Handheld Work Apparatus

A work apparatus has an engine with a carburetor. An actuating element is connected to the choke shaft of the choke element of the carburetor. An operating mode selector has operating, warm start and cold start positions and is connected fixedly in terms of rotation to an adjusting element. The actuating element is pivoted through a pivot angle (α1) from the operating position into the warm start position and through a pivot angle (α2) from the warm start position into the cold start position. The selector is pivoted through a pivot angle (γ1) from the operating position into the warm start position and through a pivot angle (γ2) from the warm start position into the cold start position. The ratio of the pivot angle (α2) to the pivot angle (α1) is at least approximately 1.5 times the ratio of the pivot angle (γ2) to the pivot angle (γ1).