Do the pawls come out when you work the starter with it off the engine? I see a bit of grease there, I find sometimes greae can dry up like glue and actually stop things from moving as well as they should... it may just need a bit of lube in where the pawls are....
I cant help with a catcher, the base looks like a mix of designs the lines down each side remind me of a 60's victa corvette, the handles remind me of a late 70's vulcan branded mower, I only know of cyclone for making agricultrual style shovels, a nice unit you have there
