Patent ID: 8575801

Claim:
A motor vehicle starter ( 10 ) comprising: an electric motor ( 16 ) comprising a rear armature shaft ( 18 ) carrying armature windings ( 22 ) and rotationally guided by a first rear bearing ( 32 ) and by a second front bearing ( 68 ); a coaxial front output shaft ( 20 ) carrying a starter drive assembly ( 64 ) and rotationally driven by the rear armature shaft ( 18 ); an epicyclic gear train speed reducer ( 44 ) inserted axially between the rear armature shaft ( 18 ) and the front output shaft ( 20 ) for the coupling thereof; the second front bearing ( 68 ) inserted axially between the armature windings ( 22 ) and the reducer ( 44 ) so that a supporting section ( 74 ) of the armature shaft ( 18 ) received in the front bearing ( 68 ); the reducer ( 44 ) comprising planetary gears ( 46 ) carried by the output shaft ( 20 ) and fitted rotationally between two front ( 50 ) and rear ( 52 ) radial flanges; the front bearing ( 68 ) capable of being supported axially against the rear flange ( 52 ); the reducer ( 44 ) further comprising at least one spacer ( 48 ) such that the radial flanges ( 50 , 52 ) being kept apart axially by the at least one spacer ( 48 ) so as to provide an axial clearance between the planetary gears ( 46 ) and at least one of the radial flanges ( 50 , 52 ) in order to prevent the nipping of the planetary gears ( 46 ) when the front bearing ( 68 ) is supported axially against the rear radial flange ( 52 ).