rope. This may have allowed movement of the Rope inside the Rope Guide as the motor runs/vibrates.
I checked the Rope Guide by visual inspection (best I can do without removing the Rope Guide from the Housing) and also by probing with a Q-tip (the cotton should catch on any rough surfaces). No rough surfaces were found. I will add some shrink tubing (inside diameter shrinks from 1/4inch to 1/8 inch, longest I have on-hand is about 4-5 inches) plus beeswax. Also I will make sure the Rope has no slack. This should give results that last at least another 5-10 years, maybe even 23 years (which is probably as long as I have remaining on this side of the grass).
Thanks for the advice.

 

[racerone]

Proper starter cord is something called ---" double braided "----No or little stretch stuff.-----Another example of stuff that looks the same but is not the same.

 

[Crosbyman]

I buy my starter cords at a tool rental place .
With multiple power tools and negligent customers wearing down/breaking pull cords all the time they have good quality cord in all sizes for their tool maintenance shop and us "outboarders" . They sell me whatever I need at minimal cost.
No need to buy 500 feet on Amazon

 

[cprodave]

I buy my starter cords at a tool rental place .
With multiple power tools and negligent customers wearing down/breaking pull cords all the time they have good quality cord in all sizes for their tool maintenance shop and us "outboarders" . They sell me whatever I need at minimal cost.
No need to buy 500 feet on Amazon

Thanks for info on what and where to buy good quality cord. I bought mine online from a reputable outboard parts supplier, but good to know for the future where i can buy locally "in a pinch" .