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Are gear reduction starters better than direct drive?
Speed – In general, gear reduction starters turn more slowly at the flywheel end than direct drive models. However, because their torque is higher, they have a faster speed when pistons are at TDC on the compression stroke where it is needed most. This is why they are ideal for diesel or other high-compression engines.
What does 4 1 gear reduction mean on a starter?
Of course, a 4:1 gear reduction ratio also means that a gear reduction starter can often produce more torque than a much larger, heavier direct drive starter. In some cases, a direct drive starter can weigh as much as two times more than a comparable gear reduction unit.
What are the pros and cons of gear reduction?
The main benefit of gear reduction is that it allows for significantly smaller starters that produce an equal or greater amount of torque in comparison to much larger direct drive starters. The main drawback is that they are typically more expensive. Why Replace Direct Drive With Gear Reduction?
What is the difference between offset gear reduction and planetary gear reduction?
Two typical designs are Offset Gear Reduction and Planetary Gear Reduction. In the former, the motor armature and Bendix drive are not in-line, whereas in the latter they are lined up. Power – Direct drive starters require up to 50 percent more electrical power to turn over the car’s engine than do gear reduction starters.
Why are gear reduction starters faster?
What is the difference between a gear reduction starter and a direct drive starter?
Why is my direct drive starter slow cranking?
What is gear reduction?
How much power does a direct drive starter need?
What happens when a starter motor fails?
Do direct drive starters have gear reduction?
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Do gear reduction starters work?
Powermaster: There are two huge benefits to running a gear-reduction starter. The first benefit is that it can provide more torque for an engine with high compression, significant initial timing, or just any hard-to-start engine. The second benefit is the overall size of a gear-reduction starter.
Why is a reduction starter sometimes used?
GEAR-REDUCTION STARTERS This permits the use of higher speed, lower current and lighter motor assembly while increasing cranking torque.
What's the difference between a direct drive starter and a PMGR starter?
In a DD starter, components are attached in a line and run off the armature. A PLGR starter has a shaft that the armature uses and is good at increasing torque. A PMGR starter is similar to a PLGR starter except the PMGR starter uses permanent magnets instead of field coils.
How many amps does a gear reduction starter draw?
We find that the average gear-reduction starter draws about 100 amps, while their OEM counterparts can draw more than 130. This means if the car isn't frequently driven, it may not need a charger or jumper pack to start.
What are the advantages of reduced voltage starter?
A reduced voltage soft starter protects your electrical motors from overloads, preventing the motor from drawing too much current and thus the overheating and damage that this excess current provides.
What happens if starter is too close to flywheel?
Typically, a new starter will make noise when it's positioned too close to the ring gear on the flexplate or flywheel. Installing thin, steel shims between the block and starter is the method to eliminate the noise. Another problem that may cause starter noise is an out-of-round flexplate.
What is the minimum life expectancy for a modern starter?
According to information gathered from technical experts consulted for this report, starter motors are designed to last for over 30,000 cycles (estimated to correspond to 10 years or 100,000 miles of use).
What are the three types of starter?
Types of Magnetic Motor StartersDirect-On-Line Starter. The direct-on-line starter is the simplest form of motor starter, other than a manual starter. ... Rotor Resistance Starter. ... Stator Resistance Starter. ... Auto Transformer Starter. ... Star Delta Starter.
Why are direct drive motors better?
Direct Drive Motor Advantages Direct drive motors have many advantages, the two main reasons they are selected for use is for their dynamic performance and shape. Other advantages include; Eliminates mechanical components making them low maintenance. No wear or backlash.
Does gear reduction increase power?
No This is not true. If you gear the electric motor down you will increase torque and reduce speed so horsepower remains the same less gearbox losses.
Is 350 amps enough to start a car?
How many amps do I need to jump start my car? 400 to 600 amps will be more than enough to jump-start any normal, consumer vehicle. Commercial vehicles may require up to 1500 or 2000 amps. Compact and small vehicles can be boosted with as little as 150 amps.
What kills a car starter?
Car starters can fail for several reasons, and age isn't usually as critical a factor as overheating. Engine mechanical problems can overload the starter motor, leading to overheating. Oil leaks can cause overheating because the starter can't cool off.
Why are gear reduction starter motors used?
Gear reduction starters use gears to reduce the speed of a higher-speed electric motor in order to extract more torque at the flywheel end of the starter.
Why are reduction gears used?
A reduction gearboxes, or speed reducer, is used to reduce the speed of the input, from the motor, while also multiplying the torque the input creates.
What is a reduction type starter?
A reduction type starter, wherein an idle shaft is mounted in a starter housing in parallel with a motor shaft and a pinion drive shaft, and an over running clutch is provided on the idle shaft so that a reduction of rotational speed can be performed at two stages.
Why we use different types of starters?
Such starters directly connect the motor with the power line providing the full voltage. The motors connected through such starters have low power ratings so that they do not create a huge voltage drop in the power line. They are used in an application where motors have low ratings & need to run in one direction.
Why Replace Direct Drive With Gear Reduction?
Since the late 1980s, the OEMs have steadily moved away from direct drive starters toward gear reduction starters. Although gear reduction starters are more complex, which makes them more expensive, they are also smaller, lighter, and more efficient.
Why Use Direct Drive?
Although gear reduction starters are superior to direct drive in most cases, there are still a few reasons to use direct drive. The most obvious benefit of direct drive is price, which can become a rather large issue. For instance, direct drive starters are often the better choice for heavy duty diesel applications. In some of these applications, a gear reduction starter can cost 30 percent more than a direct drive unit.
What is the ratio of a starter shaft to a drive mechanism?
Although “gear reduction” technically takes place between the starter’s pinion gear and the ring gear on the flywheel or flex plate, the pinion gear itself rotates in a 1:1 ratio with the armature shaft.
How many times does the armature shaft rotate?
In either case, the armature shaft will typically rotate about four times for each rotation of the pinion gear. The main benefit of gear reduction is that it allows for significantly smaller starters that produce an equal or greater amount ...
What is the difference between direct drive and gear reduction starters?
When direct drive and gear reduction starters are compared, direct drive units are typically cheaper , and gear reduction units tend to be smaller, lighter, ...
What is the benefit of gear reduction?
The main benefit of gear reduction is that it allows for significantly smaller starters that produce an equal or greater amount of torque in comparison to much larger direct drive starters. The main drawback is that they are typically more expensive.
Is Elreg a gear reduction starter?
Gear reduction starters are also available from the aftermarket, which is one way to offset the higher price that is typically associated with these units. For instance, an Elreg brand 39mt starter is functionally identical to a Delco 39mt, but the aftermarket unit represents a significant savings versus the original equipment. In cases where a high quality aftermarket unit is available, it will often cost about half as much as an OEM unit.
What is a compact gear reduction starter?
Enter the compact gear-reduction starter. Based on the mainstay of modern starters, these units operate on a different set of principles than their ancestors. Instead of using a relatively large, torquey motor that spins slowly, these modern units use a relatively small motor that doesn’t have a lot of torque but can spin quickly.
How many amps does a gear reduction starter draw?
We find that the average gear-reduction starter draws about 100 amps, while their OEM counterparts can draw more than 130. This means if the car isn’t frequently driven, it may not need a charger or jumper pack to start.
When did Volvo start with 240 gear reduction?
After doing a little research I discovered that Volvo used the same starter in the 1960's B18's (and probably even earlier in the B16's...) up through the 240 volvos in the 1980's. Then around the mid-late 80s they changed over to a gear reduction unit. Thus, while I have not yet confirmed personally, I'm strongly suspicious the later 240 gear reduction starters are a drop-in replacement for the heavy old starters in the B16/B18/B20 found in pV444, PV544, Amazons/ 122, 1800, and 140's.
Is a starter smaller than a replacement?
These starters are also smaller and weigh less than the units they replace. Shedding some pounds and gaining a little extra room is a double bonus that most of us would gladly take. Our chart below shows how much weight can be saved.
Can gear reduction starters be rotated?
5. Many gear-reduction starters can be rotated into different positions for easier mounting. Our unit came positioned properly, so we didn’t change anything.
Can you swap a starter ring gear?
Not only is this much easier on the ring gear, but in some cases it allows a damaged ring gear to remain in service. Remember, it’s easier to swap a starter than to pull a flywheel and swap ring gears.
Is a gear reduction starter more reliable?
Take-home message to all of this: In most cases, a gear-reduction starter is lighter, more reliable and more efficient than the one originally fitted to your classic. However, upgrading to such a unit should involve some research. While there are excellent turnkey solutions out there, you may have to weed through a few substandard options.
2 Types Automotive Starter Motor
An internal combustion engine can be started by either a hydraulic, pneumatic, or electrical starter motor, but the most common one is an electric starter motor.
1. Direct Drive Starter Motor
A direct drive starter motor also known as DD starter motor is a type of vehicle electric starter motor in which the armature is directly connected to the pinion gear. Due to this mechanism, the pinion gear transfers the armature force directly to the engine flywheel.
2. Gear Reduction Starter Motor
In 1962 Chrysler first introduced the gear reduction type starter motor, they designed a set of gears in between armature and pinion gear. A gear reduction starter motor is a direct drive starter motor with an additional gear-set fitted in the middle of the armature and pinion gear on the same axis.
Why is a gear reduction starter good?
The first benefit is that it can provide more torque for an engine with high compression, significant initial timing, or just any hard-to-start engine. The second benefit is the overall size of a gear-reduction starter.
What are the downsides of factory starters?
PM: A major downside to many factory starters is a heat-soak issue. For GM, they are direct-drive-type motors and they generate heat soak that drives the current demand up and pushes the efficiency down. By design, a gear-reduction starter is more efficient, so it requires less current draw, which causes less heat and you get more cranking power.
What is the difference between Mastertorque and XS starter?
The aluminum-encased solenoid and starter motor allow heat to easily dissipate from the solenoid contacts and armature. Where the two starters differ is in the gear-reduction ratio. The Mastertorque starter uses a 3.25:1 ratio, while the XS Torque starter uses a 4.4:1 ratio that gives it more overall cranking torque. Both starters use Powermaster's unique Inficlock system that allows the starter to be rotated 360 degrees to clear most any obstacle.
How much does a GM starter weigh?
The stock starter weighs in at a hefty 21.70 pounds, while the Powermaster starter weighs just 8.85 pounds. That is a 40.8 percent weight reduction.
What is timing retard?
With some racing engines, a timing-retard device is used during start-up. In some cases, engines with an aggressive camshaft make use of valvesprings with very high spring pressure. Such valvesprings can make it more difficult to start an engine, so a high-torque starter will be of benefit.
How many amps does a starter draw?
PM: On a workbench, a starter will draw 80 to 90 amps. However, during actual start-up of an engine, a starter will draw 250 to 350 amps.
What happens if you ground a car with a bad ground?
For example, a bad ground can cause the vehicle to incorrectly ground through the easiest path that it can findsuch as through the shifter cable. A general rule is to use a ground cable that is the same size as the positive cable. In addition, the ground cable should be mounted to a clean surface that does not have any rust, paint, or oil build-up.
How much torque does a Powermaster starter have?
This is why Powermaster, MSD, and Proform all offer starters with extremely high torque ratings, ranging anywhere from 160 ft-lbs for an engine with around 10:1 compression ratio, and up to 250 ft-lbs for engines with over 18:1 compression ratio.
What brands of starters have metal gears?
Powermaster, MSD, and Proform all build their starters with metal gears and high quality bearings.
How does cubic inches affect starting?
Cubic inches affects starting in that the greater the rotating mass, the more torque it may take to get it spinning, while compression increases resistance to the effort of the starter. Below are the general recommendations made by Powermaster on the torque needed for various compression ratio engines:
What is the compression ratio of MSD starters?
MSD recently released the Dynaforce line of starters, with torque output to start engines with over 18.5:1 compression and gear-reduction ratios available for engines requiring faster cranking.
How long do MSD starters last?
If a starter is properly matched to the engine, and the electrical system is up to the task, Pando says, “MSD starters will easily last 10 or more years. ”.
How long have gear reduction starters been around?
Gear Reduction. While gear-reduction starters have been around for some 50 years at the OEM level, it’s the internal parts that separate the factory pieces from aftermarket high-output models. Many OEM starters still rely on plastic gears and weaker casting materials, such as pot or powdered metals.
What is the name of the game when it comes to starting power?
Torque is the name of the game when it comes to starting power. Just as it takes torque to spin the wheels and get a car down the track, it also takes torque to crank over an engine. Every component inside the engine that generates friction is working against the starter. Compression also makes it more difficult for the starter.
Why are gear reduction starters faster?
However, because their torque is higher, they have a faster speed when pistons are at TDC on the compression stroke where it is needed most. This is why they are ideal for diesel or other high-compression engines.
What is the difference between a gear reduction starter and a direct drive starter?
Weight – Gear reduction starters are smaller and lighter than direct drive models. When replacing a direct drive starter with a gear reduction model, there is more space around it, which makes installation easier and may improve heat-resistance of the solenoid.
Why is my direct drive starter slow cranking?
Maintenance – Gear reduction starters have a higher part count, but internal wear is often less compared to direct drive starters since they use bearings versus the bushings common in direct drive starters. Misaligned or worn bushings are the most common cause of slow cranking of hot engines that use direct drive starters.
What is gear reduction?
Gear reduction starters use gears to reduce the speed of a higher-speed electric motor in order to extract more torque at the flywheel end of the starter. Two typical designs are Offset Gear Reduction and Planetary Gear Reduction.
How much power does a direct drive starter need?
Power – Direct drive starters require up to 50 percent more electrical power to turn over the car’s engine than do gear reduction starters. This means direct drive requires more current from the car’s battery, larger battery cables are needed and other components are designed to handle higher current. Weight – Gear reduction starters are smaller ...
What happens when a starter motor fails?
When a vehicle’s starter motor begins to fail, a heavy strain is placed on your vehicle’s battery and other components in the starter circuit. Repairing or replacing your starter motor at the first signs of failure saves you the added cost of replacing supporting components.
Do direct drive starters have gear reduction?
Nowadays, you often have a choice since existing direct drive starters usually have a gear reduction replacement. There are advantages and disadvantages to each design. Understanding the differences ensures you will choose the correct starter for your vehicle. Direct drive starter motors have a straightforward design.
