Recoil starter with automatic orientation

A recoil starter housing and pull-handle combination for a motor having an internal combustion engine with a recoil starter having a pull-rope extending axially along an axis through an opening in a recoil starter housing, said pull-rope being connected to a pull-handle having an at-rest translational position seated against said opening, and being pullable away therefrom for starting said engine, followed by recoil return thereof to said at-rest translational position, a guide surface formed along at least one of said opening and said pull-handle and engaging the other of said opening and said pull-handle in said at-rest translational position, said guide surface having limited polar symmetry about said axis limiting the rotational orientation of said pull-handle in said at-rest translational position to less than three angular positions.

A recoil starter housing and pull-handle combination for a motor having an internal combustion engine with a recoil starter having a pull-rope extending axially along a rope axis through an opening in a recoil starter housing, said rope being connected to a pull-handle having an at-rest translational position seated against said opening, and being pullable away therefrom for starting said engine, followed by recoil return thereof to said at-rest translational position, a guide surface formed along at least one of said opening and said pull-handle and engaging the other of said opening and said pull-handle in said at-rest translational position, said guide surface having a cross-sectional shape along a lateral plane transverse to said rope axis, said cross-sectional shape having a major lateral dimension along a major lateral axis thereacross, and a minor lateral dimension along a minor lateral axis thereacross, said major lateral dimension being greater than said minor lateral dimension and providing keyed orientation of said pull-handle in said at-rest translational position.