Starter drive assembly and method of starting an engine

A starter drive assembly for an engine, said starter drive assembly comprising:

• a starter output shaft including a first end and a second end, said first end comprising a plurality of axial grooves circumferentially-spaced and extending axially toward said second end;
• a clutch assembly comprising:
• a clutch plate configured to engage the axially grooves of said output shaft such that said output shaft and said clutch plate rotate together during an engine starting operation;
• and
• a screw shaft selectively matingly couplable to said clutch plate, said screw shaft configured to engage said clutch plate during rotation in a first direction and disengage said clutch plate in a second direction such that said screw shaft and said clutch plate rotate together in the first direction;
• a barrel assembly comprising:
• a first end configured to threadably engage said screw shaft;
• and
• a second end comprising a pinion gear configured to engage said ring gear during the engine starting operation.

A method for starting an engine, said method comprising:

• rotating a clutch plate in a first rotational direction such that a plurality of ratchet teeth formed in the clutch plate engage complimentary ratchet teeth in a screw shaft;
• rotating the screw shaft using the rotation and engagement such that the screw shaft facilitates translating a barrel assembly in a first axial direction;
• translating the clutch plate in a second axial direction, opposite the first axial direction;
• compressing a biasing member using the translation of the clutch plate;
• rotating a starter output shaft coupled to the clutch plate via a plurality of circumferentially-spaced axial grooves formed proximate a first end of the starter output shaft;
• and
• engaging a ring gear coupled to a rotatable member of the engine to facilitate starting the engine.