Starter motor having intermediate gear

A starter motor for cranking an internal combustion engine having a ring gear, the starter motor comprising:

• an output shaft rotated by a motor;
• a pinion slidably and rotatably supported on the output shaft, wherein the pinion is adapted to be rotated by rotation of the output shaft, and the pinion is connected to a pinion boss;
• a one-way clutch coupled to the pinion boss at an end of the pinion boss, wherein an axial space exists between the pinion and the one-way clutch;
• an intermediate shaft that is parallel to the output shaft;
• an intermediate gear that is slidably and rotatably supported on the intermediate shaft, wherein the intermediate gear is engaged with the pinion such that the intermediate gear is rotated by the pinion, and the intermediate gear is adapted to be engaged with the ring gear of the internal combustion engine, wherein the intermediate gear is connected to a cylindrical boss;
• and
• a retainer having a first groove engaged with the pinion boss and a second groove coupled with the cylindrical boss of the intermediate gear, wherein the retainer is located in the axial space between the pinion and the one-way clutch, so that the intermediate gear is driven in its axial direction together with the pinion, and wherein the first groove of the retainer has a pair of resilient lips, between which an opening is formed, and the lips extend radially beyond the position of the outer periphery of the pinion.