Small Engines (Lawn Mowers, etc.): stihl fs44 line trimmer, stihl fs44, starter rope

Question
QUESTION: How do I replace a recoil starter rope on a stihl fs44?

ANSWER: HI JIMMY

 REMOVE TENSION FROM SPRING AND PULLEY   BY  ROTATING  PULLEY CLOCKWISE  - UNTIL NO MORE TENSION IS ON SPRING  REMOVE  PULLEY CENTRE PIVOT SCREW  , TRY NOT TO LET SPRING FLY OUT ,
LOCATE END OF BROKEN ROPE AND REMOVE IT  - REPLACE ROPE  , BURN ENDS WITH LIGHTER TO STOP FRAYING , USE 3.0 - 3.5 MM  ROPE AND ABOUT  0.8  - 1.0 METER LONG  SHOULD DO THE TRICK

PLACE END OF ROPE THROUGH HOLE IN PULLEY AND TIE OFF A KNOTT  CLOSE TO END  AND PULL IT VERY TIGHT -

THEN ROTATE THE CORD AROUND PULLEY IN AN ANTI-CLOCKWISE DIRECTION AND THEN  CLIP THE CORD INTO THE LITTLE SLOT IN THE SIDE OF PULLEY ,

FIT THE PULLEY INTO STARTER HOUSING AND HOOK THE LUG ONTO THE SPRING ,  YOU WILL KNOW IF IT HAS HOOKED OVER  BY TENSION  COMMING ONTO THE PULLEY ,2 TURNS SHOULD BE ENOUGH FOR NOW ( DO NOT LET IT FLY OUT )

STOP  FIT THE CENTRE SCREW  AND TIGHTEN,  CONTINUE  TENSIONING SPRING UNTILL TIGHT , THEN BACK IT OF 1 OR 2 TURNS ,

PLACE OTHER END THROUGH  STARTER OUTLET AND FIT THE KNOB AND TIE  OFF
WITH A KNOTT YOU CAN ADJUST  LATER IF NEED TO   IF CORD IS  TOO LONG  OR NOT LONG ENOUGH

TEST OPERATION BEFORE FITTING BACK ONTO TRIMMER  - YOU DONT WANT THE CORD TO BIND ON THE SIDES THE STARTER HOUSING WHILE RETRACTING


CHEERS  HOPE THIS HELPS  

PAUL


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the info. I suppose I should have clarified my question (this is my first time using this site). I can't figure out how to remove the clutch, which is in front of the pulley. My local guy said this is pretty much a throw-away machine, but  i just invested $ into a new cutting head and primer bulb. This guy also seemed to think this is a tricky job. Any help from your end would be outstanding. I'm stuck.

Answer
hi jimmy

remove plug,  fit a soft stop into cylinder ( soft stop is just a thick piece of nylon starter rope   5.00 or 6.00 mm should be ok   )  fold it over and insert into cylinder through  plug hole and rotate the piston in the  opposite direction to normall rotation  untill the soft stop is jammed in between piston and cylinder, then use a pin punch and hammer and punch the clutch assy clockwise as viewd from the clutch side   -  use 1 or 2 good hits  clutch should undo  clockwise and should come off  

install is reverse of above   just lock the piston near tdc  rotating in the normall  direction of rotation (anticlockwise )  and tighten clutch  using same method as to remove it    


note clutch is a left hand thread    do it up  rotating  anticlockwise


normal threads  remember   this   lefty -loosey    righty - tighty

left hand threads remember this  opposite   left-tight     right -loose

cheers hope it helps  

paul