Drive clutch assembly

for the drive clutch assembly (T) and

noid coil is energized, producing a mag-

shift lever (P).

netic field in the solenoid. The magnetic

field causes a pull to be exerted on the

(7) Drive clutch assembly. The drive clutch

solenoid plunger, moving the plunger

assembly (T) is an overrunning clutch-

into the solenoid.

type drive consisting primarily of a

(2) As the plunger moves into the solenoid

shell, clutch sprags, spring, sleeve, and

case, it exerts a pull on the shift lever

drive pinion. The shell has internal

which shifts the drive clutch pinion into

splines which mesh with those of the

mesh with the ring gear on the engine

armature shaft and external flanges

flywheel.

which serve as contact surfaces for the

shift lever. It also serves as a housing

(3) After the plunger has moved the dis-

and outer contact surface for the sprags.

tance necessary to engage the pinion

The sleeve supports the drive pinion and

with the engine flywheel ring gear, the

the sprags. The spring-loaded drive

end of the plunger presses against the

pinion has 12 external teeth, with another

shaft of the solenoid relay contact as-

tooth blank, and internal helical splines

sembly. This movement causes the con-

which match with splines on the sleeve.

tact disk of the contact assembly to

Thirty sprags, held together by a sprag

close the circuit across the battery and

(garter) spring are positioned around the

motor terminals of the solenoid relay.

end of the sleeve inside the shell. These

sprags are small billets of steel with

(4) When the circuit is closed electrical

the upper and lower surfaces rounded

current flows to the starter, forming

so the diagonals across the sprag are

magnetic fields about the field coils and

of unequal length. The ends of the sprags

the armature. The interaction of the

are slotted at an angle for the sprag

magnetic fields causes the armature

spring causing the sprags to position

to start to rotate.

around the sleeve at any angle, in the

locked position.

(5) The armature torque is transferred to

the engine through the drive clutch.

(8) Solenoid relay assembly. The solenoid

When the clutch sprags are rotated so

relay assembly (G) consists of a case

the larger diagonal approaches a radial

which encloses the solenoid relay coil

position, a wedging action occurs, lock-

(H), a contact assembly (F), and a ter-

ing the inner race on the sleeve to the

minal plate assembly.

outer race in the shell. The sprag

(garter) spring, placed around the

(9) Solenoid plunger and shift lever. A

sprags, holds the sprags in the locked

spring loaded cylindrical solenoid

position so torque can be transmitted

plunger (J) is installed in the bore of

without delay when the armature starts

the solenoid relay to provide the nec-

rotating. When the engine starts and ex-

essary shifting action when the solenoid

ceeds the speed of the armature, the

is actuated. The spring returns the

sprags slip between the sleeve and shell,

plunger to the disengaged position when-

protecting the starter.

ever the relay is not engaged. The shift

lever (P) is connected between the sole-

noid plunger and the drive clutch and is

(6) When the outside control circuit to the

pivoted at the center. A rubber bellows

solenoid relay is broken, the solenoid

(K) is provided to cover the plunger

circuit is broken. The solenoid plunger

spring (L) and seal the end of the sole-

is no longer held by the solenoid and it

noid relay.

is returned to its original position by

spring pressure. This breaks the cir-

b. Operation.

cuit to the starter as the contact disk

in the solenoid is moved away from the

battery and motor terminals. At the

(1) The solenoid relay makes possible the

same time the shift lever pulls the drive

control of the starter from an outside

clutch back to its original position and

source and permits operation-h full

the pinion is disengaged from the engine

battery voltage. When the switch circuit

flywheel ring gear.

to the solenoid relay is closed, the sole-