Starting Systems

State a major safety precaution when removing or working around a starting motor

Dont make your starter an Arc Welder!

Always unhook the battery ground
Before removing the starter motor

Starting Systems
Identify the following components Armature Commutator Brushes Pole Shoe Field Coil

Starter Armatures

The Armature is a rotating electromagnet

Commutator bars allow current in and out of the armature

Brushes Brushes ride transfer on commutator electrons from bars the stationary field coils to the spinning armature

InsulatedBrushes Brushes Grounded

Field Coils are Stationary Pole Shoes concentrate the Electromagnets stationary magnetic field

Starting Systems
Identify the following components Starter housing or frame Bushings Starter Drive Pinion Over-running clutch

Starter Diagnosis

Worn outthe bushings... Allow armature to drag on the pole shoes

This will slow the starter and INCREASE amp draw

Worn or Dry Armature shaft will INCREASE amp flow

Burned commutator bars restrict the amp flow

Worn out brushes DECREASE amp flow

There will be more questions...

...On the test.

than I am covering here. Read your book

and complete Starter Labs

Test the Starting System

Check Cranking RPM
Check Cranking Volts Check Cranking Amps

Low Cranking RPM

A slow turning starter will pull extra amps
Could be caused by tight engine (New Engines) Can be caused by advanced timing

Low Cranking RPM

Low cranking RPM.
With low cranking Amps Bad Starter Worn brushes, Bad commutator bars, open in field or armature

Cranking Volts
Power is required to turn motor

P=IxE
Low volts will cause high amps

Low Cranking Volts

Cranking volts at battery should be over 10V
Load test battery if low cranking volts Excessive amp draw can cause low cranking volts in a good battery

High Cranking Amps

Check voltage drop across STARTER MOTOR If Battery cranking volt is 1/2 volt more than Starter volt drop diagnose battery cables and connections

If cranking volts are within 1 volt of battery

Insure engine turns freely
Insure ignition does not cause slow turning engine Replace Starter Motor (assuming there are excessive amps)

Before you install the rebuilt starter

Bench test the replacement It may save you a starter R & R

Starting Systems
Understand the operation of the two starting circuits #1 Starter Control Circuit
#2 Starter Motor Circuit

Starter Solenoid
Understand the function of the Pull In solenoid windings. and the hold in solenoid windings

Starter Solenoids
Predict the effect of an open circuit in the solenoid pull in windings. .and the solenoid hold in windings

Notice pitted contact ring

24 Volt Series/Parallel Switch

Understand how 12 volt batteries can be used to run a 24 Volt starting system

Series/Parallel Switch
Diagnose a defective series parallel switch using a volt meter

Starter Control
Identify variations in starter control circuits

Test the Starting System

The Bottom Line

Test cranking RPM Test Cranking Volts Test Cranking Amps