this type of starter was used a lot on european models years ago very tricky to work on are you having problems with the starter if so just a few miles from you in pensacola is a place called b/m auto phone number 850-434-0897 ron davis is the owner he can help you there is a good chance you can get a regular solenoid type starter that will fit by some chance can you post a picture of the starter.
Does your tractor actually have one or are you just curious?
These starters exist in the poorer parts of the world where people cannot afford batteries.
You crank for a while to build up energy in the compressed spring which you release to turn over the engine.
It is an upgrade in technical terms from the hand crank.
The other alternative is a heavy flywheel which you use a crank to spin up to speed and then there is a mechanism to connect the spinning flywheel to the engine crankshaft.
Saw guys on TV starting a rebuilt Tiger tank which had this type of system
Dave M7040