Neutral start only mechanism

Claim 1

An engine including a rotary starting gear, a clutch movable relative to a neutral position, a starter pinion having therein an annular groove, means mounting said starter pinion on said engine for rotary movement and for movement along the axis of rotary movement relative to a position engaging said starting gear, means for causing axial movement of said starter pinion toward said starting gear engaging position and including a friction spring engaged in said annular groove in said starter pinion so as to have common axial movement with said starter pinion and arranged to permit frictionally restrained relative movement between said spring and said starter pinion, said spring including an extending portion, a bracket supported by said engine and including means engageable with said extending portion for preventing rotation of said spring and for affording movement of said spring in common with said starting pinion in the direction toward the starting gear engaging position, and a blocking element connected to said clutch and mounted on said bracket for pivotal movement in response to movement of said clutch relative to the neutral position, said blocking element including a portion defining a U-shaped opening located, when said clutch is in neutral position, in position to permit movement of said spring through said opening and with said starter pinion in the direction toward the starting gear engaging position, and located, when said clutch is displaced from the neutral position, in position to block movement of said spring with said starter pinion in the direction toward the starting gear engaging position.