how does a bendix gear for a car starter motor work (i.e. freewheel)?

Answer 1

The Bendix gear is the small gear that meshes with the engine's flywheel.

The starter solenoid pushes the Bendix gear out until it contacts the engine flywheel. The starter motor then spins the Bendix gear to get the flywheel moving. Once the engine is running, the flywheel spins faster than the starter, so the solenoid disengages the Bendix gear.

If you try to engage the starter while the engine is running, this is why you get a loud KSQRAWWK!. The gears cannot mesh.

BTW: If you turn your key to start your car and all you get is a single CLICK, the solenoid is not spinning the Bendix gear. Time for a new starter.

Answer 2

when the starter is engaged it spins the gear out-(its kinda like on a screw)- once it hits the flywheel it starts the engine the you release the key and it retracts because the engine is turning much faster some use the solenoid to push it out.