Clutch: Description and Operation

GENERAL DESCRIPTION





CLUTCH SYSTEM

BASIC COMPONENTS
The basic parts of the clutch system are driving members, driven members and operating members. The clutch housing is part of the transaxle assembly.

DRIVING MEMBERS
The driving members consist of two flat surfaces machined to a smooth finish. The rear surface of the flywheel is one and the front surface of the pressure plate assembly (5) is the other. The clutch cover assembly is bolted to the flywheel.

DRIVEN MEMBERS
The clutch disc is the driven member which is splined to the input shaft. The clutch disc is free to travel lengthwise along the input shaft splines while driving the input shaft through the splines.
The driving members and the driven members are held in contact by spring pressure. This pressure is generated by a diaphragm spring in the pressure plate assembly (5).

OPERATING MEMBERS
The clutch release system is operated by hydraulic pressure and consists of the clutch pedal, clutch master cylinder (2) and clutch slave cylinder (4) that contains a integral clutch release bearing.

HYDRAULIC RELEASE SYSTEM
A hydraulic clutch operating mechanism is used on all manual transaxle models and is completely self-adjusting. The mechanism consists of a master cylinder (2), hydraulic line assembly (3), and a slave cylinder (4) which contains an integral clutch release bearing. The fluid for the clutch hydraulic system is provided from the brake master cylinder (1). The clutch master cylinder (2) is mounted to the front of the dash, and is operated directly off the clutch pedal by a pushrod. The slave cylinder (4) is mounted inside the clutch housing of the transaxle, and cannot be disassembled.
As the clutch pedal is depressed, hydraulic fluid under pressure from the master cylinder flows into the slave cylinder and moves the slave cylinder piston forcing the release bearing against the pressure plate assembly. There is a spring mounted between the slave cylinder housing and release bearing which ensures that the release bearing is always held against the pressure plate, which reduces play in the clutch pedal.