The Pull Cord Is Stuck on My John Deere Lawnmower

The Handle

• A pull cord that won't pull out may not, in a sense, be the cord’s fault. Several other components act in concert with the cord’s starting mechanism. One such part is the press handle -- it’s the bar that lies under the handle that, when grasped, allows the cord mechanism to be pulled. It very well may be stuck on its hinges. Squirting some spray lubricant inside each hinge should get it moving again. Also, the small steel cable that connects the press handle to the starter unit may be stuck. A simple remedy is to grease the wire with lubricant to get it moving again.

Weather Stuck

• Weather stuck is a condition common among mowers that are left exposed to the elements when not in use. Simply put, this means the spark plug wire isn’t firing as it should. The do-it-yourself approach is to first remove the spark plug wire for safety’s sake. If you don’t know where the wire is, consult the John Deere owner’s manual for your model. Tip the mower up onto its front wheels and try manually turning the blade; if it moves, install a new plug wire to get the cord moving again.

The Pulley

• In some cases, the cord itself may have become snagged while coiled around the pulley’s flywheel inside the mechanism itself. In this case, you need to again remove the spark plug wire for safety’s sake to prevent the mower from accidentally firing then disassemble the cover on the engine housing to access the flywheel. Depress the lock-tab that holds the cord in place and manually uncoil the cord then pull it taut and recoil it around the flywheel, taking care to ensure each coil is wrapped evenly around the wheel.

The Spring

• One vital component of the mower’s starter mechanism is a small spring that depresses when the cord is retracted. If the cord does not pull out, the spring may not be compacting, a condition that “freezes” the cord in place. To remedy this, you’ll need to again remove the cover on the engine housing and locate the spring near the flywheel. You can usually pry the spring out with a screwdriver. Replace the spring and see if that resolves the problem. If not, there may be an underlying issue that requires the attention of an authorized John Deere repair technician.