How do I put the pull cord housing back on Briggs 625 engine push mower?

[Tallhair]

How do I put the pull cord housing back on Briggs 625 engine push mower? It’s on a Poulan Pro purchased in 2009.

When the pull cord housing is off it pulls and recoils just fine. When I put it back on it will not pull. It wasn’t broken and I didn’t pull it to repair. Just to clean.

The mower was working perfectly before I disassembled it. I just took off the plastic shroud, gas tank, and starter cord housing to clean the engine of built up oil and grass.

Any help appreciated !

 

[Tallhair]

Duh. I wasn’t pulling the safety lever!

I was just testing the fit before putting on the tank and top cover. Not trying to start.

 

[slomo]

Duh. I wasn’t pulling the safety lever!

I was just testing the fit before putting on the tank and top cover. Not trying to start.

That was all planned out in perfect alignment.

Next chore is remove the top engine cover and clean the block cooling fins and all around the block. This is a yearly must-do in all engine manuals. You did half of the cleaning sounds like. Dig a little deeper where it counts, at the cooling fins. These are air cooled engines.......

 

[slomo]