Reply To: Recoil starter

[Don]

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