Pulse start method and pulse start device for an internal combustion engine

A pulse starter for an internal combustion engine (1) having a rotatably supported crankshaft (2) and a rotatably supported fly-wheel mass (3), the pulse starter (10) comprising

• an electrical starter (5) for rotatably driving said flywheel mass (3);
• a starter control unit (9) for controlling said starter (5);
• a pulse starting clutch (4) for engaging said flywheel mass (3) with said crankshaft (2) to rotate said crankshaft in order to attempt to start said engine;
• a rotation speed sensor (12) for measuring a rotation speed of said flywheel mass (3), and
• evaluating means (11) for evaluating said rotational speed (n) of said flywheel mass (3) at individual times over time (t) to determine whether or not a successful start of said engine (1) is possible during successive starting attempts;
• wherein said evaluating means includes means for evaluating at least one of a measured rotation speed of said flywheel mass and a rotational speed progression of the flywheel mass (3), during at least one of a wind-up phase (15) in which said flywheel mass (3) is put into rotation, but not coupled to said crankshaft, and a coupling phase (21, 22) in which said flywheel mass is coupled with said crankshaft to start said engine in order to obtain evaluation results.