Ice auger recoil?

[big musk411]

Near the end of the season last year I yanked the pull cord on my auger all the way out. Not a big deal as I had fixed that problem before. In the process of trying to fix it on the ice in very cold windy weather I took off too many pieces and the recoil uncoiled on me. I can't get it back in. Is there some sort of trick or special tool that I don't know about? My auger is a newer strikemaster 2hp 10".

Thanks for your help!

[LwnmwnMan2]

FWIW, find a local small engine shop and have them do it. Usually once that spring is out, it's hard to get it redone, easier to put a new one in.

[Surface Tension]

I'll try and describe the procedure.

Take the handle off the rope. Pull the end of the rope through the hole in the case. Wind up the rope but leave 6" out. Get both ends of the springs back in place. You'll see a little notch on the spool. Put the rope in that notch and hold it there. Now you need to load up the spring by turning the spool, remember leavening the rope in that notch. You'll feel the spring get tighter, don't let go!

Get the notch in a position so that its close to the hole in the casing the rope goes through. Put the rope through the hole and tie the handle back on. Remember do all this while holding the spool or it'll unwind. Test it to see if you have enough load on the spring to return all the rope. If not take the handle off, put the rope in the notch, and rotate the spool.

[McGurk]

If you are talking about putting the unwound recoil spring back into the case, Take it to D Rock or back to Strikemaster in Big Lake directly for a repair. I took about an hour trying to do that (sweating and cursing the entire time) and would recommend that you not even try to tackle it. If you do, wear gloves and safety glasses because that thing is nasty when you get to the last couple of feet. The rope part is not too bad as ST has described. But the spring is a whole different animal.

[big musk411]

Thanks for the responses. I have been having about the same luck you did McGurk. I brought it in to the small engine repair shop by my house this morning.

[BIG DS]

To tackle those yourself you need strong hands, a lot of patience, and a pretty crude vocabulary. Every time I do one of those the spring pops out of my hands two or three times. By then the patience has worn thin, the nerves are shot and I am cussing up a blue streak.