Manual starter for internal combustion engines

The manual starter for an internal combustion engine includes a flexible pull element mounted in the vicinity of the engine flywheel for movement between a normally retracted position and an extended position and having teeth or cogs adapted to drivingly engage teeth provided on the outer peripheral surface of the flywheel. When the pull element is pulled to an extended position, a rocker arm cooperating with the pull element moves the pull element to a drive position wherein the cogs drivingly engage the flywheel teeth to effect starting rotation of the flywheel. When the pull element is released or the rotational speed of the flywheel exceeds the pulled speed of the pull element after the engine has started, the rocker arm permits the pull element to move from the drive position to a non-drive position wherein the cogs are drivingly disengaged from the flywheel teeth.