re- coil spring problems

[Bill Sloan]

1969 20hp Johnson.. starter spring keeps messing up and pull cords keeps fraying. just started up in the past week.

 

[joereeves]

Fraying cord.... Cord is sliding against a faulty surface. Find it and correct if possible. Let us know what that surface is.

Starter spring keeps messing up? We'll need a better explanation than that. Exactly what is the spring doing?