How to Replace the Starter Pulley on a Poulan Chainsaw (Model P3314)

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Do you pull the starter rope and nothing happens? You might need a new starter pulley. The starter pulley has the starter rope attached to it. It also attaches to the recoil spring. When you pull the starter rope, the pulley is rotated. The teeth on the pulley engage the flywheel, which turns the engine, causing it to start.

The teeth on the starter pulley will wear over time. Eventually, the teeth will no longer make contact with the pawls on the flywheel. Sometimes, the pulley will wear at the point where the recoil spring attaches.

This article provides step-by-step instructions for replacing the starter spring on a Poulan chainsaw.

Let's get started.   REMOVING THE STARTER PULLEY [top] 1. Remove the top cover.

Remove the (3) screws securing the top cover to the saw.

Lift the top cover away from the saw.

  2. Remove the starter assembly.

Remove the (4) screws securing the starter assembly to the (side) of the saw.

Remove the starter assembly from the saw.

  3. Discharge the starter recoil spring.

Pull (and hold) the starter rope (about halfway) out of the starter assembly (as if starting the engine).

Fold the starter rope in half and tie a (temporary) knot in the rope as close to the starter housing as possible.

Allow the rope to recoil into the starter assembly until the temporary knot engages the starter housing.

Slide the starter handle away from the knotted-end of the starter rope.

Untie the knot in the end of the starter rope (or use scissors to cut the knot, if necessary).

Slide the starter handle off the starter rope.

Untie the temporary knot in the middle of the starter rope.

Release the starter rope; allow the rope to recoil all the way into the starter housing.

  4. Remove the starter rope from the starter pulley.

Unwind the (entire length of) starter rope from the starter pulley.

Remove the screw securing the starter rope to the pulley.

Remove the starter rope from the starter pulley.

  5. Remove the starter pulley.

Remove the screw securing the pulley to the starter housing.

Slowly lift the starter pulley away from the starter housing, ensuring that the starter spring remains seated within the housing. Do not lift the starter spring out of the housing; doing so may cause the spring to rapidly expand in an uncontrolled (and potentially dangerous) manner.

  INSTALLING THE NEW STARTER PULLEY [top] 6. Install the starter pulley.

Align the slot on the bottom of the new starter pulley with the tab on the inside of the starter spring.

Install the starter pulley into the starter housing, and rotate the pulley slightly until the slot on the pulley engages the tab on the spring.

Secure the starter pulley to the starter housing with the screw.

  REASSEMBLING THE UNIT [top] 7. Recoil the starter spring.

Maintain a firm grip on the starter pulley while rotating it in a clockwise direction. Be careful not to release the pulley during this step. Doing so can result in injuries to your fingertips.

Continue rotating the starter pulley in a clockwise direction until it cannot be rotated any further.

Once the spring is fully tensioned; rotate the pulley in a counter-clockwise direction until the hole on the pulley (for the starter rope) aligns with the eyelet in the starter housing. Do not release the pulley at this point.

  8. Reinstall the starter rope.

Keep pressure on the starter pulley (to prevent it from uncoiling), and thread the end of the starter rope (from the outside to the inside) through the eyelet on the starter housing.

Use long-nosed pliers (or a pick) to thread the starter rope into and through the opening in the starter pulley.

Loop the exposed portion of the starter rope around itself and tuck the loop into the groove on the starter pulley.

Secure the starter rope to the starter pulley with the screw. Do not allow the starter pulley to unwind at this point.

  9. Reinstall the starter handle.

Fold the starter rope in half and tie a (temporary) knot in the rope.

Allow the rope to recoil into the starter assembly until the temporary knot engages the starter housing.

Thread the starter rope through the center of the starter handle.

Tie an overhand knot in the end of the starter rope.

Tuck the knot into the recess in the top of the starter handle.

Untie the temporary knot from the middle of the starter rope.

Allow the rope to recoil all the way into the starter housing.

  10. Reinstall the starter assembly.

Install the starter assembly to the engine.

Pull the starter rope slowly until the flywheel engages the starter assembly.

Secure the starter assembly to the engine with the (4) screws.

  11. Reinstall the top cover.

Install the top cover onto the saw.

Secure the top cover with the (3) screws.

Do-it-yourself repairs like these are easier than you might think: From lawn machines to cordless drills, kitchen mixers to outdoor grills. Our "how-to" articles walk you through each repair from start to finish.

So, doing-it-yourself means never having to do it alone.

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