I'm frigin' going nuts

[craized]

My ATC has got me in a mess! I'm goin' nuts! The damn recoil rope broke! I took the housing off the engine to fix it and install a new rope and in the process the damn recoil spring came loose. How the hell do i get it back in? I've been struggling with that thing for an hour! The clymer's tell's me to "reinstall recoil spring".....Yea, no %$#*, BUT HOW? Do I need a special tool or what?

[jenndnn3]

Anytime you deal with springs you are gonna need alot of patience..... I am really sorry you had that happen...They tend to be a 2 person job. I always run the other direction when the hubby pops the springs on anything. Very good luck Jen

[fishinmagician]

I screwed with one off the kid's Tri-Zinger for hours one night. Do yourself a favor and take it down to the bike shop and pay the $10-$15 to have it done, it is definitely worth the money.

[Fuzzy]

I pull the spring tight with one hand. Then with the other i clip a locking vise grips on it. Then get a couple more wraps. And reclip the vise grips on it. And just keep doing it until you have the whole thing wrapped up. Then you can hold on to it with the vise grips. While you set it back in to the holder.

[Benny]

I agree with Fuzzy...if you can't fix it with a vise-grip it ain't worth fixing:lmao:

[craized]

Well, I logged another 1/2 hour trying to get that damn thing in. I'm really getting pissed and my hands are killing me. Fuzzy, I tried the vice grip and had no success. I was able to get the spring almost small enough to fit but the vice grip pulls the center of the spring to one side and it won't fit over the center bolt. What am I doing wrong? Man this sucks!

[ATC_250SX]

man i feel bad for you. i had a snowmobile spring in my recoil because the honda one in myn broke and the snowmoblile one fit in and was a little stronger. you dont know how many times it flew accros my garage. Then my fater who has been working on engines for a long time did it like first try. i guess it just takes practice.

[slow rider]

I was able to get the recoil spring back in. Here's how I did it: First it takes two people, one to coil the spring with two hands, and one to atttach a vice grip as you go. Use a needle nose vice-grip so you will have room to put it in the housing. Attach the vice grip to about the 5-6 outtermost coils, not all coils. It was quite a learning process and after two hours of work I finally got it. Although If it comes out again I think I could redo it in 5 minutes.:yup:

[sean823]

That sounds like it was a real pain in the a$$, I had to put the spring back in for my 225dx,and it was nothing like what you guys are saying... The spring has a curved end that hooks on to the housing then you slowly wind the spring around, pressing down on the parts youve already wound as you go... It took 2 minutes, no tools, no sore fingers...

[slow rider]

SEAN - I tried that techique too. Several times. My spring was way to stiff and kept jumping over itsself as I wound. I gave up after about 10 tries doing it that way.