Kohler 17 165 01-S  Retractable Starter Assembly

The purpose of the Recoil Starter or Rewind Starter is to enable the operator to manually pull a cord held under tension by a spring which engages the clutch, turns the crankshaft, and then starts or "cranks" the engine. Over time, the rope, grip, reel or spring that make up the Recoil Starter are all subject to wear out and may eventually fail. Most components of the recoil system can be purchased individually or as a complete assembly. Note the mounting screws are not usually included in the assembly.