How to Recoil a Boat Motor
- 1). Disconnect the outboard motor battery.
- 2). Remove the cover (cowl) from the motor to expose the recoil rope and starter mechanism (recoil). Remove the recoil housing cover, if applicable.
- 3). Examine the recoil housing -- the area the rope is wrapped around, generally on top of the motor -- for evidence of rope breakage and any rope left attached.
- 4). Pull slowly on the end of the broken rope, while counting the number of times the recoil mechanism turns before the rope is taut.
- 5). Place a screwdriver through the recoil slots to prevent further unwinding of the rope, and release the rope slowly.
- 6). Untie the damaged recoil rope knot located close to the center of the recoil housing and in line with the hole the rope passes through. Pull the damaged rope through the holes and discard.
- 7). Insert the new rope through the hole in the recoil housing, starting from the outside, and pass it through to where the knot was located.
- 8). Tie a loose knot in the end of rope inside the hole where the old knot was located.
- 9). Feed the other end of the rope through the recoil rope guide or handle (depending upon the design of the motor) and tie a knot to secure.
- 10
Remove the screwdriver and allow the new rope to slowly wind around the recoil housing until stopped by the guide or handle. The rope should be tight. - 11
Re-attach the recoil housing and engine cowl. - 12
Re-attach the battery. - 13
Pull the cord to test-start the engine. - 14
Disconnect the battery after a successful test. - 15
Remove the engine cowl and recoil housing cover. - 16
Tie an additional knot in the end of the rope that has the loose knot -- inside the recoil housing -- and another one at the handle or rope guide. - 17
Re-attach the recoil housing cover and engine cowl. - 18
Re-attach the battery.