Technical progress does not stand still and is constantly evolving. Each year, new technologies appear, which allows engineers to improve or create completely new parts. This also applies to mechanical engineering. In Russia, hundreds of thousands of modern cars are sold annually. Each of them contains the latest technology. We will talk about such a small assembly as a starter, and we will figure out which starter is better: gear or conventional.
General information
The first starter used on the car had a number of significant drawbacks. Over time, the design gradually improved and significantly changed. The starter is a 4-way electric motor, which is necessary to rotate the crankshaft when starting the engine. He takes energy from the battery, at times increases the starting current. Due to this, any internal combustion engine is started. The principle of the starter for many years has not changed.
Nevertheless, its design was constantly improved. The mass of the part decreased, the service life increased due to the use of better and new materials, etc. All this led to the fact that the starter was quite strongly transformed and even a new type appeared - gear. That's what we’ll talk about now.
Classic starter: principle of operation and device
The key feature of such a device is that there is no such intermediate node as a gearbox. This allows direct rotation from the starter to the crankshaft. Therefore, the device is simpler to manufacture and much easier to repair. Another feature of such a starter is that the electric current supplied to the switch allows you to instantly engage the gear and the flywheel. This contributes to the fact that the car starts, as the drivers say, with a dime.
Currently, they are trying to replace such starters with reduction starters. However, most cars used to have a classic starter. The principle of operation and the device made this unit extremely hardy. Such units almost never fail due to electrical effects, but are much more likely to go for repair due to low temperatures.
Design and something else
During operation of the internal combustion engine produces a fairly large amount of energy. It is enough for lighting, music, wipers, etc. In general, during movement, the main load is on the generator. In a static position, the motor does not produce anything, so you need to start it somehow. For this, various types of starters are used along with the battery.
The electric motor itself, that is, the housing, is made in a cylindrical shape. It contains cores and exciting windings. Of course, there is an anchor - one of the most responsible and expensive parts. Collector springs as well as cores are pressed onto it. It has an axial shape. There is also a
solenoid starter
relay . The price of this spare part is relatively small, although it performs a part of extremely important functions. Firstly, it supplies energy from the ignition switch to the electric motor. Secondly, pushes overrunning clutch.
Most often, it is the retractor relay of the starter that fails. The price of its benefit is affordable and starts at 500 rubles and ends with several thousand. In addition, the design has a bendix with a drive gear and brushes.
Starter Stages
This node works as follows:
- connecting gear with flywheel;
- starter launch;
- disconnecting gear and flywheel.
Naturally, the starter only works when the engine is started, and then it turns off. If this does not happen, then one of the mechanisms is faulty.
After the driver inserts the key into the ignition switch and turns it into the working position, current flows to the traction relay from the battery. Due to this, the gearbox starter’s gearbox engages the gears, at the same time, by applying voltage to the electric motor, the circuit closes and the car starts. After the engine speed exceeds the speed of our starter, it turns off. It turns on only the next time the engine starts. Well, now let's look at how the gear starter differs from the usual one. There are some interesting details.
Gear starter
The general principle of action is no different. Electric energy is also converted into mechanical energy. The only difference is the presence of a gearbox. In addition, in such a starter there are also permanent magnets in the winding, which allowed to slightly increase the reliability of the electric motor as a whole. Of course, there are some peculiarities. In particular, many are wondering how much this type of starter costs. In most cases, a little more expensive than classic, but not very. An average of 10-15%. But its service life is an order of magnitude higher, and this is definitely worth considering.
The duration of operation of such a starter directly depends on the quality of manufacture of the gearbox. The better the steel was used when casting gears, the less chance that the teeth will come together after the hundredth start. In general, the design today is popular, and gear starters appear more and more.
The advantages and disadvantages of the classic version
So we are actually gradually approaching the answer to the question of which starter is better: gear or conventional. To do this, consider the strengths of the classic version. They are as follows:
- low cost;
- high maintainability;
- You can find parts almost everywhere.
But there are also disadvantages, which are expressed in the following:
- high base current required;
- quick wear of parts;
- does not work well at low temperatures;
- large mass and size.
In general, this is a fairly reliable design with proper maintenance. But development does not stand still, and this has led to more advanced gear starters. Consider their strengths and weaknesses.
Starter with gear: what is good and what are its disadvantages
We have already figured out how this device works and what are its fundamental differences. It is easy to guess which starter is better, gear or conventional. The fact is that the first option has the following strengths:
- small size and weight;
- long term of operation irrespective of ambient temperature;
- low energy consumption (40% less than the classic version).
As for the cons, then they are here and are as follows:
- complexity of repair work;
- lack of spare parts in stores;
- high cost of the product;
- low quality gearbox.
Often, the main reason for a starter breakdown with a gearbox is that low-quality components are installed. This leads to breakdowns and various kinds of malfunctions. In general, such an aggregate has more prospects in the future than a conventional starter. And this is not due at all to the fact that one is good, and the second is bad, but scientific and technological progress.
To summarize
If you decide to replace this node, then you first need to decide where the starter is. This is usually the driver’s side under or on the side of the engine. To remove, you need to free up space. Depending on the location, it may be necessary to dismantle the engine protection or air filter with duct. Next, disconnect the wires and unscrew the bolts. Finding out where the starter is is easy. It has a cylindrical shape, and several wires are fixed from it, fixed with a nut. Everything is done quite simply and quickly.
So we answered the question of which starter is better: gear or conventional. Classic starters are good in their own way, but are gradually being phased out. But they have their own strengths, as well as those of gearboxes - their weaknesses. For example, in the outback it will be difficult to find spare parts for a starter with a gearbox, and for a normal one - without problems. The same can be said about the repair - not everyone came across gears on the starter and not everyone will take it. How much does a starter with gearbox cost? It all depends on the brand of car, normal will cost 5-7 thousand rubles.