No matter how many times you yank your lawn mower pull cord, if it’s not catching, then your mower is not going to start. Unfortunately, lawn mowers that rely on a pull cord to start are open to breakdowns unique to this design. So, if you want to get your mower started again, you’re going to have to pull off the top of the mower and take a look.
Fixing a Lawn Mower Pull Cord That’s Not Catching (The Short Explanation)
The cause of a lawn mower pull cord not catching is usually a problem with the pawls and flywheel cup between the recoil starter and the flywheel. The pawls are the devices that lock into the flywheel cup when you pull the cord and then unlock when you release the cord. If the pawls or cup break, the pull cord mechanism will not catch the flywheel.
Why Your Lawn Mower’s Pull Cord is Not Catching (2 Possible Reasons)
Lawn mower pull cords can have several different problems, which all result in your lawn mower not starting. A starter cord that is hard to pull or a starter cord that won’t pull are both issues you can face with your lawn mower, but they are not the same as a lawn mower pull cord not catching. So let’s take a closer look at the mechanism and see what the pawls and the flywheel cup are doing or not doing.
What are Pawls?
A pawl is a pivoted bar or lever that catches a cog or ratchet so that the cog or ratchet can only turn in one direction. Well, that’s the definition, anyway.
When it comes to your lawn mower, the pawl is what connects the starter cord to the flywheel cup during the starting process. So, when you pull your lawn mower cord, the center of the recoil starter spins and uses centrifugal force to pivot two small plastic pawls. These pawls lock into the flywheel cup and make the connection needed to turn the flywheel.
The reason pawls are used is because when the starter cord is released, and the engine is running, the pawls tuck away and separate the starter and the flywheel. This is the same job a starter motor solenoid does when it clicks the electrical motor into place. Unfortunately, with a lot of use, the pawls can crack and break.
What is a Flywheel Cup
A flywheel cup is a small plastic or metal cup-looking device that bolts on top of the flywheel. The cup has a series of openings that the pawls lock into during the pulling of the starter cord. So, like the pawls, with a lot of use, the flywheel cup can wear down and break.
Diagnosing your Lawn Mower Pull Cord Not Catching
So if your lawn mower pull cord has no tension or if your lawn mower pull cord has no resistance, then it’s more than likely the pull cord is not engaging the flywheel. To confirm this, you will need to inspect what is going on under the recoil starter. Here are the steps you’ll need to carry out your inspection.
- Remove the Spark Plug
- Remove the Blower Housing Bolts
- Remove the Blower Housing
- Remove the Recoil Starter
- Remove the Friction Plate
- Inspect the Pawls
- Inspect the Flywheel Cup
Tools Needed to Diagnose the Pawls & Flywheel Cup
- Socket Wrench Set
- Screwdriver
Remove the Spark plug
Before doing any repair or maintenance on your lawn mower, you should always remove the ignition cable from the spark plug and tuck it out of the way. This is a sure way to prevent the engine from accidentally starting.
Remove the Blower Housing Bolts
To get to the recoil starter, you’ll have to remove the cover of the lawn mower. The cover, or otherwise known as the blower housing, is secured to the lawn mower with several bolts. So, take a socket wrench and remove all the bolts holding the blower housing to the lawn mower.
Remove the Blower Housing
Once you have all the bolts removed, double-check that nothing is connected or passing through the housing. Some lawn mowers will have their starter cord attached to the handlebars and their gas tank connected to the cover. If this is the case with your lawn mower, be sure to carefully remove everything connected.
Once you are sure nothing else is attached to the cover, lift it from the lawn mower.
Remove the Recoil Starter
Now, some lawn mowers have the recoil starter bolted directly to the engine, and some have them fixed to the blower housing. So, if you lifted off the housing and the recoil starter is still connected to the lawn mower, you’ll need to grab your socket wrench and remove the bolts.
Once you have this completed, you can lift off the recoil starter.
Remove the Friction Plate
You’ll find the pawls on the underside of the recoil starter. On some lawn mowers, you’ll find that there is a small plate called the friction plate that covers the pawls. If you find this on your lawn mower, you’ll need to use either a screwdriver or a socket ratchet to remove the center screw/bolt.
Inspecting the Pawls
Now that you have access to the pawls, you’ll want to see what condition they are in and how they move. They should each still be in one piece and be able to move in and out of the starter freely. If they appear to have any damage or have a problem moving, you will have to move on to making a repair.
Inspecting the Flywheel Cup
Now, the flywheel cup will have some wear on it due to it having been used, but it shouldn’t have any damage or be loose. If you find it cracked, broken, or loose, you’ll have to move on to carry out a fix.
It’s also worth noting that when one is broken or damaged, the other could also have suffered damage.
How to Fix a Lawn Mower Pull Cord that Has No Resistance
Now that you have diagnosed why your lawn mower pull cord is not catching, it’s on to the fixes. Let’s have a look at how you can replace the pawls and the flywheel cup.
Replacing the Pawls
You pretty much completed the repair when you carried out your inspection of the pawls. The final step is to lift out the old pawls and slot in the new ones. That’s all there is to it. Once you have installed the new pawls, you just need to put the lawn mower back together or move on to fixing the flywheel cup if you need to.
Part Needed to Replace Pawls
- Replacement Pawls
Replacing the Flywheel Cup
The first thing you’re going to need to do is to remove the old flywheel cup. So, grab yourself a socket wrench that fits the top center bolt holding the cup to the mower.
Then, to stop the flywheel from spinning, place a blade block or something similar to prevent the engine from turning when you remove the cup. An old 4X2 should do fine.
Now, if your flywheel cup is just loose, use your socket wrench and tighten the bolt. If the cup is damaged, then remove the center bolt. Next, remove the old flywheel cup and place the new cup into position.
Finally, replace the bolt on the lawn mower and tighten it snuggly. Once this is done, you’ll just need to put the lawn mower back together again.
Tools & Parts Needed to Replace a Flywheel Cup
- Replacement Flywheel Cup
- Blade Block
- Socket Wrench Set
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