How to replace a lawn mower recoil starter on a flathead engine

Wear work gloves to protect your hands.

Disconnect the spark wire so there's no chance that the mower could accidentally start.

Remove the starter rope from the rope guide. If the rope won't slip past the guide and the handle, loosen the guide.

Remove the screws securing the engine cover to the engine.

Remove the cover.

Slide the rope through the hole in the engine cover.

Remove the screws that secure the fuel tank to the engine.

Lift the tank off, being careful to keep the fuel tank upright so it doesn't leak.

Remove the screw that secures the dipstick tube to the housing.

Remove the dipstick from the engine and plug the hole with a paper towel to keep debris from falling into the engine.

Remove the bolts securing the blower housing to the engine and remove the housing from the engine.

Place the blower housing on a firm work surface and remove the mounting hardware that holds the recoil starter assembly in place.

Drill out rivets with a 3/16-inch drill bit. 

Position the new recoil starter assembly onto the blower housing and secure with the hardware provided.

Position the engine blower housing on the engine and bolt it into place.

Remove the paper towel from the dipstick opening, slide the dipstick into the engine and secure it with the screw.

Feed the starter rope handle through the engine cover up to the rope guide.

Reinstall the fuel tank.

Position the engine cover on the engine and screw it into place.

Attach the spark plug wire and make sure the mower works properly.