When the starter is turned on, current from the battery begins to flow through the winding of the starter traction relay, the relay anchor is pulled in and the relay contacts are closed. At the same time, the relay anchor moves the overrunning clutch with the gear through the lever. The hub of the overrunning clutch rotates on the helical splines of the starter shaft together with the gear, which facilitates its engagement with the flywheel ring gear. Current flows through the closed contacts of the traction relay, feeding the stator and anchor windings, and the starter anchor begins to rotate together with the hub and overrunning clutch.
After the engine starts, the rotation speed of the pinion exceeds the rotation speed of the starter anchor, the overrunning clutch rotates freely and the torque is not transmitted from the flywheel to the starter shaft. After releasing the ignition key, the power supply circuit of the traction relay winding opens, the anchor of the traction relay is pressed back to its original position by the spring, the relay contacts open and the drive pinion disengages from the flywheel ring gear.
