Starting handle

[Austin in the Shed]

Thanks for that Rick. 

On my 65 the front of the nose cone is just a hole, no thread, no nut, no nothing.  The spring is tensioned directly against the starting handle. Also the cut out in the shaft is in line with the pins, so the handle is parked at 6.00 o'clock or 12.00 o'clock.

I think the service journal is misleading.The diagrams show a c1929-31 nosecone which had a 7/8" shaft and short starting handle.Post 1931 they are all as you describe Colin,an 11/16" starting handle shaft and longer staring handle shaft which acts as a bush? in the alum housing.
All the '29 type housings I've seen have a 1/4" location pin in a 1/4" slot at 3 'oclock (Looking from the inside).The later one has a pin through the end with a claw type crank front bolt into the crank.
I don't think any of the later staring handle housings have any provision to keep the muck out,If fact more likely to drain into the sump via the internal drain hole.