I have a soft spot for older McCullochs, and a beat-up Mac 320 followed me home last weekend. It's got decent compression and a clean carb, but the starter rope keeps jamming halfway through the pull. Thought it will be a quick fix, but it's proving stubborn. Anyone dealt with this on a Mac before?
McCulloch starter trouble
- Thread starter gwynedd56
- Start date
Nice grab on the old Mac 320!
The rope jamming halfway is almost always a couple of issues.
I'd inspect the rope itself for fraying or bunching right where it enters the housing or on the reel.. a slightly twisted rope can grab the edge.
If the rope is clean, you can pull the cover and see if recoil spring needs a shot of graphite or silicone.
But the major thing to check is the chain brake drum or band.
If the brake is dragging even slightly, it creates enough resistance to feel exactly like a jamming rope after the initial slack is taken up.
So you can also clean up that brake area first!
The rope jamming halfway is almost always a couple of issues.
I'd inspect the rope itself for fraying or bunching right where it enters the housing or on the reel.. a slightly twisted rope can grab the edge.
If the rope is clean, you can pull the cover and see if recoil spring needs a shot of graphite or silicone.
But the major thing to check is the chain brake drum or band.
If the brake is dragging even slightly, it creates enough resistance to feel exactly like a jamming rope after the initial slack is taken up.
So you can also clean up that brake area first!
Leon Couper
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2025
- Messages
- 127
Make sure it has the right size rope. If it is a size bigger that will also make them jam.
