I actually had the spring inside the ratchet mechanism break. I started to look for replacement parts and found ereplacementpart.com. If you go to the site you can order the "Strarter housing assembly" or if your mechanically inclined order just "Recoil pully assembly". Other replacment parts websites should have the same exploded views; you will just need to do a little shopping to find the best price.
Ernie
August 2010