How to Fix and Replace the Pull Cord on a Pressure Washer

A snapped cord on your pressure washer can stop you in your tracks, but you can fix it in just minutes with the following steps. All you need is a screwdriver (or, if you don't have one, a pencil) and a replacement cord (or the old cord if it's still long enough).

First, take off the recoil mechanism.

• Remove the retaining screws to access the recoil mechanism. (keep the screws safe!)

• Remove the casing. Inside this, you will see the inner wheel.

• Identify the holes in the casing and the inner wheel that the cord would pass through.

• Begin to turn the inner wheel anti-clockwise. It will gradually start to resist and tighten, but keep going until it is impossible to turn it any further.

• Make sure the two holes line up at this point- this may include letting the inner wheel turn clockwise until they meet.

• Using a screwdriver or a pencil, pin the wheel in place, slotting it through the casing and the inner wheel.

Secondly, replace the cord.

• Remove the handle from the cord. The handle type can vary from machine to machine, with some slotting apart to reveal the tied end of the cord. Untie the knot holding the handle.

• Take the thinnest end of the cord and thread through the inner wheel, inside to outside.

• Then, use a screwdriver to push it through the hole in the casing, again from inside to outside.

• Pull it most of the way through, tying a double-knot on the inside to prevent it from slipping through.

• Put the handle back on the other end of the cord, again double knotting to prevent it from slipping through.

Finally, reset the recoil mechanism.

• At this point, the cord has been fully fixed and replaced. Remove the screwdriver/pencil from where it was pinning the inner wheel.

• The inner wheel will want to spin clockwise very quickly, but control it, letting it turn slowly to ensure the cord is winding correctly.

• Once the wheel has fully wound up, give the cord a couple of test pulls to ensure the mechanism will work properly.

• Finally, you can reattach the mechanism to the pressure washer, putting the screws tightly back in place.

With the pressure washer back in one piece, you can go back to work, blasting through all your pressure-washing jobs.