Craftman offers a series of driving garden clippers and standing behind with engines manufactured by Briggs & Stratton and Tecumseh. With the exception of electrically-powered models, these lawn mowers are started by pulling on a starter cord. Over time, exposure to the elements or just normal wear and tear, the cord may be damaged and broken. Repair the starter cord of a Craftsman mower in minutes with some basic tools on hand.
Strip the black rubber cover that covers the spark plug to disconnect the spark plug wire.
Loosen and remove the screws securing the starter cover on the motor. Lift the cover out of the engine and put it upside down on a work table.
Hold the lid with one hand and turn the pulley in the center of the left cover until it stops rotating. Hold the pulley in place with a pair of wide jaw locking pliers.
Grab the knot in the hole near the center of the pulley and pull out the broken cable section.
Insert the end of the new starter rope (with the handle at the opposite end) into the hole in the starter cover and thread the cable through the pulley into the hole in the knot. When the cable appears in the hole in the knot, grab it with a pair of fine-tipped pliers and pull out a few centimeters of slack.
Tie a knot in the end of the cable. Burn the remaining end of the cable with a match to prevent fraying.
Pull the starter rope tightly from outside the lid until the knot sits in the hole in the knot.
Release the clamps from the wide pliers and let the cable wrap around the pulley.
Replace the lid on the motor and secure reinstalling the screws removed in step 2.
Re-connect the spark plug wire to the spark plug.
Tips
For long service life, always use a rope designed for use on a small starter motor.
Warning
Always disconnect the spark plug cable before starting to work on your engine.