Compression release mechanism

A compression release mechanism for relieving compression during engine starting in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine including a camshaft having cams and a cam gear disposed thereon, the camshaft rotatably disposed within a housing, said mechanism comprising:

• at least two lift members reciprocably disposed in the camshaft, said lift members adapted to engage valve actuation devices;
• a flyweight member captured between the cam gear and the housing, the housing providing a bearing surface for said flyweight member;
• a spring element provided on a side of the cam gear which faces the housing, the spring element biasing the flyweight member;
• and
• a compression release shaft connected to said flyweight member, said compression release shaft extending through the cam gear and further extending into a bore in the camshaft, said compression release shaft engaging said at least two lift members, wherein an end of said compression release shaft bearingly abuts against one of the cams, whereby the bearing surface of the housing and the cam axially retain said flyweight and said compression release shaft.

A compression release mechanism for relieving compression during engine starting in an internal combustion engine having a camshaft rotatably disposed within a housing, the camshaft having cams and a cam gear disposed thereon, said mechanism comprising:

• a compression release shaft;
• a flyweight member integrally formed with a portion of said shaft whereby the flyweight member and the portion of the shaft comprise a continuous unitary structure;
• and
• a lift member reciprocably disposed in the camshaft, said lift member engaging said compression release shaft, said lift member extending outwardly from said camshaft and being adapted to engage a valve actuation device when said compression release shaft is rotated, wherein said first and said second compression release shaft segments are axially non-interlocked and rotationally interlocked.