Starter - General Information

Starter 1 - front cover 2 - solenoid switch 3 - housing 4 - brush holder 5 - stator 6 - rotor 7 - drive pinion with overrunning clutch

The starter is a DC electric motor with compound excitation and an electromagnetic solenoid switch. The starter consists of a housing or stator with field windings, an armature with an overrunning clutch, a cover with brush holders, and a solenoid switch.

When the starter is switched on, current from the battery flows through the solenoid switch winding. The solenoid plunger is drawn in and the relay contacts close. At the same time, the plunger moves the overrunning clutch and pinion through the lever. The clutch hub rotates the pinion along the helical splines of the armature shaft, which facilitates its engagement with the flywheel ring gear. Current flows through the closed solenoid contacts to the stator and armature windings, and the starter armature begins to rotate together with the hub and overrunning clutch.

After the engine starts, the pinion speed exceeds the starter armature speed. In this case the overrunning clutch freewheels, and torque is not transmitted from the engine flywheel to the starter armature shaft. After the ignition key is released, the power supply to the solenoid winding through the ignition switch is interrupted. The plunger is returned to its initial position by the spring, the relay contacts open, and the drive pinion disengages from the flywheel ring gear.

CAUTION

The starter is an exchange component. This means that when you buy a rebuilt or new starter, the manufacturer accepts the damaged starter as a credit. Therefore, bring the old starter with you.