I am trying to replace a pull string on the recoil starter for a troy bilt pony garden tiller. And can't get the string to thread into the tie-off hole. Need help:confused:

Try melting the pull cord end with a match or a lighter. That has worked for me in the past.

Hi,
I have a methodology to starters. The rope is last and is insrted from inside out.
To explain, I will remove the starter, replace the spring/pulley as necessary. All work is done from the inside and references are from there, also.
Once other repairs performed, I pre-tension the spring by winding the pulley in a counter-clockwise direction until it stops. I then back off a minimum of one turn (can vary by where it stops.) I then block the pulley, current designs work well with a #1 Phillips screwdriver. When I do it I stop with the pulley's rope hole lining up with the one in the housing. I seal both ends of the rope by burnig them to fuse the fibers. I tie a knot in one end and feed the other through the pulley hole and then housing hole. I pull it through and install it through the grip, and tie it off there. Then gripping the rope so as not to have freely rewind, I remove the block (screwdriver) and allow the rope to wind within the starter.
As many starters are damaged by the unit rewinding too freely as any other way. It allows the spring to loop back upon itself. The loop will then slowly flatten until it reaches a sharp bend that can be a spot to break.
Peace,
Clarke