Chain Saw: Starter Rope Pulls Freely or Little Resistance

The pulley in your chainsaw is a part of the starter assembly, and is attached to your starter spring. If the pulley is damaged, it can cause your rope to pull freely. Some starter pulleys have ears that engage with the starter pawls on the flywheel. If the ears wear down, they won’t engage to the pawls and the rope will pull freely. It is common for the back side of the starter pulley, where it meets the spring, to break off. In that case you will need to replace the pulley. To replace this part, you will first have to take the starter rope and pull it all the way out, inserting a small screwdriver, securing the rewind spring and pulley. Take out the rope and the screwdriver, releasing tension on the recoil spring by rotating it. Loosen off the bolt in the center to take off the friction plate, then take off the rewind spring and pulley. Now you should be able to install the new rewind spring and pulley by lining it up with the housing post. Finally, rotate the pulley, tightening the spring in the process, put the screwdriver back in and attach the rope. Allow it to wind up slowly and put it back onto the engine.

Normally when you pull the starter rope, the pulley is rotated, and the teeth on it engage the flywheel. The flywheel then rotates the engine over, causing it to start. If the flywheel is worn or broken where the starter pulley engages it, it can cause the starter rope to pull freely. In this case, the engine won’t turn over, and the chainsaw won’t start. For more information about the pulley, see the appropriate section on this page.

Often, when your starter rope pulls freely or with little resistance, it is related to the starter. The starter turns over the engine until it’s able to run independently. The rope engages the starter when you pull it, which is what turns over the engine. The recoil spring retracts the rope from there. Replacing the entire starter is usually an easier and more convenient job than repairing individual parts that make up the starter. Replacement involves removing the engine cover and bolts holding the starter down. Install the new starter.

The cylinder and piston maintain engine compression. If the piston rings and the cylinder are damaged there will be little or no compression and the rope will pull freely. This will prevent your chainsaw from starting properly. If the piston ring is damaged, a simply replacement ring should allow it to maintain compression normally. However, if there is damage to the cylinder, you will probably need to replace it.