How to Replace the Recoil Starter on a Bolens Trimmer
- 1). Slide the ignition switch into the "Off" setting. Unhook the rubber boot from the end of the spark plug, on the bottom of the trimmer. Unscrew the spark plug from the cylinder with the socket wrench.
- 2). Unscrew the back air filter and muffler cover with the screwdriver. Pull the cover and air filter pad out of the box. Unscrew the bolts holding the air filter box cover in place over the carburetor. Take the box off the carburetor.
- 3). Unhook the throttle cable's Z-fitting from the throttle arm on the carburetor with the needle-nosed pliers. Disconnect the two ignition lead wires running from the bottom of the engine to the trigger using your fingers.
- 4). Unscrew the four mounting screws holding the boom shaft to the front engine housing. Slide the boom shaft out of the front engine housing cover. Unscrew the two screws holding the front engine housing cover to the engine; recoil starter is on the underside of the cover.
- 5). Unscrew the pulley from the starter post. Slide the washer and pulley off the starter posts. Insert the new recoil spring cassette into the center of the pulley, if it's not already assembled. Coat the starter post with a fingertip's worth of engine grease. Set the pulley onto the starter post.
- 6). Press the pulley down with your thumb. Wiggle the pulley back and forth slightly until the hook on the spring catches onto the pulley. Set the washer and screw onto the starter post, tightening the screw.
- 7). Take out 10 inches of starter rope from the pulley. Form the length of rope into a loop. Pinch the center of the loop and hold the starter cover. Turn the pulley and starter rope clockwise three to five times or until the recoil spring feels tight, but not bottomed out.
- 8). Hold the starter cover and let go of the rope, and the rope should recoil onto the pulley. If the rope is too loose or too tight against the pulley, reduce or increase the amount of tension on the recoil spring. Set the starter cover back in place and tighten both mounting screws. Reassemble all other parts in reverse order.
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