A generic pull starter

How to Fix the Pull Starter on your Snow Thrower 

For those who have a pull string or recoil starter, unfortunately this mechanism can very easily freeze up or the string will rot over the course of time.  It's quite easy to fix though, so no worries.

Also, you can pick up the replacement recoil starter mechanism and/or string rather easily by ordering them or picking them up through any hardware store or by searching down your part online by your model snow thrower of course (and I even changed out my string with a rubber coated steel cable when mine broke, but hey, that's just me).

A recoil starter opened up

Anyway, here are the replacement steps:

1.  Remove your spark plug wire so you don't accidentally start the motor - as with any machine of the sort you are repairing.

2.  Remove the T handle from your pull cord.  (Just slide it down the cord, untie the knot on the cord and pull it off).

3.  Find the screws or bolts that hold the outer cover in place. There can be screws, small bolts or even hex nuts to remove depending on the type of snow thrower you have.

4.   Remove your thrower's cover.  Next, pull out the cartridge.  Sometimes it has a couple screws holding it in place, sometimes not.  If need by, you might have to use a flat head screwdriver to ease it out.  Either way, remove it.

5.  Put the new starter string (or rubber coated steel cable, like me, haha) around the replacement recoil starter cartridge.  And leave enough extra so it can be put through and a knot made or attachment to put the handle back on again.

6.  Put the new cartridge in place (that you just replaced the cord or cable on).

7.  Now put the cover up and pull the starter cord through the throwers cover and then Put the cover back on completely (with screws or bolts, whatever).

8. Now replace your handle opposite taking it off, just put the cord through it, tie a knot at the end or attack something like a ball, clip or piece of some sort (knot is fastest, even with cable too BTW - me?  I used a clip that I put on with pliers first, then hammered into place with a couple blows against a sledge as the backing to strike against) and really just let it fall or pull it taught, whatever. 

You're done!

About as simple as it gets.  Really like most things - it's just about familiarity and the right parts and tools.

And BTW, you can pick up FLEXIBLE (that's VERY important, do not get anything too stiff) steel cable through ebay or boat building supply outlets such as Jamestown Distributors and the like.