Hi dave
Look on ebay under troy bilt junior. keep looking you will find a contact or parts even manuals just be patient. As far as pulling the rope and engaging the engine I am not familiar with the junior but have had a couple of horse models give more info on the looks and I can probably help if it is anything like the horse it has flat steel stock for linkages tighten them up slightly just enough so there is no space also one other thing there are two steel rods that the engine block slides on there is a set screw on each one,its on the side, tighten them so slight resistance is found let me know.