You could wind it in there using the plastic pulley….Unwrap the spring, then secure it to the pulley and install the pulley securely into the housing. Yes, I realize it is a mighty steep angle from where the spring comes out from under the pulley up and over the recoil housing. So, I usually leave a few coils of the spring inside the housing to minimize the bending/tension. Now just turn the pulley counterclockwise and the spring will slowly be pulled into the cavity under the pulley…
The only other thing I didn’t mention is the rope…I don’t remember exactly how the rope is secured in the pulley, but I’m pretty sure it can be threaded into the pulley after the spring is wound into place, I’m thinking you will be replacing the rope as well. If not, simply tape over the pulley where the end of the rope is so it does not get in the way while winding the new spring….
Sure would have been nice if they left a little hole in the side of the housing where the spring could be threaded through, but am guessing they didn’t think that open hole would look nice cosmetically….Putting a rubber cap over the hole was probably ruled out by the bean counters.
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