Yes, I'm newb and I'm trying to understand how a clutch works. I think I understand the parts and how it fits together, but I'm having troble putting it all together in my mind. (I read huguetpj's post about a homemade clutch, thats what started it...)Starting from the engine side, you have the flywheel bolted to the crank, then the disc, and finally the pressure plate. I know the flywheel/disc is the friction surface where engine power is transferred to the driveline, so that would mean the disc is somehow connected to the driveshaft. Is this true??I assume the pressure plate is what 'presses' the disc against the flywheel. But what happens when you hit the pedal. How does it pull the disc away from the flywheel??
ThanksJay
How a clutch works??
Quite simple once you get in into your head... it took me a while and several explanations on the part of my friend.
As you said, the flywheel is bolted to the crank and then the pressure plate is bolted to the flywheel. So both the flywheel and pressure plate rotate along with the crank (that is why a lighter flywheel helps with revving). In between the flywheel and pp is the clutch disc. The clutch disc is connected to the gears through the center of the pp. This way the clutch disc rotates along with the gears.
The tricky part is this. The pressure plate has a diaphragm, the many pallets (translation?) on the center. This diaphragm is attached to what is called the pp mass (shiny looking surface on the center of pp looking from other side of diaphragm) which is the actual friction surface that touches the clutch disc and presses it against the flywheel. When you install the clutch assembly the diaphragm should lay parallel to the clutch disc thus providing the best holding force to the pp mass and thus the best force to the clutch disc.
When you press the clutch pedal what this does is press the push bearing (translation?) - round thing in center of clutch case http://katcostarica.240sxonlin...5.JPG - into the diaphragm pushing the pallets closer to the clutch disc. The pallets then pull the mass away from the disc pads thus releasing the clutch disc and effectively disconnecting the flywhell and clutch disc so they can rotate separately.
Hope I made myself clear
As you said, the flywheel is bolted to the crank and then the pressure plate is bolted to the flywheel. So both the flywheel and pressure plate rotate along with the crank (that is why a lighter flywheel helps with revving). In between the flywheel and pp is the clutch disc. The clutch disc is connected to the gears through the center of the pp. This way the clutch disc rotates along with the gears.
The tricky part is this. The pressure plate has a diaphragm, the many pallets (translation?) on the center. This diaphragm is attached to what is called the pp mass (shiny looking surface on the center of pp looking from other side of diaphragm) which is the actual friction surface that touches the clutch disc and presses it against the flywheel. When you install the clutch assembly the diaphragm should lay parallel to the clutch disc thus providing the best holding force to the pp mass and thus the best force to the clutch disc.
When you press the clutch pedal what this does is press the push bearing (translation?) - round thing in center of clutch case http://katcostarica.240sxonlin...5.JPG - into the diaphragm pushing the pallets closer to the clutch disc. The pallets then pull the mass away from the disc pads thus releasing the clutch disc and effectively disconnecting the flywhell and clutch disc so they can rotate separately.
Hope I made myself clear
