Hello, new to the forum, and have a question on my 2002 Viper. The other day I pulled the recoil to start it, and it came out (the rope), but didn't go back in. I kept working it out and letting it go back in as far as it would go, and eventually after alot of playing around, I was able to get it back in to get it started. What would cause this? Rope is free and is routed properly. Can the recoils get dirty and need to be cleaned? Do they loose tension over time? I have a trip planned to Upper Michigan in a few weeks and I don't want it to give me problems. I am just shy of 5,000 trouble free miles until now. Any Ideas?
viperino
New member
i know that sometimes the spiral spring can go or break free from its anchors inside the recoil itself. The recoil is easy to get off, just remove the exhaust can and then its four bolts. One nut to get the white plastic inner wheel out. just be careful not to let the spiraled spring pop out on you when you lift the white plastic wheel out. Aftermarket springs and inner parts are available if you need to rebuild.
The spring is probably broken. It is not that hard to rebuild it, just pay attention when you take it apart. If you want send it to me and I will rebuild it for you.
Tod
Tod
Thanks, I will take it apart hopefully tonight. We are planning on going out Sunday, so would like to do something before that. The single bolt that holds the wheel in, what way will the spring want to come out? Is it pinned between two washers, or is it like a pulley(wheel) and it is wrapped around the center of the pulley(wheel)? I am pretty mechanically inclined, but never pulled one apart and i don't want it unwind. 
viperino
New member
its like a pulley wheel and hooks into the center of the pulley wheel as you mentioned. Lay recoil flat with metal housing down, remove bolt and hold on to the wheel to slowly let the tension out of it as it unwinds. Then wiggle the pulley wheel clockwise/counterclockwise and pull up gently and slowly. That is best way to get wheel up without the spring coming out also. Once the pulley wheel is out, be careful because the spring just lies loosely in the recoil housing. Like Tod said its probably broken anyway.