Recoil Snap

Waking up wedged behind that wired mower was getting cramped, so I kicked free into the morning dust. Hanging from a wall peg right above me was an old gas trimmer, its pull-starter cord jammed halfway out of the plastic housing. Leaving a frozen recoil spring alone? As if! I scrambled onto an upturned bucket, gripped the molded rubber T-handle with both hands, and gave it one vicious downward heave. Skrrr-clack! The stubborn cord caught on a burr. I whipped out my sharpened putty knife, jammed the steel tip into the starter casing's seam, and pried hard. Snap! The seized spring released with a violent clatter, whipping the cord home and spinning the flywheel with a satisfying hum. Ha! Nothing stays stuck around me.