How to Replace a Pull Cord on a Cub Cadet Snowblower

Obtain a new pull cord. On Cub Cadet snowblowers, which use Tecumseh engines, the pull cord is referred to as the "rope," and depending on the model, it can range in length from 54 to 85 inches. Check with your user manual to determine the correct size for your engine.

Remove the starter assembly from the engine. The starter assembly is the round assemblage from which the pull cord emerges. It is held in place by three screws. Unscrew and remove these three screws. The starter assembly will then lift free of the engine.

Rotate the pulley to line up the "V" notch with the staple that holds the cord in place. The pulley is the internal part of the starter that you can rotate with your fingers. On vertical pull starters, such as those that are used on Tecumseh engines in a Cub Cadet snowblower, it is not necessary to take apart the starter assembly to replace the pull cord. Instead, rotate the pulley until the easily visible "V" notch lines up with the staple that holds the pull cord to the pulley.

Remove the staple that holds the cord to the pulley. Use a small flat-head screwdriver to pry the staple from the pulley, releasing the pull cord.

Pull the cord free of the starter. If the pull cord has been broken, it will pull free of the starter. If the pull cord is not broken and is being replaced as a maintenance procedure, either cut the cord or untie the knot where the pull cord joins the pull handle, then pull the cord free from the starter.

Tie the new pull cord to the old handle. Slip one end of the new pull cord through the opening in the underside of the pull handle, then tie a knot to keep it firmly in place.

Rotate the pulley counterclockwise to wind the starter spring inside the starter assembly. Rotate the pulley until it feels tight. Then, rotate the pulley in the reverse direction just enough to line up the "V" and the hole where the staple was removed.

Hold the pulley so that it won't spin back on its own, then push the pull cord through the hole in the pulley and onto the spot where the staple was removed from. Tie a knot in the pull cord, then replace the staple by pressing it with your fingers and then tapping gently with the back of the screwdriver.

Replace the starter assembly. Place the starter assembly back onto the engine where it came from and tighten the screws.