OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Victa Two Stroke Engines Pull-cord problem

G'day guys,

I have searched for my pull-cord issue, and have found something close, but not quite what I have.

To start, I have a 2005 Victa Mustang with the VSX160 engine. The pull-cord broke this morning, and after renewing the cord, I wasn't able to get the tension back on the starter. I turned the starter both ways. One way (clockwise) would turn the engine, and counter clockwise I would get continual spinning and no tensioning of the starter spring. I would rotate in either direction about 10 turns and nothing.

In order to finish the lawns, I manually wound the cord on the starter and pulled to start, with the cord fully extended and kept the mower going till I finished the front and back lawns.

I did dismantle the starter from the engine, and took some photos for you to have a look and see if you're able to notice anything I can't.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Cheers,

Norm

G'day Norm, cant get tension on starter spring, spring must be off its hook or broken.
You will have to pull the starter apart, clean it up and reassemble it.
There should be a thread for that task on this forum.

If you wound the starter the wrong way the hook on the end might have jumped out of where its meant to be.

You are meant to wind it the driection the cord pulls, till it binds, then back it off at least one full turn. Knot the cord, poke the other end through the hole in the pulley, under the guide thru the handle and knot it. At the handle end, make two loops then poke the end through. Slightly bigger than a single granny knot and will hold better.
Always let it retract slowly just incase you dont have something right and it stuffs up and you have to start from scratch again.



With that type starter you will have fun getting it apart.
Either take it to a mower shop or look in the Victa tools thread in this section, theres a picture of a holder I made up so you can get the starter apart. Remove the clip underneath that throw out thing on the underside of the starter before you do anything, and put the clip back on last. If its in there when you do the center pin back up it will jamb.


Cheers, Bob.

Oh, and inspect the o-ring in the groove on the starter housing. You might need another one.

Hey guys,

Thanks very much for the prompt responses and advice.

I'll have a look at your holder Rodeobob. Failing being able to pull the starter apart and do the job myself, I'll have to eat humble pie and take it to a mower "garage".

Thanks again all.

Cheers,

Norm