What pushes starter pinion gear out?

[sidechoke67]

I had read in a few places on this forum that inertia drives out the pinion gear, but I just watched a video on youtube, and saw a diagram on wikipedia that shows a mechanical arm driving the pinion gear out when the solenoid is drawn in.

I have a starter that spins but doesn't engage the flywheel...I was under the impression that it is a natural process for the pinion gear to pop out as long as it is spinning fast enough, and my problem is most likely electrical/low voltage....but other diagrams seem to indicate that there is a piece connecting the solenoid to the starter that could have simply broken..

Does anyone know for sure which is right?

I have a Volvo 3.0L engine, if that matters...

Here is that you tube video, if anyone is interested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxjPpytfnv0

TIA

 

[TowRoper]

Re: What pushes starter pinion gear out?

hi, the gear is engaged by the Bendix#2 and solenoid#6 drives the bendix, the gear is driven by #3 the splined shaft and the Bendix assist each other to engage the gear.

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: What pushes starter pinion gear out?

Gotcha...I think...

What I don't get is that a number of people have described a similar problem (small pinion not engaging fly wheel), and said that it turned out to be electrical - however, from that picture and video, it seems that if the pinion is turning, then the plunger in the solenoid must have traveled far enough to make contact - and therefore should have moved the arm to push the bendex forward. It seems to me that when the pinion is turning but not engaging the starter, it should be mechanical most of the time - with either a broken arm that drives the bendex forward, or broken clutch in the bendex.

However, from reading past threads, I get the impression that is not right - in practice, it seems to end up being electrical most of the time - with a corroded ground wire most of those times.

 

[TowRoper]

Re: What pushes starter pinion gear out?

if the gear is turning b4 its full travel is reached i would guess there is enough crud in there to make some kind of contact from the copper washer to the two posts so the plunger wont make it to full out so it looks like its a combo of electric and mechanical to be at fault

 

[rodbolt]

Re: What pushes starter pinion gear out?

its also possible that the starter motor and positive battery wires are crossed or simply the over running clutch mechanism has failed.
spinning on that design has nothing to do with bendix motion.
its always possible the bendix drive arm is broken or the pivot pin is missing.

 

[jtybt]

Re: What pushes starter pinion gear out?

The arm that levers the bendix gear out is cheaply made and bends easily enuff. Bend it to push out farther. There are pins that fit in the slot of the bendix gear that can wear over time and not fully extend the bendix, too.

 

[jtybt]

Re: What pushes starter pinion gear out?

Oh! Forgot to mention...the bendix gear can go out. It will extend but will slip on the starter shaft.

You can test by sticking your finger in the starter to see if it will turn. Turning is bad.