The starter motor converts electrical energy to mechanical energy and is mounted on the cylinder block in a position to engage a ring gear on the engine flywheel.
The armature is the revolving component of the direct current motor. Brushes maintain contact with a commutator on the armature shaft to conduct current through the windings as the armature rotates.
Solenoid operation moves the operating fork and pinion to mesh with the ring gear and causes the plunger contacts to bridge the main starter terminals.
A starter motor armature has a large number of conductor loops and so has many segments to the commutator. Each segment is connected to a loop and is insulated from other segments.
The starter motor is brought into operation by a starter switch incorporated as a part of the ignition key. It operates a solenoid which has two functions. To engage the drive pinion with the engine flywheel and connect the battery directly to the starter motor.
