Clutch: Description and Operation

CLUTCH / DESCRIPTION
The clutch mechanism consists of a flywheel, dry type disc, diaphragm style pressure plate (Fig. 1) and hydraulic linkage. The flywheel is bolted to the rear flange of the crankshaft. The clutch pressure plate is bolted to the flywheel with the clutch disc between these two components. The clutch system provides the mechanical, link between the engine and the transmission. The system is designed to transfer the torque output of the engine, to the transmission while isolating the transmission from the engine firing pulses to minimize concerns such as gear rattle.






OPERATION
When the clutch pedal is depressed, it actuates the clutch master cylinder. This sends hydraulic pressure to the clutch slave cylinder. The release fork is then actuated by the slave cylinder mounted on the transmission housing. The release fork pivots on a ball stud mounted in the transmission housing and pushes the release bearing. The release bearing then depresses the pressure plate spring fingers, thereby releasing pressure on the clutch disc and allowing the engine crankshaft to spin independently of the transmission input shaft (Fig. 2).