Abstract: A starter motor for an internal combustion engine including a pinion gear wheel assembly movable between a rest position and an operative position. The pinion gear wheel assembly is movable by a solenoid the armature of the solenoid being coupled to the pinion gear wheel assembly by way of a lever pivoted on the starter motor casing. The lever is in the form of a pair of resilient elements. The first resilient element is weaker than the resilient means which urges the armature towards its rest position, so that should the pinion gear wheel assembly be held in its operative position when the electromagnet is de-energised then the armature can be returned to its rest position flexing the first element. The second element supports the first element during movement of the lever assembly to push the pinion gear wheel assembly to its operative position.