Yes those springs could be frustrating and also potentially dangerous.
G'day
vint_mow & GadgeI think there was a real concern with backyard repairers
hurting themselves -even when the spring case had a
caution notice on it!
The new designed starters started to enter the market in about 1963.
I should also note that the new design didn't just use a low energy spring
(that was removable from its alloy case), but the new design had an
extra safety feature - a separate trip release lever.
I found it interesting that when I asked someone who had a Victa Impulse starter for the measurements (between the adjacent and opposite holes), it was completely different.
That is very probable, given that Victa used both types.
In fact, Victa used
adapter plates on a number of models to
compensate for the different mounting points to the cowl.
Here is the SC KX-D starter on a
1960 Victa 4-star with Kirby Lauson engine.
It, of course, used the finer teeth starter cup.
On this
1965 Mayfair note the new design starter with an
adapter plate:-
For the record, the wind-up starter was by far the most common starter
used in the 1960s. This includes Victa 2-strokes (which had no decompressors).
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Jack