How to Replace the Starter Rope & Rewind Spring on a Stihl Blower

In addition to a wide variety of power saws, Stihl also manufactures a complete series of leaf blowers. The gas-powered, two-cycle engine on your Stihl leaf blower starts via a starter rope and rewind spring mechanism more commonly known as a recoil starter. Over time, your recoil starter can either get jammed with debris or the rope can break. If this happens, you will have to replace the recoil starter assembly.

Remove the spark plug wire with a pair of needle-nose pliers.

Cut the old starter rope just below the rubber, T-shaped pull handle. Fish the end of the old rope out of the back of the rubber piece. Set it aside.

Remove the side cover of your Stihl blower with a screwdriver. There will be a series of screws set along the seam of the blower's cover. Once they are taken out, the cover will pull right off.

Pry out the old recoil starter assembly with your screwdriver.

Attach the new starter rope to the new recoil starter assembly. Do this by slipping one end of the starter rope through the middle of the mechanism and knotting it.

Align the new recoil starter assembly over its housing location and snap it into place.

Hand rotate the recoil starter assembly counterclockwise, winding up part of the starter rope as you do. Stop rotating the recoil starter when you feel the spring inside begin to tighten. Spin the assembly one full revolution clockwise after the spring begins to tighten.

Slip the other end of the starter rope through the hole located on the blower's cover. Screw the cover back into place with your screwdriver.

Slip the other end of the starter rope through the T-shaped handle of your blower and tie a knot in the end to secure it to the handle.

Replace the spark plug wire and start your blower's engine to test it.