Repair and Diagnosis: Electrical: Starters: Description: Starter

Wound field starter motors have pole pieces, arranged around armature, which are energized by wound field coils. Enclosed shift lever cranking motors have shift lever mechanism and solenoid plunger enclosed in drive housing, protecting them from exposure to dirt, icy conditions, and splashes.

In basic circuit, solenoid windings are energized when switch is closed, resulting plunger and shift lever movement causes pinion to engage engine flywheel ring gear, solenoid main contacts close. Cranking then takes place.

When engine starts, pinion overrun protects armature from excessive speed until switch is opened, at which time return spring causes pinion to disengage. To prevent excessive overrun, switch should be released immediately after engine starts.