Abstract: A pullback starter comprises a rope pulley rotatably mounted on an axle and on which a driving coupling element is mounted for pivotal movements to constitute an engageable and disengageable coupling of a clutch for the drive shaft of an internal combustion engine. A coil spring surrounds the axle and is braked against rotation thereon by friction. The spring has first and second legs protruding from the axle at opposite ends of the spring. A locking member engaged by the first leg is rotatably mounted in the coupling element for rotation relative thereto between locking and unlocking positions.

Abstract: A rope drum is rotatably mounted on an axle, which is fixed in a frame. A rope is wound on said drum and adapted to be pulled from said drum so as to rotate the latter in a predetermined sense. A pullback spring tends to rotate said drum opposite to said predetermined sense. A one-way coupling element is pivoted to said drum on a pivotal axis that is parallel to the axis of said axle. The coupling element carries a first stop and is pivotally movable about said pivotal axis from an inner position to an outer position for one-way coupling engagement with a clutch member on an input shaft of an internal combustion engine, and back to said inner position.