Did you ever figure out where to install the spring? I've installed two now, both snapped in half the first time I mowed. It is rubbing on something causing this friction and breakage, so I don't think I have it installed correctly...

Check the starter, it may be stuck

We had to use an air tool to gets ours off...Good luck

You may want to print this post.

Here what I did after 6 hard days of trying. The idea here is prevent the blade spindle for spinning. I used a lot of w-40.
-Get the entirely deck off . ( Very easy)
-Get the nut and the pulley out ( You may need a 3 jaw pulley puller)
-Buy a additional nut 16x17 (0.41 cent at Truevalue Store)
*also, you will need a socket 16x17 (3.99 at my NAPA store)

-Now after i got the nut, pulley out i put the nut back in on the blade spindle.
i tight it up. Then, put the additional nut along the first nut.

- At this point you will need to put the desk upside up. (yes is heavy!)
Then, I lifted my deck up withing a table and 1 small stoop. (the idea is to leave soon room under the deck to work.)

-As I have nobody to hold the deck for me while I worked; i decided to make 4 small holes on the desk and provisionally, I attached the deck to the table with wood screws.

-Take your 16x17 socket and pull the blade's nut off.
-Now, working for below, i used an adjustable wrench to hold just my first nut -The one closest to the body deck- on the spindle. (Tip: I managed to put the adjustable wrench on such a way it got stocked with some other part of the deck.)

I use more w-40 and used a filer to clean the top of the spindle.

-Finally, go ahead and start loosing up your blade's nut. ( Just in case you still have the blade there, hold it with piece of wood so it does NOT moved. ) The adapter blade should came off as soon as you take the nut off AND hammer out the spindle.

*To protect the spindle's thread from damages; i put a piece of wood on the top before hammered it off.

Hope this help.