How do I Repair a Recoil on a John Deere JS63?

Park the lawn mower on a hard, flat surface .Disconnect the spark plug wire. Remove the recoil cord from the top handle and allow it to recoil toward the engine. Remove the two screws holding the plastic engine cover with the Phillips screwdriver. Remove the gas cap. Pull the plastic cover off.

Remove the bolt on the side of the gas tank with the 10 mm wrench. Remove the three shoulder bolts holding down the gas tank located at the top of the engine. Lift the tank off the engine and pull the fuel line off with the needle-nose pliers.

Drill out the four rivets holding down the recoil. Pull off the recoil and flip over. Remove the middle screw. Inspect the inside and locate any broken parts. If the pawls are broken, simply slide out the old pawls and slide in the new ones. If the starter cord is broken, carefully slide off the pulley out of the recoil so as not to pull out the spring.

Unwind the old cord. Slide the pulley back into position over the spring and reinstall the middle screw. Wind the recoil counterclockwise until the spring is tight. Slide the new cord through the hole in the recoil housing and through the eye in the pulley. Tie a knot in the end of the cord. Allow the recoil to wind the cord.

Bolt the recoil on the engine with the new recoil screw kit. Slide the gas tank back on. Put the three bolts back in the top of the tank and reinstall the bolt in the side of the tank. Slide the plastic cover on and install the two screws. Screw on the gas cap and plug back in the spark plug. Pull the cord back to the top handle and put it in its support.