Can a pullstart assembly be rotated?

[TheSweeney]

My pullstart is installed on the engine in a way that makes the pull-chord get in the way of my throttle servo linkage.
Can I just unscrew the pullstart housing and rotate it through 90*?

Thanks in advance, :ahh:

TheSweeney

 

[El Pirata]

It all depends on the engine and pull start in question Aside from different screw locations there's really no reason you can't do it. Give it a whirl and see.

 

[TheSweeney]

Thanks for your help EP.

The engine is a SMT .15 CXPro, the pullstart looks like a cheap generic one (Same as the engine ).
The screw holes are just (4) onein each corner. The PS housing is perfectly square so securing it after rotating it shouldnt be a problem. I was just curious as to whether the way a pullstart works is usually dependant on its orientation or not. I know its probably very simple but i havnt got a clue how a pullstart works, Well I think I do but....baahhh.
I'll open it up later to have a look and I'll try and rotate it, My one way bearing could do with a cleaning anyway.
I would have done it sooner but I'm frigging terrified of the spring popping out and uncoiling.

How hard is it to stop the spring popping out when removing the one way bearing?
Any tips or guidlines for a noob about to remove his ps for the first time?

I've got exploded diagrams of everything on my car except the pullstart, so any help would be great.

Cheers,

TheSweeney.

 

[SkyMaxx]

If the pull start casing and screw locations map out to a perfect square, then you can rotate the pull start the 90 degrees you desire. Its operation will not be affected in any way other than the direction the pull chord plays out when you give it a pull.

As for tips on removing the one way or trying to keep the spring from coming undone, there really aren't any. When you remove the screws that hold the pull start casing to the engine, you should be able to remove the pull start without the spring coming undone. The one way should either remain on the shaft or in the case it "sticks" in the pull start should just come out with some gentle prodding.

If you are worried that the spring might undo itself, you can use a flat head screwdriver or other flat metal tool to slide behind the pull start casing as you remove it. The object is to keep the chord spool inside the casing.

The only time I have had a pull start spring undo itself was when the spring had already snapped. Since it was already broken, when I removed the pull start casing it just finished its unwinding and went everywhere.

 

[TheSweeney]

Cheers Sky,
You've told me everything I needed to know. I'm gonna give it a try tonight, now that I've got the balls to do it lol.

I know its only a simple job but I hate going in blind with any task. The thing is, with this task I was expecting to come out blind, in one eye after the spring had unravelled :eyepatch: LOL

 

[SkyMaxx]

No problem. Let us know how it works out.

I did notice that you did not list the engine that this was mounted to. If the engine is a rear exhaust like the new TRX 2.5, you might not be able to rotate the pull start as easily as it seems. If it is a side exhaust there should be no problems.

The issue with the rear exhaust is that the header and the push out from the pull start where the chord comes out may not play nice together when the pull start casing is rotated. You'll understand what I mean when you get there. Again, this is only if the engine is a rear exhaust.