Cultivator: Starter Rope Won't Retract

Your cultivator’s starter housing or engine cover protects the engine and starter, but this can occasionally cause it to become damaged. When the starter housing becomes damaged, it can cause the rope to snap when it is pulled out. Usually, you will be able to remove the starter housing and simply untangle the starter rope, which will solve the issue. However, if the starter housing is damaged, it may continually cause this issue, in which case you will need to replace it to avoid having to untangle the starter rope often.

The starter rope in your cultivator wraps around the pulley, and when you pull the starter rope, the pulley spins and begins the engine’s start-up process. The pulley also has a recoil spring, which builds the tension required to recoil the starter rope. Sometimes, the pulley can become damaged where the recoil spring attaches. This will cause the rope to not retract. Before you replace the pulley, ensure that the problem isn’t simply a loose or damaged recoil spring. If the pulley is in fact damaged, it will need to be replaced before your starter rope will retract properly.

A broken or malfunctioning recoil spring on your cultivator is a common part that could be to blame for your starter rope not retracting. The recoil spring attaches to the pulley and provides the required tension, that allows the starter rope to retract after it is pulled. Sometimes the recoil spring (sometimes known as the tension spring) will slide out of its slot on the starter, and lose its tension. In this case, you may be able to take apart the starter and simply replace the spring and re-tension it. However, the recoil spring can occasionally break, and this will result in a starter rope that won’t recoil. When this happens, the spring will have to be replaced and re-tensioned before your starter rope will retract properly.

When your cultivator’s starter rope won’t retract, you will not be able to get the engine started until the problem is resolved. When you discover the rope won’t retract, it generally means that the starter rope has become bound up or snagged somewhere. This issue is usually caused by one of the starter components. Replacing the starter assembly entirely is a quick and easy way to solve this problem. However, if you can determine which of the starter’s parts is damaged or worn, you can replace them individually as well.

There are several problems that can occur with your cultivator’s starter rope that will cause it to be unable to retract once it is pulled. Occasionally, the rope can jump off the pulley, and become wrapped between the pulley and the starter housing. Usually when this occurs, you can simply open the starter and housing and re-wind the rope onto the pulley. However, the starter rope can also fray and bind up in the starter housing. The frayed rope can eventually cause it to break entirely, and the rope will bind up more often it is frayed. A broken or damaged rope should be replaced to fix this symptom.