Ohlsson & Rice: Recoil Spring for 13B Engine (starter rebuild guide, post #9)

[CNew 404]

Are there any tricks or recommendations for reinstalling a recoil spring that has sprung from a 13B? Is the process more or less the same as a 13A?

[factory 487]

Here's one I posted earlier.

On 6/14/2016 at 10:29 PM, factory said:

The model 13B spring should go back something like this;

 

I have the procedure for reassembling the starter for the later model 20A engine, it may be a little confusing though as the 20A could be altered to change the rotation of the engine. And assembling it the wrong way results in a broken spring.

 

It's a little tricker getting the spring back in the housing on these, make sure it goes back in the right way round, have a look at the Model 20A manual & follow the instructions for the CCW rotation.

And I will say it again, it's very easy to break the spring if it's fitted or turned the wrong way during reassembly.

And note the error in the manual, if I get time I will have a look through the service bulletins to see if they confirm which is correct.

 

On 8/17/2016 at 7:39 PM, factory said:

Second error found with 20A manual, page 2 says that the spring housing should be turned 1 to 1½ turns to wind the starter spring, figure 7 on page 4 says to turn spring housing 1½ to 2 turns, I don't know which is correct yet. 

 

I did recently try to buy a Model 13B manual, but sadly the seller wouldn't sell it on its own, it had to go with two overpriced parts engines.

 

David

[CNew 404]

This is awesome David! That picture is worth a 1000 words. I’ll study the manual you provided. Thank you for all the great tips and resources!

 

Clint

[Wallfish 698]

The dreaded recoil spring. Nothing worse than getting it all back together and then discovering it was wound the wrong way and it's a redo.

 

[CNew 404]

Finally getting back to this 13B recoil spring. I’ve gotten as far as getting the spring wound and secured inside the housing. Next step will be to replace the pull rope since someone used an incorrect diameter rope and length. Then I’ll attempt the CCW spring winding and install procedure that David so kindly referenced in the 20A service manual.

[factory 487]

Well today I have just found out they slightly redesigned the 13B starter housing & parts around serial number #3070000 (July 1973), I will need to scan the relevant diagram with the part numbers, maybe I should take some pictures to help identify them too.

 

The spare part (starter reel) I found turned out to for a later starter mech, so it looks like I will need to find someone who can spot weld the original starter reel for that hedge trimmer I bought recently.

 

David

[CNew 404]

I’m still tinkering with this 13B starter recoil. The 20A instructions are helpful but also a little confusing but I think I’ll figure it out. I’m thinking a couple of the steps don’t really apply since the rope spool is different and the way it all mounts to the blower cowl is different as well. Hopefully I don’t get the spring wrong and break it...

[factory 487]

The starter reel is similar, I think you may be referring to the fact it shows the plastic bushing (20A only) in the pictures on page 2.

 

David

[factory 487]

OK seeing as I forgot to put this orange Type 13B starter mechanism back together after repairing both ends of the starter spring, I though it would be a good idea to take some pictures as I reassemble it.

 

All the parts disassembled (apart from rope & pull start).

Starter rope length is 33" for the 13B engine.

 

Starter spring fitted in the starter spring housing.

 

The starter reel bearing surface was oiled before fitting, then the starter reel was wound counter-clockwise to wind in the starter rope.

 

The starter rope fully wound in & the starter ring assembly fitted.

 

The (often missing) plastic starter gasket was fitted.

 

Card, paper or plastic spring winding separator in place.

 

The starter spring housing assembly was oiled inside, then carefully aligned & fitted.

 

The starter spring housing assembly was rotated counter-clockwise (between 1 to 1½ or 1½ to 2 turns depending on which page of of the service manual is correct, it should be obvious when it's turned enough), then one screw was fitted to the open hole and the starter rope was pulled to check the operation & return of the rope was smooth.

 

The winding separator was removed & all the remaining screws were fitted.

 

Note: the correct direction for the starter rope.

 

The completed starter/blower housing assembly refitted to the engine (now I could check for a spark, which was good ).

 

A final note: don't clean these plastic coated sticker decals with fuel/gas (they react badly).

 

David

Edited April 25, 2019 by factory
Edit: Spring winding turns confirmed & rope length added.

[CNew 404]

Got it all back together and it seems to be working correctly, at least no broken springs yet.  

 

Thanks again David for all your help!

David,

  I should have waited just a bit longer, your step by step pictures would have r ally simplified things. I think I more or less did your sequence. I attempted the paper thing and found I didn’t really need it.  I’m sure I’ll have to take this or another 13B apart again so this procedure you’ve documented will be perfect!

 

Thanks again for all your help!

 

Clint

[factory 487]

Hopefully the guide will be useful to others too (I need to add guide to the title).

 

On 4/20/2019 at 11:59 PM, CNew said:

I attempted the paper thing and found I didn’t really need it.

 

I think it's used to prevent the the plastic gasket being moved out of alignment by the starter spring, when the spring housing is rotated, keeping the screw holes in the plastic gasket aligned with the other parts.

Probably less of a problem if like mine, the plastic gasket has warped to the shape of the blower housing ribs.

 

David

[CNew 404]

Mine too, the plastic disc seemed to stay in place pretty well.

[factory 487]

On 4/20/2019 at 10:46 PM, factory said:

The starter spring housing assembly was rotated counter-clockwise (between 1 to 1½ or 1½ to 2 turns depending on which page of of the service manual is correct

Well I've found a service bulletin that confirms the correct number of turns for winding the starter spring on the 13B & 20A Series engines is 1 to 1½ turns only. It also gives starter rope length as 33" for these engines.

 

 

David

[CNew 404]

This is great detail to know - thanks David!

[factory 487]

If anyone comes across one of these 13B starter mechanisms that is seized don't try to force it, this maybe caused by dissimilar metal corrosion between the steel centre of the starter reel & the alloy housing (which is used as the bearing).

 

The alloy housing is a bit fragile due to the four thin sections for the starter reel bearing, it's very easy to crack these. I got this one apart using a hairdryer to heat up & expand the alloy housing, a gas torch would probably be quicker.

 

David