Gear Reduction Starting Motors vs. Direct Drive

Starting motors were originally designed as direct drive devices. On a direct drive motor the pinion gear (commonly called the starter drive) is activated directly by the rotation of the armature shaft when the ignition key is turned. While this provides a reasonably strong transfer of torque from the drive to the engine flywheel, this technology does not always provide highest armature RPMs possible and draws significant stored amperage from batteries.

On the other hand gear reduction types of starting motors carry the starter drive on a secondary shaft, which is driven through a set of reduction gears. The end result is that the armature is allowed to spin much faster while providing higher torque. Also, faster armature RPMs lower the cranking amperage draw significantly while allowing the starting motor to operate more closely to its optimum power curve. In short, gear reduction motors work harder while drawing less power from the batteries!

Electrical Systems Specialists recognizes the cranking and performance improvements available with gear reduction starting motors. In so doing we provide many gear reduction alternatives to original direct drive motors whenever possible, providing another field performance benefit to our customers.