The clutch is a centrifugal-type, automatic clutch. At idle speed the clutch is disengaged. As engine speed increases, a set of balls inside the clutch are forced outward by centrifugal force. As the balls move away from the center of the clutch, they wedge the clutch plates together, and power is transmitted from the engine to the gear box.
In the first illustration, the clutch is disengaged. Note the relative position of the balls, and the space between the steel and friction plates. In the second illustration, the clutch has engaged. The balls have moved farther from the center of the clutch, riding up the ramps in the ball guide, forcing the steel and friction plates into contact with each other. The small springs insure proper disengagement at low engine speeds, by forcing the first and last steel plates apart. The large springs cushion the engagement and allow the clutch to be adjusted to compensate for friction plate wear by turning the adjuster nuts.
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