How to Replace the Starter Rope on a Ryobi Handheld Gas Blower

 

If falling leaves and a faulty blower are threatening to bury you beneath a pile of debt and debris; it's time to face the fix. Whether you are a seasonal garden enthusiast or a seasoned landscape professional, eReplacementparts.com provides the parts, procedures and facts you need to fearlessly fix what fails you.

Installing a new starter rope can be tense; both for the installer, and in a very literal sense. That's because creating tension is the key to correctly installing every starter rope. Aside from that, it's not a particularly difficult repair. Just follow the simple steps below (and pay close attention to steps 12-15) and the only tension you'll encounter during this repair will be intentional.   THE FACTS | THE FIX | THE FINISH   REMOVING THE STARTER ROPE  [top]   1. Remove the blower tube.

Twist and pull the tube away from the blower.

    2. Remove the side housing from the blower.

Remove the two screws holding the base extension to the housing; pull to remove the extension from the housing.

Remove the screws holding the side housing; pull to separate the side housing from the main assembly.

    3. (Preparing to) Remove the fan.

FIX TRIX: You will discover that rotating the nut causes the fan and the motor shaft to rotate concurrently, precluding your ability to loosen the nut from the shaft. This obstacle can be overcome by removing the spark plug and binding the cylinder with a short length of starter rope.

    4. Remove the spark plug.

Using a spark plug boot puller tool, remove the spark plug boot.

Use a ratchet wrench to unscrew the spark plug; remove the spark plug.

    5. Bind the cylinder.

Thread a short length of starter rope into the cylinder to fill the space between the top of the piston and the top of the cylinder. This will prevent the piston (and motor) from moving during removal of the fan.

    6. Remove the fan.

Remove the nut holding the fan on the motor shaft; remove the washer.

Remove the fan.

    7. Remove the air filter cover and side cover.

Unscrew the retaining bolt and pull gently to remove the air filter cover.

Remove the retaining screws and remove the side cover from the blower.

    8. Remove the throttle cable from the carburetor.

Retract the throttle arm slightly to create slack in the throttle cable; remove the cable from the carburetor assembly.

    9. Remove the remaining half of housing from the engine assembly.

Extract the housing screws and separate the housing from the engine assembly. Note the position of the spacer tube and washer on the engine shaft, as these may slide readily from the assembly.

  10. Remove the starter pulley.

Remove the screws from the three tabs that hold the starter pulley in place.

Remove the starter pulley.

  INSTALLING THE NEW STARTER ROPE  [top]   11. Install the new starter rope on the starter pulley.

SPECIFIX: The end of the starter rope is often crimped to facilitate installation on the pulley. If the starter rope you are installing does not contain a crimped end, a small knot should be tied before installing.

Insert the crimped end of the rope into the recessed portion of the pulley; ensure that the crimp (or knot) engages the indents the indents of the pulley to prevent the rope from pulling-free.

Thread the opposite end of the rope into the recessed portion of the pulley and through the hole in the side.

Continue to feed the starter rope through the opening in the pulley until all of the slack is removed from the attachment point.

      12. Install the pulley on the housing.

SPECIFIX: This is where things might get tense. In fact, creating tension is the only way that this repair will be successful. Most starters allow the installer to “preload” the spring with tension before installing the rope and pulley. This model is unique, and will require you to situate the pulley in the housing before winding the spring.

Thread the starter rope upright through the notch in the pulley.

Install the starter pulley into the housing; press and rotate the pulley slightly to engage the spring.

      13. Rewind the spring.

SPECIFIX: It is critical to maintain downward pressure on the pulley assembly as you rewind the spring. Otherwise, the entire assembly can fly out of the housing, creating a potential safety hazard. Once you begin winding the pulley assembly, do not release pressure until specifically instructed to do so.

Begin rotating the pulley in a clockwise direction to introduce tension into starter spring. [Continue rotating the pulley until no further motion is possible.]

Continue applying downward pressure to the starter pulley while carefully installing two (2) of the pulley retaining tabs and screws. The third retaining tab should not installed until completion of the next step.

      14. Thread the starter rope through the eyelets on the housing.

Rotate the pulley to align the starter rope with the eyelets on the housing.

Thread the starter rope through both of the eyelets in the housing until no slack remains.

Install the final pulley retaining tab and tighten it securely with the screw.

      15. Rewind the starter rope.

While holding the exposed end of the starter rope, partially release downward pressure from the starter pulley, enabling it to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction.

As the starter pulley rotates, partially release pressure from the starter rope, allowing it to wrap around the pulley several times.

Tie a temporary knot in the starter rope to prevent it from winding any further into the housing assembly.

      16. Install the starter grip.

Thread the starter rope through the starter grip.

Tie a permanent knot in the end of the starter rope to secure the starter grip in place.

Remove the temporary knot from the starter rope.

      REASSAMBLING THE UNIT  [top]   17. Reinstall the engine housing.

Side the washer over the motor shaft and seat it into the flywheel recess.

Align the housing above the motor shaft and slide it into position. (Ensure that the spark plug connector is not obstructed or pinched by the housing.)

Secure the housing to the engine with the screws.

Slide the spacer tube onto the motor shaft.

    18. Reinstall the motor housing (side cover).

Install the motor housing and secure it with the screws removed earlier.

    19. Reinstall the throttle cable.

Retract the throttle arm slightly and – using long-nosed pliers – install the throttle cable into the attachment recess.

    20. Reinstall the air filter cover.

Position and seat the air filter gasket; align and secure the air filter cover.

    21. Reinstall the impeller (fan).

Slide the first of the two large washers over the motor shaft beneath the impeller.

Install the impeller onto the motor shaft and place the second large washer into position above of the impeller.

Install and securely tighten the impeller retaining nut using a ratchet wrench.

  22. Reinstall the spark plug.

Remove the temporary binding rope from the cylinder.

Install the spark plug and reattach the connecting end-cap.

  23. Reinstall the side (fan) housing.

Align the fan housing with the holes in the main assembly. The two halves should snap together when properly aligned.

Secure the fan housing with the screws.

  24. Reinstall the base extension.

 Slide the base extension back into the housing and secure it with the screws.

  25. Reinstall the blower tube.

Slide the blower tube onto the main assembly and twist it to secure it in position.

  THE FACTS | THE FIX  | THE FINISH You can't place a value on a job well done; unless you did it yourself. (Which you just did.) Now you can place the value right back into your own pocket. Or back into your business. Not only did you restore blower functionality at a fraction of the cost of replacement; you have blown away all doubts about your ability to fearlessly face the next fix, regardless of the tension involved. Find your next fix here.   [top]