What's the best way you found to recoil the recoil spring

[Race]

Broke the the pull cord on the Pro and when I took it apart I mistakenly pulled too hard on the plastic reel and unraveled the the recoil spring. What have you found to be the easiest way to get it back in the housing?

Also, I it took me a long time too take out the two bottom 5mm screws on the housing. Besides a short 5mm allen wrench and some fumbling around.....any secrets or short cuts on removing them? Thanks

 

[theultrarider]

Once you've screwed up and popped the spring it a lot of fun lol. Naw. It ain't too bad but does often help to have a third hand. Hook the outside wind of the spring into the recoil housing and start winding it there one wind at a time. Once you've do a few it can be done alone. Isnt hard at all. But one slip and the whole thing pops back out in your face like an angry snake!

 

[wfieldin]

Take out the motor mounts bolts on that side and you can pry the engine up enough to access the lower bolts a whole lot easier.

 

[jetski]

buy a box of beer and watch three of your best friends almost lose their eyes winding it back in lol.

 

[4Z]

I leave the bottom two bolts out.

 

[Race]

Once you've screwed up and popped the spring it a lot of fun lol. Naw. It ain't too bad but does often help to have a third hand. Hook the outside wind of the spring into the recoil housing and start winding it there one wind at a time. Once you've do a few it can be done alone. Isnt hard at all. But one slip and the whole thing pops back out in your face like an angry snake!

Alright, I'll give it a try!

 

[Race]

Take out the motor mounts bolts on that side and you can pry the engine up enough to access the lower bolts a whole lot easier.

I thought there could be an easier way. I did the same thing taking out with the steering post on a 09 Assault. Thanks for the reminder

I leave the bottom two bolts out.

If it doesn't put too much stress on the rest of the bolt's I guess it ok, I don't see a problem with it. These housing's may be over designed just like the chaincase on my 03 Escape, its got one bolt stripped out but still holds a seal.

 

[mt.aero]

I just did this too. removing the motor mounts was the easiest way. Also to note, after you get it set, pre-wind the recoil at least 5 times to get a good amount of tension. I did it 3 times before I pulled the cord from the recoil housing through the body panel and I'll be removing it to wind it up some more. It works, but it just feels a little too loose especially when its cold.

Anyone have a good number of pre-winds they recommend?

 

[jeepin270]

I had that issue last yr. I jus picked up a new used one off eBay for 30 bucks.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

Stan, once you get the spring back into the housing and the reel(without the old or new rope on it), take and size a pair of 4" vice grip clamps to just hold the reel against the housing(too tight and it will damage the plastic, too loose and it wont hold tight when the spring is wound up), then set them aside, and wind the reel/housing in the direction of pulling the rope out..wind until it stops(spring binds up), now look where the rope hole in the housing is compared to the hole in the reel, back up the reel until the holes align(unwinding the spring up to 1 turn to align)..once aligned, use the vice grips to clamp the reel to the housing...now simply feed the rope end thru the hole in the housing, into the hole on the reel, and pull it thru enough to tie it..(I use a simple bow knot but run the tail thru the opening twice), now grab the end of the rope with pliers, while wrapping several wraps around your other hand and tighten the knot as tight as you can, then feed knot and end into the tub as you pull the rope tight.. next, on the long piece hanging out of the housing make a simple knot(has to be able to be removed after the recoil is installed and rope fed thru the cowling and handle installed), once loop knot is made, hold rope and release vice grips...the loop knot will hold the rope while recoil is installed and rope ran thru cowling and handle installed..once everything is good..untie the loop knot at the recoil so the rope can travel freely.....I double loop both knots so they cant pull loose down the road....

 

[Race]

Stan, once you get the spring back into the housing and the reel(without the old or new rope on it), take and size a pair of 4" vice grip clamps to just hold the reel against the housing......

....the loop knot will hold the rope while recoil is installed and rope ran thru cowling and handle installed..once everything is good..untie the loop knot at the recoil so the rope can travel freely.....I double loop both knots so they cant pull loose down the road....

Thanks Mike I just got it back in the housing with the reel on.....Did as Ultrarider suggested and got a third hand...after the 4th or 5th round it got real easy.

Also I like to put a knot right after the handle so if it does brake at the handle, the knot will catch it before it goes in the housing hole. My rope broke about a foot after the handle on this one.