Chain Saw: Starter Rope Won't Retract

The starter housing and/or engine cover for your chainsaw can occasionally become damaged, and it can result in this symptom. It may cause the rope to snag, and prevent the rope from retracting. If you notice damage to your starter housing or engine cover (it is quite often easy to detect), you will need to replace it to prevent the rope from snagging in the future.

Your chainsaw’s starter rope is connected to the pulley, which in turn engages the starter pawl and spins the flywheel. If the pulley is damaged where it attaches, it will cause the spring to disconnect from the pulley and the rope will not be able to retract. This same problem can result from damage to the spring, so when you’re troubleshooting your machine, be sure to determine whether the spring, the pulley, or another part is broken, so you can fix it effectively.

The starter assembly for your chainsaw rotates to begin the engine firing process. It begins to rotate when the starter rope is pulled. When functioning normally, the rope will retract back into the machine after it has been pulled. If your chainsaw doesn’t fire up on the first try, you will not be able to start it up until the starter rope has been retracted. The starter assembly has several smaller parts that can prevent the rope from retracting normally. The rope can also get twisted or caught inside the starter assembly. If the rope isn’t twisted or stuck, then you will need to determine which of the smaller parts inside the assembly is causing the issue, or simply replace the assembly itself. We recommend replacing the entire starter as opposed to all the smaller parts inside, as it is an easier repair and will ensure that all the small parts in your starter assembly are new and running at their best, preventing future repairs.

The starter spring in your chainsaw is attached to the pawl, inside the starter assembly. A broken spring will prevent the rope from retracting. Often, the spring can become broken when too much force is applied to the starter rope, when attempting to start your chainsaw. This is the case for many parts inside the starter assembly. The spring can also become stretched over time, which will prevent it from holding tension. The spring can be replaced individually, or you can replace the entire starter assembly to fix this issue, which we recommend as a simpler method.

When your chainsaw’s starter rope is damaged, twisted, or stuck, it can become unable to retract. The starter rope can jump off the pulley and become wedged between the pulley and the housing, causing the starter to jam. A frayed rope can also become stuck inside the starter assembly and jam the starter up. The rope can also snap altogether from fray and wear. You may be able to dislodge the starter rope and prevent this symptom, but if the rope is damaged, or it has caused damaged to one or more parts in the starter assembly, it should be replaced. When installing a new rope, we recommend burning both ends with a lighter to stop future fraying.