Abstract: An engine starter for engagement with the starting gear of an engine to be started. The engine starter has a power shaft rotatably driving a secondary driving clutch member through mutually engageable straight splines. The secondary driving clutch member drives the secondary driven clutch member through mutually engageable inclined dentil teeth which, in turn, rotatably drive a sleeve through mutually engageable helical splines. The sleeve rotatably drives a primary driving clutch member through mutually engageable helical splines which, in turn, drive the pinion gear through mutually engageable primary dentil teeth. An open ended housing is provided to enclose the several clutch members, the housing being provided with removable abutment means for containing the several clutch members therein. A first biasing element is provided between the secondary driven clutch member and the primary driving clutch member, and second biasing means are provided between the secondary driven clutch member and the housing.