Has anyone ever left the top bolt out of their recoil housing to make it simpler to remove from the engine? A simple job like changing the cord or just taking it all apart for cleaning and new grease would be so much easier if you didn't have to remove the frame brace,which necessitates removing the airbox and carbs to get at the bolts on the inside of the frame.Yeah I have seen where some people just grind a notch in the brace to get the bolt out but the bracket for the coolant hoses is already missing on my sled anyway and if I just leave it out for easy removal,is there any down side?
Yes, I've done this with the bolt. However, I never use grease on anything in the recoil.
Grease, no ,but white lithium in a spray.
Maybe a little on the big spring behind the pulley, but nothing at all on anything else.