Question 56Motor Plants - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is B) starter drive shaft rotation. In a Bendix starter drive, the pinion engagement with the flywheel ring gear is initiated by the rotation of the starter drive shaft. As the starter motor is engaged, the drive shaft begins to spin, which causes the Bendix pinion to move out and engage with the flywheel ring gear, allowing the engine to be cranked. The other options are incorrect because: A) Bendix spring pressure is responsible for disengaging the pinion, not engaging it; C) a differential spring is not involved in the Bendix drive mechanism; and D) solenoid throw-out action is responsible for engaging the starter motor, not the pinion engagement.