A pull assist mechanism comprising a reciprocating cord carriage member capable of receiving a pull cord of a fuel powered device. The pull cord being attachable to a power source of the powered device, and the reciprocating cord carriage member being movably mountable on a guide via a carriage movement member. The reciprocating cord carriage member being capable of travel on or along the guide means.

A starter assembly is provided and includes a shaft to transmit rotation to a ring gear via a pinion and including a first helical spline with angling directed reversely with respect to a direction of the rotation and an elastic element anchored on the first helical spline to bias the pinion in an axial direction. The ring gear and the pinion include complementary teeth and the pinion defines a bore with a second helical spline to register with the first helical spline such that the pinion teeth are forwardly rotated into ring gear teeth engagement positions as the shaft moves axially relative to the pinion in the axial direction.

An electric machine includes a housing having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an interior zone. A solenoid mounting section is provided on the housing. The solenoid mounting section includes a shift lever opening that extends from the outer surface through the inner surface. A solenoid tower is mounted to the housing. The solenoid tower extends from a first end detachably coupled to the solenoid mounting section to a second end configured to receive a solenoid. The first end includes an opening that registers with the shift lever opening. At least one of the solenoid mounting section and the solenoid tower includes a seal.