Clutch: Description and Operation

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

DRIVING MEMBERS
The driving members consist of two flat surfaces machined to a smooth finish. One of these is the rear face of the engine flywheel, and the other is the pressure plate. The pressure plate is fitted into a steel cover, which is bolted to the flywheel.

DRIVEN MEMBERS
The driven member is the clutch disc with a splined hub which is free to slide lengthwise along the splines of the input shaft, but which drives the input shaft through these same splines.

The driving and driven members are held in contact by spring pressure. This pressure is exerted by a diaphragm spring in the pressure plate assembly.

OPERATING MEMBERS
The clutch release system consists of the clutch pedal, the clutch cable, clutch shaft, fork, and the release bearing. When pressure is applied to the clutch pedal to release the clutch, the cable pulls against the outer end of the clutch fork lever. As the fork pivots on its shaft, the inner end pushes against the release bearing. The bearing then pushes against the release levers in the pressure plate assembly, thereby releasing the clutch.