How to rewind a pullstart spring 

Lost a few hours with trying to fix the spring. Then I decide to search RU-vid. With this 12years old trick I was able to fix it in a few minutes. Thanks man 👍🏻

After trying for ages to get my new spring back in I started looking for other ideas. This way worked perfect for me in under 5 mins. Thank you greatly for sharing your wisdom.

Absolutely genius! I've just disloged the winding spring on my Stihl blower. Your video has been a life saver. Thankyou. Phil Edwards. North Wales. UK.

This is fantastic, tried loads of other methods with no job, this method worked first time

after what feels like 100,0000 video i found you you get a place of honor in the whole world because you saved many people from the madhouse. this trick is so awesome i could hug you and my wife gives you a big kiss. Thank you for making this video for us with the two left hands that have already torn all the hair out of our heads. thank you, thank you, eternal THANK YOU greetings from Germany😂👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼😊

many thanx guys I spent 3 hours on a cord pull generator that a plank who knew what they were doing walked away from you are heros

You're a genius! My situation had a "U" followed by a little straight piece of spring instead of a loop at the end of the spring. I was able to use 2 nails (based on your inspiration) to do exactly the same thing. For those with similar springs to mine, that extra piece of end spring didn't want to go down in, but the "U" was seated and I was able to use a broad bolt for a punch to drive the little extension down. First time. Thanks so much!

Thank you very much! Years after its original posting and from many miles away, your video is still helping others. Before viewing this, about the only success I had was rediscovering the joys of creative swearing.

Thank you, it helped me a lot after spending hours trying other ways, thank you again and greetings from Argentina

I have watched a lot of videos on this procedure and you made the rewinding so simple. Thank you for taking the time and energy to make this video. It so extremely helpful. I have large hands and have been struggling with a recoil spring for hours and hours. Nothing I have tried has worked but you my friend just solved the dilemma for me.

I just wasted 2 hours fighting with the spring, came in from garage and saw your video and then did my johnson outboard in 5 mins.....you have just saved me a load of hassle. Many many thanks.

tell you what, 40 yrs ago i could have used this vid. i was changin the rope on my chainsaw when the damn thing sprung. glad i found you. tysm T Keskey, Wisconsin

Most excellent...Until your video I wasted a good hour and was about to toss the whole starter assembly! Thanks.

Thank you. I had spent more than two hours trying to coil the spring. Then I watched your video and had it in it's casing within 5 minutes. Fantastic - very happy.

Thanx a bunch. I just dicked around with my chainsaw pulley coil for an hour and decided to see if anyone else had an easier way. Your video was the best one for my situation and it helped me a lot.

Literally worked in 3 minutes........after cutting myself trying to manipulate the spring by hand I googled this issue and was able to fix my 18 inch Craftsman Chainsaw pull string spring.

What a life saver, I used a small rope instead of the zip tie and it worked just fine. Thanks.

Ok I can honestly say you saved my family's life. the spring came out while repairing my chainsaw recoil. I had been trying to manually recoil into the housing with "little" success and becoming increasingly frustrated!!!!. found your video and was successful on second attempt. Thank you

This is amazing....I fiddled with the spring on my chain saw for about an hour before I found this video. My local lawn mower shop ( that is a 30 min drive away) wanted to charge me $12 just to put the spring back in. Thanks so much for posting. This saved me time and money.

You, my friend, are a genius. Thanks for turning a major headache into a easy fix.

Like others, I messed around for a few hours trying to put the genie back in the bottle on a Poulan Chainsaw. This technique worked great...thanks for posting it!!!

I know its bloody annoying trying to recoil the spring especially when they spring up straight in your face. I would have never thought of this idea cheers for posting mate.

200% the best way this could be done once the spring is ejected/unraveled. I tried multiple things including winding it into the housing (worked once, but then popped out because I dropped it) even then that took upwards to 20 minutes. This did the trick in less than a minute!

Thank you so much! I hate being defeated by these things. After two hours of trying, I came indoors to see if there was a replacement for the whole unit. Yes, but expensive and hard to get! Then I remembered the glory of the internet. Someone else must have had this problem and solved it. So I found your video and on the second attempt I got the spring back in. (15 mins) Money saved and that wonderful sense of satisfaction from sorting something out myself. Thank you again!

thanx for the vidieo, after an hour of pure frustration I found your vidieo, simple and effective...😊

Man- thank you for this! I spent a few hours attempting.... trying to keep my cool, almost spent $50 on a tool that would definitely fix it- you saved me time and $- fixed it in 5 minutes! Very appreciative!!!

I was struggling to fix it last five hours I couldn’t as soon I saw your video clip that’s help me a lot I did within like five minutes I’m so happy thank you appreciate for your video does help me thank you

I can't tell you how much your video helped me replace the unwound recoil spring on my Poulan chain saw.. I was prepared to spend about four hours doing it and after watching your video I did it in about 10 minutes! Thanks so much!

I used this tip a couple years back, worked a treat. Just been battling with another recoil spring and very glad I remembered your video as its just helped me again! Very pleased you uploaded this tip, it has helped me no end!!!

Thank you for your video it is the best. I have been to Home Depot and they wanted to charge me for parts and service. I am so glad I came home and watched you.

Thank you so much! I fiddled with one of those springs for a week and i couldnt figure it out, and then i found this video, and 10 minutes later i was mowing the lawn. Thank you again!

Thanks for posting your video. Got so frustrated trying to install the recoil spring on my hedge trimmer that I took in to have it fixed. Surfing found your vid, picked up the trimmer and 30 minutes later all worked well again.

..i was really close to throw everything in the dustbin - you saved my day. Thank You very much!

Verrrrry clever! One tie-wrap and a screw to hold the end hook and my Poulan chinsaw was revving again in five minutes!!!

Thanks so much! Found this video right before I started throwing tools across the garage since I had spent 3 days on this with no luck and a lot of finger pain! Worked perfect the first time

Hats off to you sir! I spent hours trying to be the spring back in and using your method I was successful on second try! Thank you! Stihl MS 180C

I was trying for 5 hours and then watch your video and on my fourth attempt I successfully installed

omg i love you. After 3 hours of screaming trying to compress the spring for my quad... i came up here and somehow found your vid. .. after seeing your vid and your idea i got it done in less than 30 minutes. I love you right now! thank you so much!

Excellent video... I pissed around for an hour trying to do this -and then I watched your video and had it done in 10 minutes! Cheers!

Great video, it help solve the problem some many people run into when dealing with these springs. Trying to reel them by hand is a patient process that is never completed, only ending with no patience !! Great job !!

Thank you so much for posting this! This looks like the most efficient method of recoiling pull-start springs from the videos I have seen here on you tube!

you're a lifesaver man. thank you for showing everyone this even after all your frustration originally trying to wrap it!

I am a small engine tech & I am impressed! Very, very good! My hat is off to you. My next spring screw up, I will use this operation. Take care & God Bless.

same thing here with a Stihl MS200...struggelled for hours and with your trick done in 5 minutes...great clear video....and....i used a nail with a smaller head and a long strap which i already closed before starting the job CHEERS !

Wow, You are the Man. Awesome video. Just saved me buying another spring and several hours of frustration

Cheers Lennie this helped me fix my pap. Spring flew across the room your method worked a treat .

I used your technique few minutes ago, You helped me a lot. Thank you

One of my subscribers sent me this video as i was struggling to put a spring in a Chinese strimmer and has a small lip in the housing so i will try this tomorrow, great idea thank you for sharing this

You sir are awesome. Your video let me fix my problem quick and easy.

I removed my spring from my Homelite and your video was very helpful. I too took hours trying to get it back in until I came across your video (as per my wife's suggestion...hmm). Thank you!

THANK YOU! I spent half a day trying to wind it back up, this was extremely helpful, I made it in 5 minutes.

I've spent 5-6 hours trying to get the spring back into my chainsaw and I was JUST about to buy a new one before I saw your video. 5 minutes, and the saw is back together again. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

i knew someone must have figured this out...tried for 5 minutes then turned to the interwebs--thanks!!!

You should get an award for this!!! Thank's Bud.

Worked great!! Had been trying for a hour by hand with no luck.

Just had to say thank you for this. You've saved me, well, about 3 1/2 hrs. Appreciated.

Buggered about all day with mine . . . . till i saw your vid.. Excellent.. thanks..

Thanks for sharing your little trick....I thought I was finished when the coil spring unraveled off my leaf blower when I was changing the starter pull cord. After unsuccessfully trying to rewind it by hand I was hoping maybe someone was kind enough to post something on RU-vid......you saved me a lot of time.

Used this technique yesterday.....worked great!! Thanks for posting !!

great video, i do lots of small engine repair on the side and my hands ache like crazy recoiling these. i just want to say thank you, this was a great method and i got it done saving me the hand aches and frustration. kudos to you for working smarter and sharing the good info

You have the best and quickest process I have seen yet to redo the springs in a recoil that has had their spring released! Great instructional video! I have two that I am going to do this way tomorrow! Thank you for posting your learning experience on the You Tube!

You’ve just saved the remainder of my salt n pepper hair from turning all salt and no pepper. Cheers, mate!

What a great tip!!! Wish I found this sooner. Like you said early in the video it tooks hours fighting to get it together. Now if need arises again only minutes to get er done. Thank you.

thanks for taking the time to make the video, i tried all sorts of techniques which the spring objected to strongly and danced around the workshop, however i finally tamed the beast using the cable straps as recommended, cheers mate..

Me too! my chain saw broke and I spent about an hour or so before I gave up. I was looking for a shop when I decided to type in the question. this was the only video that helped. My fingers are still sore, but my chain saw is fine !!!!! thanks!!!!! from richmond V.A. USA

Based on your video, I was successful in rewinding the sping on my Honda 165 cc lawnmower engine. I had to make the centerpiece referenced in your video. To do this I extensively modified the center of an old recoil housing. It took me only about an hour to return the spring into its housing. I used a longer tie, so I only need one. To avoid the nail head, I drove one in from the bottom of the board that I mounted my "winder" on. This is a "keeper" tool for the next time I need it. Thanks!

You Sir.....Are a Genius!!! I tried to start my boat motor this weekend. To my horror the cord came off in my hand! During the process of replacing the cord, the spring flew out at me!! I tried your technique. It worked the second time around. The first time i tried it, the coil hung up on the nail head. I cut the nail head off prior to the second attempt. It worked great!! Let me know if you are ever in Florida. I'll buy you a Pint!! Thanks Again!!!

Thanks for taking the time to make and post this video. I was able to get my recoil spring re-wound thanks to your video. Cheers mate. :)

Great video. I spent over hour replacing the spring that sprung out of an old chain saw. Wish I saw this sooner but I know that I will use this info at some point. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you so very much. I struggled for about 2 hours with my Paulen chainsaw and the spring kept... springing. I didn't use the nail or the zip ties, but using the spool to wind the spring was genius!

You sir, are a mechanical genius! it worked like a charm and only took a few minutes after quite a bit of frustration trying my own ways. Thanks very much for sharing!!!

Thank you so very much. Rope broke on my Echo yesterday afternoon. Found your video after tearing up my fingers trying to rewind by hand.

Absolutely brillient !!!! I also tried for hours without success then found your little video and Bing success in a few minutes. I used a screw instead of the nail wich made it easier to remove and I was lucky enough to have a cable tie which was long enough, only one needed. Many many thanks

After two hours of swearing, almost crying and with my fingers bleeding I came across your video, 10 mins later my sons little quad bike was back in action smiles alround.. You deserve a medal the size of a frying pan and a little red lion tattooed on your forehead so that everyone knows your an all round good egg... cheers M8

Thank you. Was having the worst time. Did this in 5 minutes. Ur vid is the best one. Props.

I just had to fix my hedge trimmer. I used your method. Thanks for posting. It did take three attempts but I got it back together. Dave

Cheers Lennie, straight to the point and no pissballing about. Great stuff.Thanks. Rob.

Thanks a million for posting this, I was starting to lose my mind! One tip that my wife came up with: using adjustable molegrips to turn the plastic piece saves a lot of finger pain. Thanks again.

This is a great video instruction on rewinding these recoil starter springs that often come apart during repairs!

You are the man!! I was completely baffled as to how to get that f'n thing back in. Yardman weed whacker, I used a screw instead of a nail, that way I could back it out. I also used a small pair of vise grips to hold it and cut the zip ties off, the ties wouldn't allow me to put the spring down in the case. Thanks very much!!

cracking job mate. i just used this method to rewind my coil spring on my evinrude outboard engine and it took me no more than 3 mins. simple fix great job !

Thank you for sharing this. Helped me out big time today!

Thank you! It worked for my Stihl FS106 handlebar trimmer!!! You're a lifesaver!!!

Thanks so very much!! My auction saw for $30.00, now is worth at least $100.00. Awesome idea and I bookmarked it for future reference. You made my day!!

just wanted to say thanks alot for the vid. I spent hours fighting mine then searched for a video and found yours, it still took me three attempts but I finally got it. you saved me 40 bucks bro thanks have a good one

This is such an awesome video. I recommend it to people often. Thanks for posting it.

You definately made my day! I'll get credit for fixing the foreman's leaf blower, but it was you, really. Thanks bunch. Jim

Thank you so much! We were trying forever before we thought to look for a video. You helped a bunch! Thanks!

You safed my life Mate!!! Greetings from Germany! 😉

Thanks for your video, it gave me some guidance and idea on how to tackle this most tricky of jobs. However word of warning for those attempting to do the same with a Stihl Ergo Start spring. Because of the extra mechanism inside the pull start housing, the actual return spring is much narrower then shown in this video, maybe two thirds to a half the width of non assisted start springs. You need to use the narrowest zip ties possible and because of the equally shallow recess in which the spring sits, it took a few attempts and rewinds with the nail on a board before it was seated. I used a single 300mm x 4.8mm zip tie which was the same width as the spring. Any wider and it would not slide under the pulley to hold the compressed spring. To keep the spring in it's coiled position for inserting into the housing I used a pair of quality (ie non wobbly or bendy) long nosed pliers. Moving the zip tie lock to about 25mm clockwise from the outer hook end leaves just enough gap to insert one of the pliers tips between tie and outer surface of the coil, and of course gripping the inside of the coil with the other tip. Here you have to squeeze tightly and hold on hard whilst slipping the zip tie off then quickly lowering the spring into place in the housing. Be prepared for a few tries until success is achieved. When I figured out what to do I actually managed it first time using the pliers. Please note that the Stihl owners manual illustration for this procedure and all of my Ergo Start tools bears no resemblance to the real thing. Perhaps the instructions diagram was for much older models and the information has not been updated for current equipment. I have a Stihl MS181CE, the cause of all this trouble, and a much more powerful MS250CE, also Ergo Start. The pulley widths are the same on both so I would expect the same difficulty. This problem all started when trying to free up the little plastic pawls that grip the inside of the assisted start spring housing. To do this means taking off a complex shaped retaining spring from the pulley shaft in order to remove the pawls. One false move here and the whole lot goes off with a twang as the recoil spring flies out from under the pull cord pulley. Having criticised the manual diagrams, I must say the instruction for winding up the correct tension for operation of the cord worked perfectly. Sorry to drag on at length, but I hope this information will help other Stihl users with repairs and maintenance.

Thank you so much! First pull of my chain saw and DAMN!! Found this video, rewound the spring and not a day wasted.

Thanks so much for the video. At least I spent only one hour before giving up and looking for a video how to. I'm looking forward to attempting it tomorrow. GOOD JOB!!!!!!

The spring on my Stihl KM55 unwound to great effect, I tried all sorts of crazy ways to recoil it but got into a complete mess so I eventually resorted to youtube and this video. I made a cup of tea, thought about it for 10 minutes and went for it. Took me all of 2 minutes to get it back into the machine so a perfect result. Having seen the trouble he was having with the nail I decided to grind the head off of a nail first which made it double easy. Hooray to cable ties I say. Thanks for the video, nice work. Rich

Thanks for this video! Fixed the spring of my 2HP Johnson in 5 minutes after watching this. (Nice that you've left the little mistakes in, makes you realize that you do not have to be engineer to fix this!)

Thank you for your excellent video, to the point without any nonsense.

This exact method worked perfectly for me the first time. Thanks for sharing it.

Thanks for the help, I was fighting with the pullstart. Bravo !

Brilliant. Thank you for having the compassion to share.

Bloody well done. How could anyone downvote this video?

Very nice, thanks for sharing! Fought a Polaris spring for a few hours threw it in a box year ago, going try this in morning!!