How to Replace the Starter Rope on your Craftsman B215 Leaf Blower

Get your small engine starter rope here (paid link): amzn.to/3lMzXxE
In this video I'll save you some time by showing you the process of replacing a broker starter rope. With a little determination and guidance, any DIYer can get this job done, and save yourself some money. You'll be back in business very soon. Thanks for watching Buck's Small Engine DIY, putting the "Do" into "Do-It-Yourself"
Want an Official Buck's Small Engine DIY Sticker??? Send me an email with your name and mailing address at [e-mail], and I'll send you a sticker absolutely free!

[@chto5340]

My buddy was going to junk his blower. Fixed for $3.25 and no cursing thanks to your video! Thank you and keep it up!

[@Buckwsr]

Great job! And thanks for watching the video.

[@1518joefil1]

My hero! My leaf blower is the same or at least nearly identical. I just set my iPad up on my workbench and followed along. So easy to follow and my leaf blower is back in business! I bought the replacement rope locally at Lowes, but clicked your link in case you get credit for it. Thanks so much!

[@Buckwsr]

Thanks, Joe. Good job getting it done yourself!

[@artavishardy3238]

I liked the way he did it as well. Easy to follow

[@JerryLeeMac]

Thanks for this very helpful DYI video, just had my rope break yesterday, had to bring out the electric blower to finish the leaf clean up. Now after watching this i will go get me some new rope and get'er done

[@Buckwsr]

Thanks for watching, and good luck with the repair.

[@sulemanshafique5119]

You know it was kind of scary at first but now it seems like a easy task thank you so much And very helpful tips

[@Buckwsr]

Good job, Suleman. Not too hard at all....

[@jamesvilligram]

Thanks so much! Video really helped me out! Just what I needed

[@Buckwsr]

Thank you.

[@phillyfanmatt]

Just had to do this with my B200, the process/layout ended up being exactly the same as yours. Super helpful video!

[@steveperez7757]

Thank you sir! I restored my blower thanks to your instruction. Great video!

[@Buckwsr]

Great job, Steve!

[@Chuy-tu1bx]

Thanks for your help

[@billdanhauer5993]

Thanks, my blower is only a year old and stored in my garage, Imagine my surprise when the cord came off in my hand yesterday. I wasn't sure right off which diameter cord to buy so I used your link as a thanks for the info!

[@Buckwsr]

Thanks, Bill. Good luck with the repair!

[@andrewdewitt5177]

Worked like a charm! I used 550 instead of starter cord so it was slightly thicker than pull cord but worked just fine.

[@Buckwsr]

Glad you're back up and running!

[@bensmac5361]

Very helpful, very clear. Saved me having to figure it out on my own! Thanks 🙂

[@vincentgambito9128]

If you don’t want your pull string flapping around, place your spring parts in with the new string or just clean up the old one. Do this without hand winding the string. Then hook the string into the notch found on the face along the strings guide. Now, wind up the spring until it’s difficult to go further and pull the string out of the notch. It’ll wind up the correct length of string. If you have a new cut of string, you may need to file that notch out a little bigger. Put the handle on the string and pull string out 10”-12” to tie your knot where it’ll pull your handle in tight.

[@broadcastmike]

Buck - great video. As soon as I finished the rather impressive string of curse words after my starter rope snapped at the base, I discovered your video. Simple, no-nonsense approach that the non-technically inclined among us can appreciate. thanks again - I used Army 550 cord as the replacement starter rope - so if I have to replace it again, at least I know how!

[@Buckwsr]

Thanks, Mike. Good job fixing it yourself!

[@johnathanbritt2996]

Thank you bill

[@falconpunch2855]

Thank you so much, I struggled with the stupid spring tensioner on it for the rope. I didnt think to wind it only half way by hand before manually twisting the spool the rest of the way.

[@shannonschwab3754]

Very helpful. My son has a B2000 came apart and looks just the same.as yours. Thanks for help.

[@syan625]

Very helpful video. I didn't have the same model but procedure was the same. Thanks

[@danmcguire826]

Great video! Helped me a ton! Thx!

[@theshayshow9443]

Thank you so much!! I followed your video and perfectly replaced the pull cord on my leaf blower! It works! It’s works!

[@Buckwsr]

Good job, Shannon! You made my day with your kind comment.

[@theshayshow9443]

@@Buckwsr Awesome. I made my own day by fixing it myself!! Your video was perfect!!! But I put a little dab of gorilla glue on the knots ;)

[@theshayshow9443]

Would you happen to know what spark plug fits the Craftsman B215?

[@tommyeagle5706]

Great video made it real easy for me. I also have a craftsman 2000 and it's very similar to yours. Thank you

[@fredquann2796]

How long is the rope, what size is the drill bit, “a little bigger”? Good video, Thanks.

[@johnsouthern2396]

This was helpful. I have a slightly different craftsman model, B2000, but it was very similar engineering.

[@Buckwsr]

Thanks, John

[@1982ETS]

You just saved me!! Thank you for the video!!!

[@robfrr9345]

Thanks for this post, my cord broke after 7 months of use. My nut is still stuck and didn't pop of as easily as yours. I bought this at Lowes in Dec 2020 for $59 and I'm beginning to think I should just toss it and buy another. BTW, my blower never, ever starts on the first pull, hence the broken cord, lol. Thanks again, maybe I'll give it another go!

[@Buckwsr]

Thanks, Robert. It amazes me that the blower only sells new for $59. I charged nearly that much for starter rope repair! So yeah, makes it tempting to just toss it in the garbage and buy a new one. So much stuff these days is made to be disposable, it seems. But this one does start easily and runs well, so I suppose it was worth fixing.

[@vontebikelife997]

I just replaced mines but somehow the woodruff key came off the shaft does it go back in side to side or up and down ?????

[@garyanello3881]

Nice job even with the struggles...more realistic!!!

[@Buckwsr]

Thanks, Gary. The job took me over an hour...even though the video is about 13 minutes! Thanks for watching.

[@theHook-up]

always great video

[@briantheissen1922]

Great video ! Thank you.

[@Buckwsr]

Thanks!

[@dakidd84]

So, you pretty much have to take it completely apart to replace a pull cord. That's ridiculous engineering. They really didn't consider maintainability when designing this product. Another problem with this blower is that the air filter cover pops off so easily. Just about any little bump and it comes off. After putting it back on numerous times, it finally has been lost.

[@jimboknowsit]

First time for me on replacing the cord. No preload required on spring? Like when replacing a cord on a push mower..

[@namelessghoul7670]

Can you give me a tip on getting the T25 bolts out if they're stripped?

[@christophermarston6657]

When drilling out that hole make sure it’s smooth or your new string will fray and break!😮

[@egomez868]

Thanks man!

[@jeffwilcox2590]

The last step of fusing the rope right next to the leaf blower fuel tank is probably not a great idea...but other than that, excellent video. Thank you!

[@Buckwsr]

Thanks, Jeff. I was wondering when someone was going to scold me for that!

[@ampthefreethinker5335]

Thanks just used your information !!!!!

[@Buckwsr]

Glad it helped!

[@aliennetwork08]

Thanks Brotha

[@mrodriguez5259]

Te felicito

[@rommelherrera5675]

This was a very helpful tutorial. I was able to replace the cord on my blower and now works again. Thank you

[@Buckwsr]

Great job. That's what I call putting the "Do" into "Do-It-Yourself!"

[@cliftonwatkins9332]

ABOUT HOW LONG WAS THE STRING YOU CUT FOR THE CRAFTSMAN BLOWER

[@Buckwsr]

Can't quite remember. Cut it plenty long, and make your final trim when you install the handle on the pull cord.

[@bassdude1978]

Thanks for this . I have an issue though, my flywheel key is sheared. and remnant's of it are are gone, Do you know who makes this engine and where i can get a new key?

[@cwytonweb]

Craftsman blowers don't have flywheel keys. There is a nut, bearing, a little 3/8"" x 2" steel cylinder, and three or four washers.

[@johnathanbritt2996]

Thank buck my bad

[@Buckwsr]

Bill, Buck, whatever. I answer to anything! Thanks for watching.

[@rustyshackleford1920]

I'm following step by step and I can't get the thing pryed open

[@billdrigun2479]

Hoping you can help me I have a similar craftsman blower and every time I rerun the pull string I get it all back together and give it a pull and the string doesn't rewind and I have to take it apart again....WHAT AM I DOING WRONG????HELP

[@Buckwsr]

Not sure what to say. The rewind mechanism or spring is apparently not working as it should. Hard to say sight unseen...

[@UrMomGoes2College]

Question. Could I use paracord?

[@Buckwsr]

I'm sure it would work. Definitely worth a try.

[@cwytonweb]

The tiny cord housing and craftsman's poorly thought out cord routing makes anything thicker or heavier than the standard pull cord a total nonstarter, literally. It will stick and then get stuck. Then when you go back to replace the cord there's an excellent chance the coil will explode when you remove the clip. Trust me. Been there. Done that.

[@Gssmallenginerepair]

What length was the rope? Thank you

[@Buckwsr]

Get the approximate length by comparing it to the old broken rope, if you have it. Otherwise, just make yourself a nice long piece, which you will then shorten at the handle end as your final step. Good luck.

[@Gssmallenginerepair]

@@Buckwsr I can’t seem to get enough tension on recoil. I noticed well I had the spring come out under the silver piece. Finally got the spring back in, Looked at your video, still can’t get enough tension?

[@Gssmallenginerepair]

Hey man I got it fixed. Thx for your video,

[@stlcardinalfan1322]

Can’t get the tube off. You edited that part out.

[@mokhan4748]

/*-+ Thank you - super clear and easy tutorial to follow.

[@tylerthibodeaux8957]

Anyone else had a bearing fall out?!

[@ReedtechIndustries]

You left out the part where to disassemble the throttle linkage from the motor so it pulls apart.

[@Buckwsr]

That's because I did not disconnect those linkages or wires, but left them intact. I was able to pull the motor off the blower housing without disconnecting the cables.

[@ReedtechIndustries]

@@Buckwsr I have the 210 series and had to disconnect the linkage and remove the bottom two screws at the handle, everything else in your video went perfect. Thanks.

[@Buckwsr]

@@ReedtechIndustries Yes, in my case it was a bit awkward with the motor and housing still connected by the cables, but it was manageable.

[@stevieg.4816]

You conveniently edited out how hard it was to remove the blower tube from the housing.

[@OhHenrysMusic]

Here's a time he didn't mention. Take off the blower tube first! It's a bitch to get it off once the screws are removed. You're welcome lol

[@ryankeller8572]

Helpful. But this leaf blower is a horrible design on the starter system. I changed a Ryobi backpack blower starter rope the other day and it was way easier than this thing

[@Bamaboompa]

I wish you had shown EXACTLY how to get that 🤬nozzle off! Whoever designed this should spend every day in hell getting it off.

[@Buckwsr]

Tell me about it! I had to edit that part out of the video!

[@landondavis3647]

I think I will just buy a new blower.

[@Buckwsr]

That's always an option!

[@CC-us3cd]

The best idea for this model is to throw it away and buy one that isn't so stupidly built

[@txjred]

What a pos… to have to take apart the entire thing..

[@dakidd84]

Exactly!! First year engineering students or even a high school intern must have designed this one Maintainability should always be a huge design consideration. This should have never made it through the first design review. I have to give this product an "F" for maintainability. I bought one of these just to try it out in my company. I have put this one on the no- buy list! This would cost us too much maintenance time just to replace a stupid pull cord. At a maintenance cost of $50 per man hour, these are almost disposable and buy a new one anytime it needs to be fixed.

[@Endthenonsense]

All that for a stupid starter cord? Haha

[@dreamscometrue91210]

Sooooo buy a new one

[@user-gp2sr3mi3f]

Yes they are junk

[@jessestewart5212]

Horrible design

[@blugrass22]

Worst design possible

[@brianwagner9518]

was that screwdriver pissing you off lol