I used a large prybar screwdriver that had a square shaft and a large adjustable wrench. I also used a quick grip ratchet clamp.
When I replaced the cord on my 1966 Johnson 5 hp, I used a very large screwdriver that had a square shaft on it. I used a large adjustable wrench on the square shaft and turned it while pushing down on the screwdriver handle in that top screw. I needed two people to do the job. While I push down and turned the screwdriver with the wrench, the other person would take a pair of quick grip, ratcheting, squeeze clams and put it around the lower end of the rope drum and clamp it on when I got tired. it held the drum in place until I could get re-situated. He released the clamp and I did another turn or two and the he would reclamp it. Did it several times until it was the proper amount of turns. I installed the rope and tied it all off and released the clamp and at that point, it pulled the cord in and the set up worked perfectly.
