Starter with intermediate gear

A starter with an intermediate gear comprising:

• housing means having first and second bearing portions;
• motor means mounted on the housing means;
• a pinion shaft connected to the motor means to be driven with a rotational force thereof;
• a pinion gear rotatably supported on the pinion shaft and axially movable thereon;
• an intermediate shaft having both ends supported by the first and second bearing portions of the housing means in parallel to the pinion shaft;
• an intermediate gear rotatably supported on the intermediate shaft and axially movable in meshing engagement with the pinion gear at all times;
• and
• retainer means associated with the intermediate shaft to the housing means;
• wherein the intermediate gear is axially movable with the pinion gear into meshing engagement with a ring gear of an engine to transfer the rotational force from the pinion gear to the ring gear via the intermediate gear to start up the engine;
• wherein one of the first and second bearing portions has a mounting aperture, extending perpendicular to an axis of the intermediate shaft for insertion of the retainer means, which has a rear end formed with a female threaded portion;
• and
• wherein the retainer means includes an engagement portion, inserted to the mounting aperture for engagement with the intermediate shaft, and a male threaded portion, formed at a distal end of the engagement portion, which is coupled to the female threaded portion to fixedly secure the intermediate shaft to the one of the first and second bearing portions.