STARTER DRIVE AND ASSOCIATED STARTER

The present invention relates to a starter (1) launcher (20) for a heat engine, the launcher (20) comprising: - a sleeve (11) mounted mobile in translation on a drive shaft (5), the sleeve comprising a first portion (11a) and a second portion (11b) of diameter greater than the first portion (11a), - a stop element (17) mounted on the first portion (11a) of the sleeve, the stop element (17) being integral in translation with the sleeve (11), - a pinion (15) mounted on the first portion (11a) of the sleeve (11) between the stop element (17) and the second portion (11b), the pinion (15) being mobile in translation relative to the sleeve (11) between an initial position abutting against the stop element (17) and an offset position in which the pinion (15) is distant from the stop element (17), - an elastic element (19) mounted on the first portion (11a) and disposed between the pinion (15) and the second portion (11b) of the sleeve (11) configured to bias the pinion (15) in the initial position, the launcher (20) also comprising: - a protective sleeve (23) mounted around the elastic element (19) forming a chamber between the pinion (15) and the second portion (11b) of the sleeve (11) and in which the protective sleeve (23) is able to slide on the outer periphery of the pinion (15) or on the second portion (11b) of the sleeve (11) when the pinion (15) moves between the initial position and the offset position.