Husqvarna Starter Rope for 550XP Mark II

This Husqvarna 550XP starter rope is cut for the 550XP Mark II recoil starter. Starter rope frays from wear at the housing guide and from being yanked at angles, and a snapped rope at the start of a job means a saw that won't run.

When to replace the rope

The 550XP Mark II is a workhorse for limbing, bucking and ground cleanup, and it gets started a lot every day. Check the rope at the handle and where it exits the housing. If it is frayed, glazed or thin, replace it. It is a lot easier to swap at the shop than to deal with a snapped rope on site.

If the rope wears fast, check the rope guide in the housing for sharp edges.

Rope wear is often a symptom of other problems. Check the starter pulley, the rope guide and the spring cassette for wear while the starter is apart. A cracked rope guide or worn pulley can fray new rope quickly. Pull the rope straight out from the saw, not at an angle, and don't let the handle snap back. Those habits make the rope and starter last much longer.

Fitting tips

Remove the starter, release the spring tension, and pull out the old rope. Feed the new rope through the pulley and housing, tie the knots securely, and wind it on with the pre-tension the service manual calls for. The rope should pull out fully with a little spring left over.

Pair it with a new handle if the old one is cracked. More 550XP parts are in our chainsaw parts section.