I wonder if the collar was put there to make it easier starting/turn-over the motor from inside the engine compartment. You could wrap your fingers around the collar a lot easier than just the rod itself.
Just thinking! (Which sometimes can be dangerous.)
looks to be plastic might be to keep the shaft for hitting the starter bolt.
I think it's part of that Sparky Start setup..
I think it's part of that Sparky Start setup.The rig that kicks the starter over when you retard the spark all the way.It ties into the spark rod,and has a bellcrank that pivots onto that collar to push the rod down.It looks like the rest of the setup has been removed,and hopefully thrown away.
It's a base for a "Flux Capacitor" Must have been a R & D piece. TB
What happened Fred,did you come up to a stop sign and crash your starter drive into the ring gear by throwing the spark lever up?