Johnson seahorse recoil

[eoin1981]

Hi all just got my hands on a small Johnson seahorse problem is the pull cord was stuck on it and when I took the hood of it the recoil was all loose and popped off the problem I have is I haven't a clue how to refit these do all help appreciated

[Nos4r2]

Firstly...


Haaaaahahahahahahahahahaaa I bet your face was a picture (sorry)


Now I've got that out of the way, if you don't know how to refit it, it takes a long time and a lot of care and you ideally already need to know how it came apart. It's a real sod of a job to rewind that spring and get it back in the right place. I've done it a couple of times.

It's probably easier to buy a 2nd hand cowl with one still fitted.

[m chappelow]

surprising how many people have undone the screw on top of the cowling thinking it loosens the hood not realising it undoes the recoil starter ! Tchiinnnnnggg!
After getting the spring coiled back into the casing forget about the string part until you have it bolted back in place then hold the pulley and pull the string around the pulley gap and the casing until you get the correct tension .

[eoin1981]

any pictures of how it should be fitted?

[spartacus]

Is the spring still intact? Looks like it's dry with surface rust. Not unusual for it to shear at one of the ends. You can lube it with a light mineral oil, but only once you've recoiled it. Get yourself safety goggles, leather gloves and self-locking pliers to start.

I'd renew the starter rope too while you're at it.

[hobnob]

Originally Posted by spartacus

Is the spring still intact? Looks like it's dry with surface rust. Not unusual for it to shear at one of the ends. You can lube it with a light mineral oil, but only once you've recoiled it. Get yourself safety goggles, leather gloves and self-locking pliers to start.

I'd renew the starter rope too while you're at it.

Been there, done that with this engine!

Above advice is good. I coiled the spring tightly and then held it in a small circle with zip ties, before fitting into the mechanism and cutting the ties. It will take anyone at least 3-2 attempts. Someone on an American forum described it as trying to fit a greased angry python into a hamster cage.

[willk]

Originally Posted by hobnob

Someone on an American forum described it as trying to fit a greased angry python into a hamster cage.

The secret is to leave the hamster IN the cage.

[eoin1981]

Struggling here trying to rewind it I've tried about 5 times but there's still loads left to wind up that I just can't get a grip of

[spartacus]

How small in terms of diameter have you got it so far? You need to be able to secure the inner part of the coil spring and then wind it from there slowly and tightly, adding adjustable ratchet claw grips when you need a break, etc. Any pictures of your progress?

[ollyit]

How to rewind a pullstart spring - YouTube

bets of luck

[eoin1981]

Some joy today just copied that link from YouTube just trying to figure out how the rest of it goes back together

[9D280]

or just admit its a right pain in the posterior and take it to a lawn mower repair shop.

as far as they are concerned its just another failed home repair on a recoil... no "marine = ££££" problems!

is your time worth the £20 odd?

[Poly]

Its a right of passage in the ownership of that engine. Personally I'd hold the person who sold it to you as 100% responsible for not warning you of the risk of removing that screw! Is the person who sold me mine listening ;-)

That said Spartacus has a valid point. Those springs can snap spectacularly... ...don't ask how I know that one!

[9D280]

eh? did somebody say something?

Yes that screw is very tempting. With the benefit of someone else's hindsight I consider myself lucky that I managed to service everything I needed to without removing the lid...

Still stand by my lawnmower repair shop theory.

[billows]

I did it in a strimmer. Much smaller.There is usually a case. If you start from the out side you can push it into the case gradually twisting it using 2 hands.There are 2 ways to put it in.The inner end of the spring must hook onto the lug on the inner axle check the orientation before you start.It was not easy and with a bigger spring I would say the lawnmower shop option is the one I would go for.

[spartacus]

Stick with it Eoin... it's like Excaliber and pulling it from the stone. If you manage to fix that old Johnson you will be gifted with magical powers! This includes being able to open old jars of pickled onions!