Stihl MS 180C Chainsaw: Starter Rope Dilemma

[spillenger]

Good morning.

Long story short: I pulled on my starter rope too enthusiastically and it snapped. I opened up the fan housing, as instructed in the manual, but when I looked inside, the attached photos show what I saw.

I have looked high and low for some way to actually get to the half-inch of remaining rope on the spool, but it is "underneath" this thing -- a white plastic circular thing with some kind of clasp through the central bolt. When I say I've looked high and low, I mean that I've even tried to find photos on the web of this part of the MS 180C, and the photos I find do not look like what I'm looking at on the inside of my chainsaw. I went through YouTube and found a clip on repairing the starter rope for the 250 and the 180, but again, the insides of this guy's saw do not look like the insides of mine.

I have tried removing the three screws in the metal top plate, but that just removes the plate and reveals what looks to be a spring. I have tried to figure out how to take the clasp out so the white circular thing can be removed. No luck.

So, given the attached photos, where you can just barely see a little nub of starter rope that I can't get to so I can replace the broken rope with new rope, what would you suggest I do -- short of going back to the dealer with my head hung low in shame and asking him to do it for me?

Thanks.

Paul

 

[EngineMan]

Did you remove the centre clip (red arrow in photo) then lift centre part up (off) you should be able to see the end of the rope.
if you never done the job before it may well be better for you to take it to the dealer...! rope got to be the correct diameter and length and the right tension, can be fiddly...!

 

[spillenger]

Did you remove the centre clip (red arrow in photo) then lift centre part up (off) you should be able to see the end of the rope.
if you never done the job before it may well be better for you to take it to the dealer...! rope got to be the correct diameter and length and the right tension, can be fiddly...!

Okay, thanks! So you can actually remove that bent clip thing? I didn't want to tug on it with a pair of pliers until I knew it could come off. How exactly do you remove the center clip?

Many thanks.

 

[EngineMan]

Did I see the word MANUAL in post 1..?

 

[spillenger]

Engineman, your first post was more helpful.

I realize that many people don't take the time to read the manual, or, when that proves fruitless, scour the web for hours for answers. That must be maddening to you. But some of us are just actually new to this kind of mechanical work with garden machines. We're trying to learn, but I guess everyone was a beginner sometime, right?

Yes, I looked in the manual. I am not an idiot. Like most non-idiots, the first thing I did was carefully look through the manual, particularly the place that seemed to have to to with the starter rope. I looked through it a few times, just in case I missed something. But there was nothing even remotely helpful there about removing the spring clip. And yet, here is this page you posted on how to do just this!! How could it be? What on earth is going on?

Well, maybe it's that the manual that came with my chainsaw is a different manual than the one you uploaded. The typeface is different, the header is different. Golly, maybe it's a different manual. Unheard of? I think not.

It must be terribly irritating to have to hear people ask these beginner questions. But as someone who probably knows a good deal more than you about a great number of things, I hope I wouldn't assume you were a chucklehead just because you didn't have my experience in the subject.

Cheers!

 

[EngineMan]

I take it that the manual you have is not a Repair or Shop manual, and is just the home owner one which has very little help in them, it was'nt a dig at you, just so many say they're have manual's but just don't read them...!.
I will give any information that I know and have to anyone who believes it may help them.

 

[Rivets]

Did you really say this? It must be terribly irritating to have to hear people ask these beginner questions. But as someone who probably knows a good deal more than you about a great number of things, I hope I wouldn't assume you were a chucklehead just because you didn't have my experience in the subject.

You are a first time poster and then you question the experience of the member who helps you. You and your type are the reason many of the professionals on this forum have cutback on helping others around here. We don't know the experience of the people asking for help, or if they even understand our answers. If you had the experience on the subject, why are you asking the questions? How do you think he got the repair manual? I'm willing to bet that he has ten times the knowledge about small engine repair than you have experienced. Be careful what you assume and post, as they may not be correct and will make you look like the ...........

PS: make sure that you use a #4 starter rope when you replace it.

 

[Carscw]

Did you really say this? It must be terribly irritating to have to hear people ask these beginner questions. But as someone who probably knows a good deal more than you about a great number of things, I hope I wouldn't assume you were a chucklehead just because you didn't have my experience in the subject.

You are a first time poster and then you question the experience of the member who helps you. You and your type are the reason many of the professionals on this forum have cutback on helping others around here. We don't know the experience of the people asking for help, or if they even understand our answers. If you had the experience on the subject, why are you asking the questions? How do you think he got the repair manual? I'm willing to bet that he has ten times the knowledge about small engine repair than you have experienced. Be careful what you assume and post, as they may not be correct and will make you look like the ...........

PS: make sure that you use a #4 starter rope when you replace it.

Maybe if you read it again real slow you will understand what he was saying.

What he was saying was. Don't put him down and assume he is dumb because he does not know about small engine repair because there are other things he knows more about than you.

Again your social skills make you look like a azz.

Man you know all about fixing things but the way you act like your better than everyone and people should kiss your azz so you will help them makes a first time poster not want to ask for help.

The guy was just saying don't talk to him like he is beneath you

He came here for help not to be insulted.

Get off your high horse

(( cowboy up and get over it ))

 

[Rivets]

Cars, thank you for the nice compliments. Please check out my other replys, I'm sure that you can find some others where I gave the wrong advice. I need you input to point out more of my faults.

 

[Carscw]

Cars, thank you for the nice compliments. Please check out my other replys, I'm sure that you can find some others where I gave the wrong advice. I need you input to point out more of my faults.

Your welcome any thing to help.

Man not saying you don't know what your talking about. You know your sh it when it comes to small engines.
But maybe just relax a little

I understand its hard to be nice to people heck but I been trying

(( cowboy up and get over it ))