Editing Freewheel (section)

===Engine starters===
A freewheel assembly is also used on engine starters. [[Automobile self starter|Starter motors]] usually need to spin at 3,000 RPM to get the engine to turn over. When the key is held in the start position for any amount of time after the engine has started, the starter can not spin fast enough to keep up with the flywheel. Because of the extreme [[gear ratio]] between starter gear and flywheel (about 15 or 20:1) it would spin the starter armature at dangerously high speeds, causing an explosion when the [[centripetal force]] acting on the copper coils wound in the armature can no longer resist the [[Centrifugal force|outward force]] acting on them. In starters without the freewheel or overrun clutch or other disengagement device this would be a major problem because, with the flywheel spinning at about 1,000 RPM at idle, the starter, if engaged with the [[flywheel]], would be forced to spin between 15,000 and 20,000 RPM. Once the engine has turned over and is running, the overrun clutch releases the starter from the flywheel and prevents the gears from re-meshing (as in an accidental turning of the ignition key) while the engine is running. A freewheel clutch is now used in many motorcycles with an electric starter motor. It is used on many combustion-engined mowers. It is used as a replacement for the [[Bendix drive|Starter solenoid]] (or the older [[Bendix drive]]) used on most car starters because it reduces the electrical needs of the starting system and gives reduced complexity.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}