2004 John Deer Buck Utility ATV 500, 500EX and 500EXT Service Manual, Page 85Get this manual
To Adjust Rope Tension: Wind rope on sheave and place rope sheave into starter housing making sure that the sheave hub notch engages in the rewind spring hookRotate the sheave counterclockwise until rope end is accessible through starter housing orificePull the rope out of the starter housing and temporarily make knot to hold itOne turn preload will give turns of tension when fully extended Prior to installing starter grip on new rope, it is first necessary to fuse the rope end with lit matchPass rope through starter grip and tie knot in the rope endFuse the knot with lit match then insert rope end down and pull the starter grip over the knot