Abstract: This specification discloses an automobile starter motor having a lever pivotally coupled to the housing of the starter and movably supporting a pole piece so that energizing the starter causes the pole piece to move toward the housing and to align to seat against the housing. The connection between the lever and the pole piece is a ball joint connection which permits relative movement between the pole piece and the lever so that there is maximum engagement between the housing and the pole piece which increases the starter holding force by reducing flux path reluctance and equalizing flux distribution through the extremities of the pole piece, and simplifies manufacturing, by reducing solenoid power and thus coil windings required and by eliminating a rigid connection between the pole piece and lever.