McCulloch 32CC TRIMMER User manual

Service Manual

IMPORTANT: READ SAFETY RULES AND INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

PRINTED IN USA FORM NO. 769-00942

This Service Manual is not a substitute for the Operator’s Manual. You must read, understand

and follow all of the directions in this manual as well as the Operator’s Manual before working

on this power equipment.

(10/2003)

32cc String Trimmer

Power Head

MCCULLOCH CORPORATION P.O. BOX 31567, TUCSON, AZ 85751-1567

NOTE: These materials are for use by trained technicians who are experienced in the service and repair of outdoor power

equipment of the kind described in this publication, and are not intended for use by untrained or inexperienced individuals.

These materials are intended to provide supplemental information to assist the trained technician. Untrained or inexperienced

individuals should seek the assistance of an experienced and trained professional. Read, understand, and follow all instructions

and common sense when working on power equipment. This includes the contents of the product’s Operators Manual, supplied

with the equipment. No liability can be accepted for any inaccuracies or omission in this publication, although care has been

taken to make it as complete and accurate as possible at the time of publication. However, due to the variety of outdoor power

equipment and continuing product changes that occur over time, updates will be made to these instructions from time to time.

Therefore, it may be necessary to obtain the latest materials before servicing or repairing a product. The company reserves the

right to make changes at any time to this publication without prior notice and without incurring an obligation to make such

changes to previously published versions. Instructions, photographs and illustrations used in this publication are for reference

MTD Products LLC - Product Training and Education Department

1. INTRODUCTION

North American distribution rights to the McCulloch

product line are new to MTD for the 2004 season. The

trimmers are similar in some ways to the MTD South-

West (RYOBI) products that we have offered for the

past three years.

The architecture of both units is based on a cantilever

crankshaft. The McCulloch is piston ported, while the

MTDSW engine has a reed valve. Some of the service

techniques are similar, but not identical.

2. TRIMMER HEADS

2.1. One trimmer head available on the McCulloch

products is nearly identical to the MTDSW Tap-

N-Go. The operating principle is the same, but

the parts are different enough that they are not

fully interchangeable. See Figure 2.1.

2.2. There is also a McCulloch version of the large

tap-n-go head. It is used on the straight shaft

trimmers, and rotates in the opposite direction of

the small one.

Figure 2.1

McCulloch version

of small tap-n-go

2.3. Another trimmer head that is used on McCulloch

string trimmers resembles a cross between the

MTDSW Speed Spool and the MTDSW Tap-N-

Go head. See Figure 2.3.

2.4. A refill consists of 15’ - 20’ of .080” trimmer line.

2.5. To install line, cut it to length. Two equal-length

half-portions may be used, or one full length line

may be installed, then trimmed after installation.

See Figure 2.5.

Figure 2.3

McCulloch trimmer head with

simplified loading

Figure 2.5

Single-length method

McCulloch 32cc Trimmer

2.6. Align the arrows on the spool with the arrows on

the housing. See Figure 2.6.

2.7. Insert a length of trimmer line through each eye-

let. There are two sheaves for line in the spool,

separated by a narrow groove. The line must

enter the narrow groove. See Figure 2.7.

2.8. From the eyelet, the line will be channeled up

under the bump knob by a set of ramps in the

spool. See Figure 2.8.

2.9. The ends of the line are looped-through the

anchors to hold them in place, then pulled-tight.

NOTE: With the arrows aligned, the line can also

be installed from the inside-out, by removing the

bump knob.

2.10. The final step is to rotate the spool in the direc-

tion indicated by the arrows, drawing the line into

the head. See Figure 2.10.

2.11. Stop winding when each end of the line is about

6” long.

2.12. Press the bump knob and pull on the line to

manually test the trimmer head. Do not push the

housing off it’s seat while testing.

Figure 2.6

Housing

Spool

Arrows

(marked for

clarity)

Figure 2.7

Eyelet

Center

groove

Figure 2.8

Ramps

Bump knob

removed for

clarity

Bump knob

Anchors

Figure 2.10

Inset: arrow on spool, marked

for clarity

McCulloch 32cc Trimmer

2.13. If repair is required, remove the bump knob, and

withdraw the spool. See Figure 2.13.

2.14. Check for: tangled line, damaged tabs on the

spool, worn ribs on the spool, missing spring,

broken ratchet wedges.

2.15. Replace the spool if it is worn or damaged.

NOTE: Bump knobs are a wearable item, and

are replaced in the course of normal use.

2.16. The housing is not fastened to the boom. It sim-

ply rests over a hexagonal drive collar.

See Figure 2.16.

Figure 2.13

Spring

Tab s

Ratchet wedges

Ribs

Figure 2.16

Drive collar

2.17. The ratchet wedges can be serviced by remov-

ing the three screws holding the black cover to

the top of the housing. See Figure 2.17.

2.18. Carefully remove the springs, and pull out the

wedges. See Figure 2.18.

Figure 2.17

Cover

Holes for screws

Small springs behind

Figure 2.18

Spring seats over

post on back of wedge

One rounded side,

insures correct orientation

McCulloch 32cc Trimmer

2.19. When properly installed, the wedges should be

spring loaded. They retract when the ribs on the

back of the spool pass them, then extend to

keep the spool from rotating backwards.

See Figure 2.19.

3. RECOIL STARTER

3.1. Next to the cutting head, this is probably the

most common service item on the trimmer. It is

similar in principle to the MTDSW starter, but the

routing of the throttle and stop switch cables

necessitates a slightly different approach.

3.2. The throttle trigger, stop switch, and grip can all

be removed from the boom in unit with the

power-head. See Figure 3.2.

3.3. To separate the powerhead from the boom,

remove the screw at the top of the grip using a T-

25 driver, then withdraw the boom.

See Figure 3.3.

3.4. Remove the air filter cover using a T-25 driver to

gain access to the connection between the throt-

tle cable and the throttle arm on the carburetor.

See Figure 3.4.

Figure 2.19

Spring loaded

ratchet wedges

Figure 3.2

Screw holds grip

and Throttle housing

to boom

Positioning mark

Figure 3.3

grip slip off of boom

Trigger housing and

Screw

removed

Figure 3.4

Air filter

cover

McCulloch 32cc Trimmer

3.5. Disconnect the throttle cable from the carburetor

by unhooking the Z-fitting at the carburetor end

of the cable. See Figure 3.5.

3.6. After the powerhead is separated from the

boom, and the throttle cable is slackened, the

housing that contains the stop switch and throttle

trigger can be separated from the grip.

NOTE: Alternatively, instead of removing the

complete powerhead and grip from the boom,

the clutch housing can be separated from the

starter housing. If this approach is taken, the

stop switch wires must be disconnected as the

two sections are separated. The throttle cable

will pull out of the starter housing and clutch

housing as the powerhead is removed. Because

of the difficulty of routing the throttle cable back

through the housings, a wire or string should be

connected to the z-fitting so that the throttle

cable can be “fished” back into place.

Figure 3.5

Z-fitting on end of

throttle cable

Throttle arm

on carburetor

3.7. Remove the two screws from the trigger housing

cover using a T-15 driver. See Figure 3.7.

3.8. Push the front part of the housing forward to

remove it. See Figure 3.8.

3.9. The throttle trigger will be released from its pivot

point, and the stop switch will remain with the

rear portion of the housing.

NOTE: The stop switch contacts two rub strips to

ground-out the ignition module. One rub strip is

connected to the primary windings of the mod-

ule, the other leads to ground.

Figure 3.7

Trigger housing

Trigger housing cover

Stop switch

Trigger housing

cover screws

Figure 3.8

Grip

slips out of grip

Trigger housing

Stop switch mounted

on cover plate

Stop switch

contacts

McCulloch 32cc Trimmer

3.10. The trigger housing can be pulled-free of the grip

after the trigger and rear housing are removed.

See Figure 3.10.

NOTE: The throttle cable and stop switch wires

are held in adjacent channels by a white plastic

sleeve that is inserted in the grip.

3.11. Pull the white sleeve out of the grip and unplug

the stop switch wires from their connections to

the contact strips in the trigger housing.

See Figure 3.11.

3.12. The grip and clutch housing can be separated

from the engine by removing the four screws

that fasten them together, using a T-25 driver.

See Figure 3.12.

3.13. Remove the grip and clutch housing, and unplug

the stop switch wires from their connections on

the engine. See Figure 3.13.

NOTE: Pay attention to the routing of the throttle

cable and stop switch wires.

3.14. Disconnect the H.T. lead from the spark plug.

and remove the spark plug using an 5/8”

wrench.

3.15. Pack the cylinder full of starter rope to act as a

piston stop.

Figure 3.10

Channel for

stop switch wires

Channel for

throttle cable

White plastic

sleeve

Figure 3.11

Remove

sleeve

Figure 3.12

Clutch housing

Stop switch wires

Starter

housing

NOTE:The grip is

integral with the

clutch housing

Figure 3.13

Channel for stop

switch wires Channel for

throttle cable

McCulloch 32cc Trimmer

3.16. Remove the clutch drum using a T-25 driver.

See Figure 3.16.

3.17. After the clutch drum is removed, the clutch rotor

can be removed using MTDSW clutch removal

tool # 791-180919. See Figure 3.17.

NOTE: a hammer and soft drift can be used if

the MTDSW tool is unavailable.

Figure 3.16

Clutch drum

Recoil rope used

as a piston stop

Figure 3.17

Crankshaft

Clutch rotor

Spade terminals

for stop switch wires

Throttle cable

3.18. The flat side of the clutch rotor seats against a

tube that surrounds the crankshaft.

See Figure 3.18.

3.19. With the clutch rotor removed, the starter hous-

ing can be removed.

3.20. Take out the four screws holding the starter

housing to the engine using a T-25 driver.

See Figure 3.20.

Figure 3.18

Flat side of clutch rotor

faces starter housing

Tube

Figure 3.20

Starter housing

Screws

McCulloch 32cc Trimmer

3.21. Unplug the stop switch wires from the ignition

module as the starter housing is removed from

the engine. See Figure 3.21.

NOTE: There are two sets of stop switch wires.

The set inside the starter housing connects to

the ignition module. The set of stop switch wires

in the clutch housing connects the set inside the

starter housing to the stop switch.

3.22. The throttle cable is best left in the starter hous-

ing as it is removed. This can be done by simply

rotating the starter housing out of the way.

See Figure 3.22.

3.23. Alternatively, the throttle cable could be discon-

nected from the engine by squeezing the tabs,

and removing it along with the starter housing.

See Figure 3.23.

NOTE: If a throttle cable needs replacement,

attach a line to the carburetor end of the old

cable before removal, to facilitate “fishing” the

replacement cable into place.

3.24. Remove the baffle from the starter housing using

a T-25 driver.

NOTE: The starter pulley is held in place by the

baffle. There are no other fasteners on it.

3.25. Once the baffle is removed, the starter pulley

can be carefully lifted out to access the recoil

spring. See Figure 3.25.

Figure 3.21

Stop switch wires

Starter housing

Ignition module

Figure 3.22

Starter housing removed

Throttle cable

Figure 3.23

Squeeze tabs

Figure 3.25

Baffle

Posts

Stop

switch

wires

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