Patent ID: 7647850

Claim:
A starter assembly comprising: a starter motor; a center casing attached to said starter motor; a front housing attached to said center casing, said front housing and said center casing defining a serpentine path between said center casing and said front housing, said serpentine path extending from an external end outside of said starter assembly to an internal end inside said starter assembly, said front housing having an inside diameter at said internal end of said serpentine path larger than an inside diameter of said center casing at said internal end of said serpentine path to create a dam immediately adjacent said internal end of said serpentine path such that contaminants flowing into said starter assembly through said serpentine path will be directed into said front housing, said serpentine path being defined by a first surface of said center casing and a second surface of said front housing, said first and second surfaces extending continuously between said external end of said serpentine path and said internal end of said serpentine path.