What to do if recoil winder is not retracting a cord all the way by itself?

sounds like the recoil mechanism is on its way out, can you open up the casing and have a look at whatever it is?

 

I've done this a few times with other pieces of equipment, So, I'll walk you through the steps.

A ) First and foremost, get on line and order a spare right now. You'll have saved yourself some time in the long run.

B ) Open the device up. This involves either tearing up warantee labels or ripping the rubber feet off of the bottom of the unit to get to the screws.If there are no screws, chances are the unit is ultrasonically welded shut. In that case, you'll need to put the unit in a vice and squeeze it until the seams split apart. In this case, make sure that you have electrical tape for resealing the unit. Duct tape is an acceptable alternative for electrical tape.

If there are screws, chances are that 1 in 4 screws will either become stripped, or will turn freely in the screw hole. In plastic case design, this is normal, and is actually a design feature.

C ) Once you've succeeded in opening the unit, place it on the bench and stare at it lovingly. If this does not repair it, then scowl at it, or threaten it with a hammer.If neither of the aforementioned repair techniques work, then it's time to remove parts. As you're taking parts out of the unit, you will realize that there are numerous "extra" screws inside the unit. These can be safely discarded, or thrown into your junk box for next time.

D ) When you finally find the faulty component, you will find that you can not order the part anywhere (It's probably custom made for the manufacturer, or, the vendor went out of business and the manufacturer bought up a million or so components for less than nothing. In that case, you must disassemble the component and attempt to surgically repair it yourself. This is best done at work. Why should you waste your valuable spare time when you can waste your bosses time, and get paid to repair your own unit. If you decide to work at home, make sure to listen for the delivery service, so that you do not miss the delivery of the new unit.

If all goes well, your new unit should arrive just as you are throwing the old unit in the trash.

Enjoy your new unit, and be thankful that you do not work for the company that makes these things.

I hope this helps...

:MJ

 

These things have a mechanism like a lawn mower starter rewind, or an old fashioned window blind
consisting of a spring that tightens as you pull the cord out, and a ball or roller bearing escape mechanism that latches or not. the evil problem is dirt that gums up the rollers. so the trick is to get the dirt out without breaking things. try canned air, or wd40 then more air. when all that fails it's take it apart time. patience is a virtue. Fixing a bb9000 trackball is the same as fixing an ordinary mechanical mouse but incredibly more difficult because the parts are so small. Same with the cord rewinder do whatever to get the dirt out.

...T