käivitusmootori

A käivitusmootor, or starter motor in English, is an electric motor that is used to crank (rotate) an internal combustion engine to start it. It is a crucial component of most vehicles and other machinery powered by internal combustion engines. When the ignition key is turned or the start button is pressed, an electrical current from the vehicle's battery is sent to the käivitusmootor.

The käivitusmootor engages with the engine's flywheel or flexplate, typically through a small pinion gear that extends and meshes with the larger gear teeth on the flywheel. Once engaged, the electric motor spins the pinion gear, which in turn rotates the engine's crankshaft. This rotation allows the engine's cylinders to draw in air and fuel, compress the mixture, and ignite it, thus starting the engine.

Once the engine starts running under its own power, the käivitusmootor disengages from the flywheel. This disengagement is usually automatic, either by the driver releasing the ignition key or by a solenoid mechanism. The käivitusmootor is a powerful device, designed to deliver a high torque for a short period. Its operation is essential for the initial startup of the engine before it can sustain its own running.