What are the teeth on a flywheel for?

The flywheel has gear teeth around its perimeter that allow the starter motor to engage and crank the engine.

How does starter pinion gear work?

On the starter, there’s a gear designed to fit into the grooves of the ring gear (the starter gear is called a pinion gear). When you turn the ignition switch, the starter motor is energized, and the electromagnet inside the body engages. This pushes out a rod to which the pinion gear is attached.

How many rpm does a starter motor spin?

Those motors have to spin every moving part in your engine. The speed is irrelevant as long as you cycle your engine to create a spark which starts the engine. This starters produce 2 to 3 RPM’s per second. Not very fast but super powerful.

Is the starter connected to the flywheel?

Your starter is really an electric motor. It engages when you turn the ignition to “run” and turns the engine over allowing it to suck in air. On the engine, a flexplate or flywheel, with a ring gear around the edge, is attached to the end of the crankshaft. The gear meets the flywheel, and the starter turns.

What does the shift lever do in a starter?

Shift Lever/Fork This is a fork-shaped part of the starter motor that moves the pinion gear. When the pull-in coils is energized, it creates a magnetic field that pulls the plunger to work the lever fork. The plunger connects to fork. When it moves, the fork will also move.

What’s the difference between a flexplate and flywheel?

1. Flywheels are typically found on vehicles equipped with manual transmissions, while flexplates are used in vehicles with automatic transmissions. A flexplate is mounted to the crankshaft and connects the output from the engine to the input of a torque converter.

How important is starter pinion clearance?

“The idea of proper clearances when setting up your starter pinion in relation to your flywheel or flexplate ring gear will help to ensure a long life for the gear set, as well.

What is the tooth form of a starter pinion?

The tooth form of the pinion is a crucial factor regarding whether it will fit on an engine. There are two main systems of tooth form used on starter pinions, these are the imperial form ‘Diametral Pitch’ (DP) or the metric Module (MOD).

How far should the starter pinion be from the ring gear?

Besides the clearance of the starter pinion, you need to take into account the distance the pinion must move before it enters the ring gear. Not taking the time to make sure these measurements are correct can also lead to starting problems for your engine. “At rest, we recommend that the pinion be .10-inches away from the ring gear.

What causes the pinion on a starter motor to bind up?

The pinion on the starter motor which engages the flywheel is spring loaded and mounted on a spiral. It is designed to retract when the car starts and the flywheel speeds up the pinion. Anything which causes the pinion to bind up will cause your problem.