Hello - My starter rope is frayed towards the beginning of the rope so most of the rope is hanging out. It's still connected. I realize there are posts about this subject but cannot find any for a 1996 VMAX XT. Looks like I have to take off some hoses in order to take the recoil off? What a bad design.... Should I take off all the bolts and then open the recoil case? Sorry if this has been posted before.
Pull rope frayed
- Thread starter VmaxNeil
- Start date
A couple of bucks
VIP Member
I don't remember having to take any hoses off. Have 2 small vice grip on hand to:
1. Clamp on cord to cut the knot off from pull handle.
2. Once cord is pull mostly all the way out, clamp the reel to housing to keep it from spooling.
1. Clamp on cord to cut the knot off from pull handle.
2. Once cord is pull mostly all the way out, clamp the reel to housing to keep it from spooling.
Backwoods M Max
New member
Don't remove the spool from the housing if you don't have to. It's a major p.i.t.a to get it back in the spool. It can be done but takes some major patience. Get some 5mm spectra rope. It has a breaking strength of almost 4000lbs and it very abrasion resistant. It will out last the sled, you, the earth...
caravanman
New member
You can get the recoil off with the pull handle still attached without taking any hoses off.
I have done it on my 95 and 96. You'll have to unbolt the guide where the handle seats.
Once you have it off,
Pull the rope all the way out. Clamp the rotating part of the recoil with welders vise grips.
cut the old rope very close to the recoil end and pull the knot out.
Measure old rope and cut new rope to size (about 6 feet)
Thread the new rope in and knot.
Install pull handle on the other end and knot.
Reinstall onto machine.
I have done it on my 95 and 96. You'll have to unbolt the guide where the handle seats.
Once you have it off,
Pull the rope all the way out. Clamp the rotating part of the recoil with welders vise grips.
cut the old rope very close to the recoil end and pull the knot out.
Measure old rope and cut new rope to size (about 6 feet)
Thread the new rope in and knot.
Install pull handle on the other end and knot.
Reinstall onto machine.
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caravanman
New member
Now that I re-read your first post the problem isn't that the rope is frayed, you have a RECOIL problem.
If the rope isn't being pulled back in to have to pull it all apart and likely replace the spring. I haven't had to do that since my minibike/lawn mower days of my youth.
IF you're lucky you just have frayed rope caught up in the spool. Wiggle and tug on the good part of the rope to see if you can get it all the way out, if you can you can just replace the rope.
Good luck...
If the rope isn't being pulled back in to have to pull it all apart and likely replace the spring. I haven't had to do that since my minibike/lawn mower days of my youth.
IF you're lucky you just have frayed rope caught up in the spool. Wiggle and tug on the good part of the rope to see if you can get it all the way out, if you can you can just replace the rope.
Good luck...
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A couple of bucks
VIP Member
If the main recoil spring is ok, replace #6. It a friction spring that is needed for it to recoil back into the housing. I picked mine up at ACE.
https://partstream.arinet.com/Mobil...lO9Aai03jr4WBnR1h94a5cFmnmZ_FQTDMAxYqXM1.html
https://partstream.arinet.com/Mobil...lO9Aai03jr4WBnR1h94a5cFmnmZ_FQTDMAxYqXM1.html
If I'm reading this right, and your rope is all the way out but still under full (normal) recoil spring tension wanting to pull it back in but can't because of the fraying, all you have to do is what the guys mentioned above, especially see caravanman's post #4 above. Pull the rope all the way out but don't break it, and make sure you have the rope spool clamped to the black case before you cut that last thread!