I always hand wind the pulley/spring all of the way until it won't wind up any tighter without breaking something, then back it off until the hole in the starter lines up with the hole in the pulley, feed the rope in and knot it/melt the tip, etc. The slowly let the pulley release and wind the new rope in, then leave a few feet extra, and cut it. Let the starter tell you how much rope it wants.
Then when you install, put the handle on up the rope where the finished product has correct tension/the handle isn't dangling, etc....