Showerthought: I just learned how much torque a big rig's starter motor puts out

I was watching some old truck restoration show on YouTube last night, and the host said a typical 12-volt starter for a big diesel can crank out over 30 pound-feet of torque. That's more than some small car engines make, just to get the thing turning over. It blew my mind a little, thinking about the sheer force needed just to start the engine before it even fires. Has anyone else come across a random fact about our gear that made you pause and go 'huh'?

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dixon.iris1h ago

Wait, you mean the starter motor alone makes that much? I always pictured them as just little electric whirring things, not something putting out real turning force. That fact actually makes sense now why a dead starter on a big truck is such a huge deal. It's not just a weak battery, it's a whole unit fighting against massive compression. Changes how I see that whole starting process.