Patent ID: 7712448

Claim:
An internal combustion engine comprising a starter device, wherein the starter device comprises a drive member and a driven member and a locking mechanism for coupling the drive member and the driven member to one another for starting the internal combustion engine, wherein the locking mechanism has at least one pawl that is pivotably supported on the driven member, wherein, for decoupling the drive member and the driven member, the at least one pawl is pivoted outwardly relative to an axis of rotation of the starter device, and wherein the at least one pawl has at least one pivot position in which the at least one pawl contacts at least one contact area of the driven member, wherein the at least one pawl has a first cover covering the at least one contact area, and further comprising a first radially outwardly positioned stop that, relative to the axis of rotation of the starter device, is arranged radially outwardly of the at least one pawl, wherein the first radially outwardly positioned stop determines a first terminal pivot position of the at least one pawl, which first terminal pivot position is a completely outwardly pivoted position of the at least one pawl, and wherein the first cover covers the first radially outwardly positioned stop and is positioned, in the first terminal pivot position, in a direction of action of centrifugal forces adjacent to the first radially outwardly positioned stop and covers a side of first radially outwardly positioned stop which side in the axial direction of the axis of rotation is facing the drive member so that the first radially outwardly positioned stop is located leeward relative to a stream of air generated in operation of the internal combustion engine.