1978 Mercury 7.5 HP Pull Rope Fraying

[Daniel1121]

I bought a '78 model Mercury 7.5 hp outboard about a year ago. I have gone through several pull ropes and I am at a loss as to why it keeps fraying and breaking. The motor starts fairly easily.(just a few pulls at most) Could it be because the pull rope isn't a mercury rope or are there other possibilities of why this is happening? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[racerone]

There is a guide pulley for the rope on the recoil housing.-----Perhaps there is a sharp edge on that.

 

[Daniel1121]

I have checked that and can't find any obvious edge or snag that could cause it.