Abstract: An engine starter drive adapted to engage an engine ring gear is disclosed. The drive has a clutch connection to connect the driving sleeve member to the outer sleeve member. The outer sleeve member further has an external helical spline with a notch. A control nut is threadably mounted on the helical splines of the outer sleeve member and has a spring loaded detent which engages the notch. The control nut is connected to the pinion gear by means of a barrel member. Rotating the power shaft causes the control nut to move along the helical splines to traverse the pinion gear into mesh with the engine ring gear and crank the engine. Further rotation of the power shaft causes the control nut to move axially to compress an annular resilient member which is interposed the barrel member and the control nut. Further compression of the resilient member causes torque to be transmitted from the power shaft to the pinion gear to rotate the ring gear.