Poulan model p3314 recoil spring won't go in correctly

depends on what machine it is your trying to fit the rope to!! some you have to take off the spring tension and remove the pulley in order to feed the rope into and put knot on bottom of pulley, however most briggs and stratton and honda recoil starters you can pull the rope completely out and remove rope then fit new rpe and let spring pull it back in

New or used unit? If new can you return it ? If not you will need to take the recoil assembly off the engine and rewind the spring. Check inside the recoil assembly to see if the spring is broken or just popped out of place on either end. If it is broken your done. You will need to find a Poulan dealer to get a new spring. If new take it to a Poulan dealer for warrenty replacement. If you want to try to rewind the spring look to see where one end of the spring fits into the housing and the other into the spool. On the edge of the puley should be a notch. Place the rope in the notch and turn the pulley it in the direction needed to wind the spring about 4 or 5 turns. If it now pulls all the rope in you are done.If not put the rope back in the notch and wind the spring tighter till the rope is all pulled in.

Most likely you have a broken return spring.whitch will involve removing the blower cover and putting in a new spring,and then reloading the tensionon it.there is trick to that but its hard to explain....you have to tuirn the rope holder the oppisite direction you want it to pull the rope in ,then you feed in the rope while holding the spring loaded then tie the string in and let go...Normally 4-5 rounds will do for a good recoil..Hope it helps

wind the spring in your hand to a size that will fit back in the housing then fit it. then fit the pulley back making sure the spring fits in the slot for it.
you should then botl the pulley back in place.
to tention spring you shuld notice a notch in the pulley that is for the rope to sit in while you turn the pulley to re tention it

This reply is based on the following assumptions:
A Poulan PP2375LE (wildthing) Type 2
The starter recoil spring is unwound.
All components aer servicable

Poulan 2375LE Type 2 IPL
http://www.ordertree.com/modelinfo/PWE/2375LE-Gas-Saw-Type-2/75.2375LE-Gas-Saw-Type-2.1.59.1.html
Starter components and reassembly order are illustrated on the "Handle, Chassis & Bar Assembly" detail.

If the spring needs rewound this is how I do it, there are other methods.
Recoil Spring Rewind
I invert and secure the housing and rewind the spring large coil to small (need eye protection, and both hands). I am right handed so I tension the spring enough to insert it inside the previous coil while holding what has already been installed with my left about 180° from my right hand. The tension will hold the spring in the housing once completely inserted. Then bend slightly the inner most part to engage the starter spool.

This illustrates proper pretension and rope installation:
Smalleng.com (about 3.5 minutes long and worth watching the entire video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRyy3MlsjVo

If yours is not a Type 2 you can find the correct IPL here:
Poulan.com
http://www.ordertree.com/modelinfo/POULAN-WEED-EATER/75.59.html
The dash number of your serial number is the type.

I hope this was helpful
Lou

Recoil Spring Rewind
I invert and secure the housing and rewind the spring large coil to small (need eye protection, both hands and no women around work area!). I'm right handed so I tension the spring enough to insert it inside the previous coil while holding what has already been installed with my left about 180° from my right hand. The tension will hold the spring in the housing once completely inserted. Then bend slightly the inner most part to engage the starter spool. It will require about 2 turns of pretension for it to retract properly.
If you're lucky you can pull the cord out enough for a pretension then slightly raise and add the withdrawn cord to the spool. HTH
Lou

I DID THIS SAME JOB BY WINDING THE SPRING UP IN MY HAND AND THEN TOOK 2 TWIST TIES AND WRAPPED THEM AROUND THE SPRING TO KEEP IT IN THAT CONDITION. I THEN INSTALLED THE SPRING WITH THE LONG END OF THE TWIST TIE EXPOSED AND AFTER GETTING THE ROPE HOUSING IN PLACE I PULLED THE TEWIST TIES OFF WITH SOME NEEDLE NOSE PLIERS. HOPE THIS HELPS

Easy suggestion would be to get new spring coil. Is it older saw? Have had to change mine on poulan saws before.

as you put the side with the recoil starter back on the saw, ensure the rewind pack isn't binding. before tightening the screws, pull the rope out a few inches and let it rewind. if it won't, something is binding. keep moving the side panel till it will rewind. I have done this before myself. get it all put back together and it won't work.....

Hi fwadden

Remove the housing-fan. Remove the screw and detach the pulley- starter and the spring -starter.Put the new spring-starter(it usualy comes with a support).The spring-starter"spires are counterclockwise oriented.Put the puley starter back and the screw.Wrap up the rope clockwise on the pulley-starter until the starter works propperly.Hope this helps you.
best regards savumihai71