STIHL Recoil Springs

A damaged, weakened, or incorrectly fitted recoil spring can leave the starter rope hanging loose, retract slowly or fail to retract at all. 

Why? Well, the recoil spring pulls the starter rope back into the recoil housing after the engine’s turned over. When you pull the starter handle, the spring stores energy as it winds; after the handle’s released, it unwinds, returning the rope to its starting position.

Replacing the spring can restore the recoil mechanism without needing to replace the whole starter assembly.

STIHL Recoil & Rewind Springs

Our range includes genuine aftermarket STIHL replacement recoil starter springs, rewind springs and related components for a wide variety of STIHL garden and construction machinery. Options are available for chainsaws, brushcutters, blowers, hedge trimmers and disc cutters, including both older and newer machine designs.

The range includes STIHL TS410 and TS420 recoil springs, with separate options for the new and old starter designs, as well as springs for machines such as the TS400, BG56, HS46C, HS87R, FS45, FS50, FS94 and MS150C. We also stock specialist components for STIHL starting systems, including EasyStart and ErgoStart springs.

You’ll find some products supplied as individual springs, while others combine the recoil pulley or rope rotor with the rewind spring. Always check the product description carefully to ensure you’re selecting the correct component.

Signs Your Recoil Spring May Need Replacing

A recoil spring undergoes tension (and wear) every time the machine’s started, which can eventually affect its ability to retract the starter rope.

Common signs of a recoil spring problem include:

• The starter rope no longer fully retracts

• The rope returns slowly or unevenly

• The starter handle remains loose after pulling

• The recoil mechanism feels different from normal

• The spring is visibly damaged, distorted or broken

• The starter assembly fails to rewind the rope correctly

If the rope itself is frayed or damaged, check the recoil rope and handle at the same time. It’s also worth inspecting the pulley, pawls and other recoil components while the starter’s dismantled.

Choosing the Correct STIHL Recoil Spring

Recoil springs are model-specific, and seemingly similar STIHL machines can use different springs depending on the starter design and production version. Some models also have old and new types, so the correct part number is important.

If you're unsure which spring you need, our STIHL parts diagrams can help you identify the correct component. You can also use our Part Identification Service if you need some extra help identifying a replacement.

For other components within the same starter mechanism, see our STIHL recoil pulleys, recoil handles and ropes and recoil assemblies.