Lawn Mower Pull Cord Hard to Pull (Why + How to Improve)

Starting a lawn mower using a pull cord can take a significant amount of strength. Even a brand new mower can have a tough pull cord that demands a lot of power. But other than the size of your biceps, are there additional reasons that make your lawn mower pull cord hard to pull?

I’ve put together several reasons why your pull cord could be having difficulty starting your lawn mower, along with simple adjustments you can make to make the process easier. So let’s take a look and figure out why your lawn mower pull cord is hard to pull and how to fix it.

Why Your Lawn Mower is Hard to Pull Start (The Short Answer)

Your starting technique, the location where you’re trying to start the mower, and a problem with the starter mechanism are three areas that can cause the pull cord on your lawn mower to be extra hard to pull. By making adjustments in these areas, you should find it much easier to pull start your lawn mower.

Pull Cord on Lawn Mower Hard to Pull (4 Possible Reasons)

So, before you run to the gym to build up your biceps, let’s take a look at the individual reasons why your lawn mower pull cord is hard to pull.

Incorrect Pulling Method

As simple as it sounds, your pulling method might be causing you a problem. If you pull the cord in any direction other than straight out of the mower, you will be adding friction to the cord, which is going to make the pull cord on your lawn mower harder to pull.

So take a closer look at your mower and your arm’s direction when pulling the cord to see if your technique is causing the lawn mower starter cord to be extra hard to pull.

Blade Obstruction

Depending on where you are trying to start your lawn mower, there could be an obstruction created by the grass the mower is sitting on. For example, if your lawn mower is set to a low enough height, the grass could be getting in the way of the blades and adding a lot of resistance.

Compare the length of your grass to your mower’s height and see if this is causing a potential obstruction in the blades.

Damaged Handle and Cord

The handle and cord are the first places where you should diagnose why your start cord is hard to pull. It is common for the handles to break and the pull cords to snap. I’ll admit that I’m guilty of putting up with a broken handle and simply reattaching a damaged cord, no matter how much of it is left.

However, this approach can make it much more difficult to pull start the mower down the line. So, pull the starter cord and check to see how long it is. If you know it was repaired using a shorter length of cord or it has a broken handle, then replacing the mechanism with a brand new one is going to make pull starting the mower much more effortless.

Hydro Locking

Hydro locking is when engine oil creates an obstruction in the engine, and the piston has difficulty moving. This usually happens when too much oil has been added to the engine’s reservoir. As a result, oil is forced to the top of the piston because it has nowhere else to go.

In this case, pulling the cord can be much more challenging and, in some cases, near impossible. An easy way to check for hydro locking is to remove the spark plug and try to start the engine. Removing the spark plug releases the pressure in the engine and makes pulling the cord much more manageable.

Additionally, when you pull the cord with the spark plug removed, you’ll notice both fuel and oil eject out of the hole where the spark plug goes.

How to Fix a Lawn Mower Cord That’s Hard to Pull

We have covered a few reasons why your starter cord is hard to pull, and fortunately, the fixes are pretty easy to carry out. So let’s take a look and see how you can make a few adjustments to make starting your mower a much easier task.

Correcting Your Pulling Method

By taking a closer look at your lawn mower, you should see the direction the cord exits the recoil starter. Positioning yourself so you can pull the starter cord without adding friction to the line is going to make for a much easier pull.

Additionally, it helps if you use your other hand to stabilize the mower. Doing this ensures the energy you use when pulling the cord remains in the cord instead of moving the mower.

Eliminating The Blade Obstruction

If you believe that the grass could be causing an obstruction when trying to start the lawn mower, why not try starting the mower in a different area? I’d suggest giving it another go on the driveway where you know the grass isn’t going to be a problem. If this makes a difference, then you can try a different approach to starting the lawn mower the next time around.

If I find myself in tall grass that I know is going to cause a blade obstruction, then I lift the front of the mower before pulling the start cord. Using one of your hands to stabilize the mower, press down on the handle and lift the front wheels off of the ground. This will lift the blades out of the grass and eliminate the obstruction.

With the front wheels of the mower raised, it should be much easier to pull the start cord.

Replacing the Handle & Cord

If you have discovered that you have a damaged cord and broken handle, you’ll need to carry out a fix to replace them. Let’s take a look at the steps you’ll need to follow and the parts and tools needed to repair the pull start mechanism.

Remove the Engine Cover

Start by removing the bolt that holds the engine cover in place. A socket wrench should work fine for this.

Remove the Recoil House

With the bolts removed, lift off the engine cover and set it to one side.

Tie a Knot in the Cord

Next, pull out the cord several inches and tie a knot in the cord. This knot will stop the cord from going back into the recoil housing if you happen to let go of it.

Cut the Cord at the Handle

Cut off the starter handle using scissors and set it to one side. Just make sure that you don’t cut off the knot when you cut the cord.

Pull out the Cord

Next, pull the cord all the way out of the housing until there is no more cord in the starter.

Clamp the Recoil Hub

Keeping hold of the fully extended cord, take your clamp and place it onto the starter so it is held in place and can’t recoil. Be careful not to tighten the clamp too much since you could damage the starter. You just need to hold the starter in place.

Remove the Old Cord

On the inside of the starter hub, you’ll find the end of the cord with a knot. Take hold of the knot and pull the old cord out of the starter.

Thread the New Cord into the Starter Hub

Thread your new cord through the hub in the same way you removed the old one. If you are unsure what length the replacement cord should be, you could do a little research or match it to the old cord if you know it’s still in the original length.

Knot the New Cord on the Starter Hub

With the new cord in place, tie a knot on the inside end of the cord. Try to get the knot as close to the end of the cord as possible. If you find that once you have tied the knot, you have excess cord beyond the knot, then use your scissors to remove it.

Thread and Knot the New Cord into the Handle

Next, thread the cord through the handle and tie a firm knot at the end.

Remove the Clamp

Get a firm grip on the cord close to the starter house, and remove the clamp. With the clamp removed, the recoil spring will want to recoil the cord back into the housing, so make sure you maintain a strong grip.

Feed in the Cord & Test

Slowly let go of your grip and allow the recoil spring to turn the hub and take in the cord. Try to do this slowly so that you can check that it is recoiling correctly. Once the cord has recoiled completely, give the starter a try. Do this by pulling the handle and then allowing the spring to pull the cord back in.

Reinstall the Recoil

Finally, with the cord working correctly, you can reinstall it back onto your lawn mower and check that it’s working properly.

Tools & Parts Required to Replace Handle and Cord

• Socket Wrench
• Scissors
• C-Clamp
• Needle Nose Pliers
• New Cord
• New Handle

Clearing a Hydro Lock

You have already completed half of the fix process during the diagnosis of a hydro lock. All that remains is removing excess oil from the engine, including the oil that has worked its way into the top of the engine. So let’s run through the complete process and go over the tools you are going to need.

Remove the Spark Plug

The first step is to remove the spark plug using your spark plug tool. Set the removed spark plug to one side and tuck the ignition cable out of the way.

Cover the Spark Plug Area

Next, place an old rag loosely over the area where you removed the spark plug from. This is so that the rag collects the oil and fuel that will spill out of the engine.

Pull the Starter Cord

Once you are ready, go ahead and pull the starter cord. Repeat this several times until you believe you have successfully removed all of the oil in the mower’s cylinder head. To confirm this, swap your rag for a new one and give the engine another pull. Next, take a look at the rag and confirm that it only has fuel on it and not oil.

Spray Engine Starter

Because the cylinder head will have oil residue inside, it’s best to use an engine starter spray to help get the engine started. So, spray the engine starter into the hole where you removed the spark plug.

Install the Spark Plug

Next, reinstall the spark plug and attach the ignition cable.

Start the Engine

Finally, start your lawn mower. It will probably take a few pulls. Once you get the mower started, allow it to idle until the mower stops smoking. The smoking will stop once all of the oil in the cylinder head has burned off.

Problems Starting the Mower

I find that releasing the hydro lock is quite simple, but getting the mower started is a whole other story. If you are having trouble starting the mower, you could try spraying the engine starter spray directly into the carburetor. You’ll have to remove the air filter and spray directly down into the carb to do this.

Tools Required to Clear a Hydro Lock

• Spark Plug Wrench
• Cleaning Cloths
• Engine Starter Spray