1961 40hp Lark III carb linkage question.

[tommr]

While testing out the motor at the lake, after making it ready after many moons of setting out back on a pallet, I found it lacking power.
I brought it home and pulled the recoil to check the points with the plan to work from the coils to the plugs as I installed new points, coils and spark plug wires. It turned out to be a bad spark plug. ( I wish I had started with the plugs ) ( note to self... start with the plugs. )

Anyway while I was checking spark, after I had re installed the recoil, this linkage part which attaches near the carb and on top of the recoil managed, with some help from me, to get wedged in the teeth of the fly wheel.

I have no idea what this does and it does not seem to affect the operation of the motor, that I can tell anyway.

Can someone please tell me what it is and do I need it?
Please refer to the photos. One of where it connects near the carb, one showing where it connects to the carb and the recoil and one of the broken linkage.
This thing attaches to the throttle linkage and threads up to the recoil where the metal tab fits into a special slot. There is also a retention spring that did not show up for the photo shoot.
Thanks

 

[tommr]

No Title

I guess the photos did not upload.

 

[Joe Reeves]

That linkage is a lock out mechanism that prevents the manual starter from being operated (rotated) when the throttle is advanced beyond a certain point.

 

[tommr]

Thank you.

So the boat can't run away? This seems like something I can do without until I can replace it at a reasonable cost.

 

[Joe Reeves]

So the boat can't run away?

It has nothing to do with preventing a runaway engine. If it prevents the manual starter from functioning, you couldn't start the engine in the first place. Think about it.