Starter for a combustion engine

The starter has a starter pinion (22) axially adjustable between inoperative position and advanced drive position. The starter pinion is axially displaceably-arranged against a drive component and axially supported over a spring assembly (302), which exhibits non-linear spring characteristic, progressive spring characteristic and linear spring characteristic. The spring assembly has two series-connected spring elements (303, 304) that are arranged axial directly adjacent to each other. One of the spring elements is designed as a spring ring e.g. annular shaft spring and disk spring.