How to Change the Pull Cord on a Toro Mower

Remove the spark plug wire. Unscrew the bolts holding the housing of the starter recoil pulley to the engine of the Toro mower with a 3/8-inch socket wrench.

Remove the starter recoil pulley's housing and turn it over. Pull the old pull cord out as much as possible and cut it with a scissors. Remove what is left of the pull cord inside the pulley.

Turn the pulley counter-clockwise until its hole lines up with the hole in the housing through which the pull cord will be threaded. Hold the pulley in place with locking pliers.

Run the replacement pull cord through the holes in the housing and the pulley. Draw it through the ferrule and out at the end of the pulley. Tie it in a knot at the end of pulley. Singe the little piece of cord at the end of the knot with flame from a lit match. Remove the locking pliers to allow the pulley to wind the pull cord into position.

Replace the housing of the starter coil pulley on the engine of the Toro mower. Screw the bolts holding it in place back with the socket wrench. Run the pull cord through the guides on the mower's handle. Tie the cord to the pull cord handle. Replace the spark plug wire. Give it a couple of pulls to test the strength of the cord.