CLUTCHThe engine produces the power to drive the vehicle. The drive line or drive train transfers the power of the engine to the wheels. The drive train consists of the parts from the back of the flywheel to the wheels. These parts include the clutch, the transmission, the drive shaft, and the final drive assembly (Figure 8-1).The clutch which includes the flywheel, clutch disc, pressure plate, springs, pressure plate cover and the linkage necessary to operate the clutch is a rotating mechanism between the engine and the transmission (Figure 8-2). It operates through friction which comes from contact between the parts. That is the reason why the clutch is called a friction mechanism. After engagement, the clutch must continue to transmit all the engine torque to the transmission depending on the friction without slippage. The clutch is also used to disengage the engine from the drive train whenever the gears in the transmission are being shifted from one gear ratio to another.To start the engine or shift the gears, the driver has to depress the clutch pedal with the purpose of disengagement the transmission from the engine. At that time, the driven members connected to the transmission input shaft are either stationary or rotating at a speed that is slower or faster than the driving members connected to the engine crankshaft. There is no spring pressure on the clutch assembly parts. So there is no friction between the driving members and driven members. As the driver lets loose the clutch pedal, spring pressure increases on the clutch parts. Friction between the parts also increases. The pressure exerted by the springs on the driven members is controlled by the driver through the clutch pedal and linkage. The positive engagement of the driving and driven members is made possible by the friction between the surfaces of the members. When full spring pressure is applied, the speed of the driving and driven members should be the same. At the moment, the clutch must act as a solid coupling device and transmit all engine power to the transmission, without slipping.However, the transmission should be engaged to the engine gradually in order to operate the car smoothly and minimize torsional shock on the drive train because an engine at idle just develops little power. Otherwise, the driving members are connected with the driven members too quickly and the engine would be stalled.The flywheel is a major part of the clutch. The flywheel mounts to the engines crankshaft and transmits engine torque to the clutch assembly. The flywheel, when coupled with the clutch disc and pressure plate makes and breaks the flow of power from the engine to the transmission.The flywheel provides a mounting location for the clutch assembly as well. When the clutch is applied, the flywheel transfers engine torque to the clutch disc. Because of its weight, the flywheel helps to smooth engine operation. The flywheel also has a large ring gear at its outer edge, which engages with a pinion gear on the starter motor during engine cranking.The clutch disc fits between the flywheel and the pressure plate. The clutch disc has a splined hub that fits over splines on the transmission input shaft. A splined hub has grooves that match splines on the shaft. These splines fit in the grooves. Thus, the two parts are held together. However, back-and-forth movement of the disc on the shaft is possible. Attached to the input shaft, At disc turns at the speed of the shaft.The clutch pressure plate is generally made of cast iron. It is round and about the same diameter as the clutch disc. One side of the pressure plate is machined smooth. This side will press the clutch disc facing are against the flywheel. The outer side has various shapes to facilitate attachment of spring and release mechanisms. The two primary types of pressure plate assemblies are coil spring assembly and diaphragm spring (Figure 8-3).In a coil spring clutch the pressure plate is backed by a number of coil springs and housed with them in a pressed-steel cover bolted to the flywheel. The springs push against the cover. Neither the driven plate nor the pressure plate is connected rigidly to the flywheel and both can move either towards it or away. When the clutch pedal is depressed a thrust pad riding on a carbon or ball thrust bearing is forced towards the flywheel. Levers pivoted so that they engage with the thrust pad at one end and the pressure plate at the other end pull the pressure plate back against its springs. This releases pressure on the driven plate disconnecting the gearbox from the engine (Figure 8-4).Diaphragm spring pressure plate assemblies are widely used in most modern cars. The diaphragm spring is a single thin sheet of metal which yields when pressure is applied to it. When pressure is removed the metal springs back to its original shape. The centre portion of the diaphragm spring is slit into numerous fingers that act as release levers. W