Problem 1: The housing cannot simply be pulled off. It's riveted in place.
eReplacement Parts has a YouTube video that explains the problem and shows how to fix it by drilling out the rivets - but the video is for the TB280. There's a button on the lower right of the video that says "Click...
The starter rope broke on my Troy Bilt TB230 mower, and it looks like the only way to repair it is to buy an entire new recoil starter assembly. The thing is riveted on, and apparently the only way to remove it is to drill out the rivets, put on the new assembly, and replace the rivets with...