Reply To: Recoil starter sticking – 1958 Evinrude 3 hp

[Don]

Oftentimes it is the aluminum ring that supports the gas tank that is too blame.  These poor engines got knocked around, dropped quite a bit.  The ring is screwed to the cylinder head in the rear of the engine, but the front of the ring/gas tank support is positioned by that horizontal bracket that is screwed to the top of the powerhead.  Oftentimes this horizontal support gets bent down as well.   Once the tank droops down a bit, the recoil pulley drags on the flywheel.

All that being said, probably best to make sure the recoil is properly assembled as well….