Hey Pal..You must have been pulling upward on your string...Cutting into the housing...You can get a new string from CEN direct some thing like $3.50 dollars plus shipping
It is a small item expendable part...I would not recomend going to roto start until you have 2 gal of fuel used up.If you stay with pull start rub bee's wax
on the string ..It will help and last you a long time...Just my 2 cents worth today..