OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Victa Two Stroke Engines Victa Corvette-How do I change the pull start spri

I have a Victa Corvette and the pull start spring needs replacing. But how do I get to it? How do I remove the cord reel? And then how do I retention it? Thanks.

Joe Carroll posted a link here to his Utube video showing how to do this, just in the last 3 days I think.
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...amp;Main=4527&Number=16328#Post16328
Joe says his time for the whole operation is just three minutes (following rather a lot of practice).
I suggest you take a look at his video.

Having watched the video I attempted to reset the spring so i could replace the pull cable. When I turn the flywheel clockwise (as shown in the video) everything turns ie the baseplate/ blades.I cannot turn the flywheel without the blades turning and of coarse the flywheel does not re tension. When I hold the blades the flywheel will not move. Whilst not holding the flywheel I can turn the blades in either direction.Removed the spark plug to check if anything may have seized, all is OK. With the cowling removed the configuration looks much the same as in the video, so what could be wrong. Is this perhaps another type of set up?

It is a victa torque motor, probably 15-20 years old. White mower with Victa in red on the front (was my dad's).

In the video Joe turns the plastic reel that holds the pull cable. The idea is to wind up the spring as far as it will go. One end of the spring is attached to the fixed, metal part of the starter mechanism and the other end to the movable, plastic reel. You turn the reel (plastic part) clockwise a few turns, thus tensioning the spring (because the other end of the spring is attached to the outside of the starter mechanism, not to the flywheel). The engine will probably rotate too, when you turn the reel, but the spring will still wind up because the far end of it is attached to the metal part of the starter.

If your spring is broken, either the reel will keep rotating without a tendency to spring back, or it just won't rotate at all. If the spring is broken you should refer to Joe's comment near the beginning of the video, about removing the three screws around the outside of the starter, and replacing the entire starter with one from a junked Victa.

Sorry I used the wrong terminology. It is the plastic reel that holds the pull cable I am turning. It turns 1/4 of a turn clockwise ( as in the video) then starts to turn the blades. Then when I hold the blades the plastic reel will not turn at all.

That is not a problem. When the reel turns clockwise its initial movement engages it with the flywheel. After that the flywheel, crankshaft and blade-plate all rotate clockwise with the plastic reel, just as they would if you were starting the engine. However the clockwise rotation of the reel is also resisted by the rewind spring. Ignore the rotation of the engine, just as Joe does in the video: turn the reel clockwise until the spring won't let it turn any further. If you suspect the spring is broken, just turn the reel one turn clockwise and let go, as Joe does initially in the video. If the reel does not spring back anticlockwise when you let go, the spring is broken or disengaged at one end. It might spring back even if it is broken, due to friction, so keep winding it clockwise until it won't rotate any more, and it is trying pretty hard to spring back anticlockwise. It is then fully wound, ready for you to feed the cord through and tie it off.

Fixed

It doesn't matter whether the starter is on the engine or not - Joe's method shows how to replace the broken starter cord for either situation. The advantages of leaving it on the mower are that it saves work, and you don't have to hold the outside of the starter: the weight of the mower keeps it from twisting when you turn the reel.
Whenever the plastic reel starts to rotate clockwise, the arms should extend to lock the reel to the flywheel. A slight turn anticlockwise should retract them.
The spring should load when you turn the reel clockwise when the starter is on the engine, just as it does when it is off the engine. After a few turns clockwise the spring should be fully tensioned, and the reel should then not turn any further. If it will keep turning indefinitely, the spring is broken or has come loose at the fixed end.

Thanks Grumpy, Working now.I wasn't sure that the whole unit would turn. Many thanks for your paitence.