Starter Motor, How they Work (Parts 5)
armature & commutator
The armature
This sits in a field housing (or body – yoke). There are two types of field housing; one with permanent magnets, the other with field coils which are wound around ‘pole shoes’. These pole shoes only become magnetised when a current flows around them.
Most field coil windings can be replaced - although they are often hard to remove because the pole shoe screws are normally very tight indeed. The permanent magnet version suffers more from un-stuck magnets (which can be stuck back) - but don't turn them round. Broken magnets are normally caused by being tapped with a hammer.
The commutator
Usually at the back of the armature is the commutator. The brushes bear directly on this to transfer the electrical current to and from the armature.
