how does the clutch work?

Question

I need to know in a very simple quick form -
1- how the clutch works on a car
2- how to reach the biting point
3- know when you are at the biting point.
please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

sorry i didnt really explain - i know to use the clutch i need to explain it to pupils im just learning to be an instructor and cant seem to explian this part!!!to the pupils in simple form but with enough information for them to understand

Answer 1

Imagine three flat plates the outer ones are steel the inner one is faced in both sides with a hard material the same a brakes , the center plate is connected by a shaft to the gearbox the shaft is called a first motion shaft or spiget, the fist plate is bolted to the engine and is called a flywheel it turnes with the engine , the outer plate called the pressure plate has a diapham set of fingers , or levers , when you press your clutch pedal through a set of levers it presses the center of the diapham on the pressure plate through a bearing called a thrust race that in turn when pressing the diapham or fingers lifts the outer pressure plate away fron the center plate releasing the pressure on the centre plate from the flywhell so it is no longer turning with the engine, likwise as you ease of the clutch pedal , the pressure plate slowly closes down onto the center plate taking up the spin from the flywheel

Answer 2

A clutch is a mechanism for transmitting rotation, which can be engaged and disengaged.

There are many different vehicle clutch designs, but most are based on one or more friction discs, pressed tightly together or against a flywheel using springs. The friction material is very similar to the material used in brake shoes and pads and contained asbestos in the past. Also, clutches found in heavy duty applications such as trucks and competition cars use ceramic clutches that have a greatly increased friction coefficient, however these have a "grabby" action and are unsuitable for road cars. The spring pressure is released when the clutch pedal is depressed thus either pushing or pulling the diaphragm of the pressure plate, depending on type, and the friction plate is released and allowed to rotate freely. A 'wet clutch' is immersed in a cooling lubricating fluid, which also keeps the surfaces clean and gives smoother performance and longer life. A 'dry clutch', as the name implies, is not bathed in fluid that robs it of some energy. Since the surfaces of a wet clutch can be slippery (as with a motorcycle clutch bathed in engine oil), stacking multiple clutch disks can compensate for slippage. Most Moto Guzzi and BMW motorcycles use a triple plate clutch like a car.

In a car it is operated by the left-most pedal using hydraulics or a cable connection from the pedal to the clutch mechanism. Even though the clutch may physically be located very close to the pedal, such remote means of actuation are necessary to eliminate the effect of slight engine movement, engine mountings being flexible by design. With a rigid mechanical linkage, smooth engagement would be near-impossible, because engine movement inevitably occurs as the drive is "taken up". No pressure on the pedal means that the clutch plates are engaged (driving), while depressing the pedal will disengage the clutch plates, allowing the driver to shift gears.

There are other clutches found in a car. For example, the radiator fan may have a clutch that is heat-activated. The driving and driven elements are separated by a silicone-based fluid. When the temperature is low, the fluid is thin and so the clutch slips. When the temperature is high, the fluid thickens, causing the fan to spin.

A manual transmission contains cogs for selecting gears. These cogs have matching teeth, called dog teeth, which means that the rotation speeds of the two parts have to match for engagement. This speed matching is achieved by a secondary clutch called a synchronizer, a device that uses frictional contact to bring the two parts to the same speed, and a locking mechanism called a blocker ring to prevent engagement of the teeth (full movement of the shift lever into gear) until the speeds are synchronized.

On most motorcycles, the clutch is operated by the clutch lever, located on the left handlebar. No pressure on the lever means that the clutch plates are engaged (driving), while pulling the lever back towards the rider will disengage the clutch plates, allowing the rider to shift gears. Some cars and mopeds have a centrifugal clutch, using centrifugal forces to engage the clutch above certain rpm.

While engaging the clutch, the engine speed may need to be increased from idle, using the manual throttle, so that the engine does not stall (although in most cars, especially diesels, there is enough power at idling speed that the car can move although fine movements with the clutch are needed). However, raising the engine speed too high will cause excessive clutch plate wear and cause a harsh, jerky start. This kind of start is desired in drag racing and other competitions, however.

A clutch may also be a device on a shaft that will "slip" when higher than normal resistance is encountered on a machine. An example of a clutch such as this may be mounted on the driving shaft of a large grass mower. The clutch will "slip" or "give" if the blades were to hit a rock, stump, or other immobile object.

Answer 3

The clutch pushes a friction plate against the engines flywheel. This allows the gear linkage to move freely whilst the engine is running.
To reach the biting point you slowly lift the clutch pedal until you feel the car moving slightly.Once at this position the clutch is then biting.To balance the clutch release the handbrake and with no revs the car should want to move forward but won't.
You will be able to tell when the biting point is reached by a change in the tone of the engine and also by the way the car will slightly lift at the front.

Answer 4

There are basically 4 pieces.

-One bolted to the engine (flywheel) that spins at the speed of the engine.
-One bolted to the Flywheel (pressure plate) that also spins at the speed of the engine.
-A padded clutch wheel between the flywheel and the pressure plate with gears in the middle that the transmission is mated to.
-Release fork. This rides on the middle of the pressure plate.

When the clutch pedal is depressed the release fork causes the pressure plate to back away from the engine only a few millimeters. This lets the clutch pad slide or slip as the pressure plate and flywheel spin.
As you let out the clutch pedal the pressure plate begins to squeeze against the clutch pad causing it to spin together with the flywheel and pressure plate.

As you let out the pedal the car will begin to move and the RPM's will begin to drop. You are beginning the biting point.
Slowly give gas to bring the RPM's up while further releasing the clutch pedal until the pedal is all the way out.

Having problems with the car bucking and stalling? Try to take off in 2nd gear instead. Not great for the car but will allow you to get the feel for it better.

Takes practice... dont give up

Answer 5

Clutch is a friction disc that spins with the transmission input shaft. The disc slides along the splines on the shaft. When clutch is released, the disc gets jammed between the flywheel and pressure plate that spin with the engine crankshaft thus transferring torque from engine to transmission.
When in gear, with the clutch pedal depressed all the way to the floor, start releasing it until you feel engine RPM starts decreasing. This is - apparently - what you refer to as a "biting point". Hold the pedal in that position for a fraction of a second and add VERY little gas and immediately release the pedal slightly. Once the vehicle starts moving, you can release the pedal all the way, add more gas... and you are in business.

Answer 6

As a woman who likes to put the key in and just drive - the easiest explanation I ever got that I have always remembered is this one.....
the clutch is just like the latch on a gate - you take the latch off while you open and shut the gate ... while it's 'open' you can open and shut the gate as much or as little as you want (changing gears) - when it's shut - it's locked and the gate can't move ......
You know when you are reaching biting point because as the you slowly 'close' the gate (release the clutch) and press on the accelorator you can hear the engine sound go down a note and and the gears go into position - just like when you're waiting for a starter's gun in a race .... you know when you're at biting point because the engine will act like a dog on a lead .... it 'knows's it's about to be 'let off' and it's pulling against the lead (your holding the clutch pedal) and raring to go!
Hope this helps!

Answer 7

In really simple terms the clutch puts the car in gear, meaning you can move. When the clutch is down you aren't in gear, and when up a gear in engaged.

The biting point is when you are just about in gear, it's different on each car, but you should feel the car start to pull away very slightly at the biting point.

Answer 8

Press the clutch right down, put the car into gear, raise the clutch up very slowly, then you will feel when the car wants to move, this is the biting point, then take the handbrake off and put your fight foot on the accelerator and go!

Answer 9

Hi i would explain it by saying, the clutch allows you to put the car into gear, when the pedal is pressed down you can move gears, however when the pedal is up you cannot put the car into gear. To reach the biting point, you lift the clutch SLOWLY until it either starts to move forwards slowly, or rattles/ shudders. When this happens you have your biting point, hope this helps

Answer 10

Hey sexy happy to tell you ..as a 20 year vet I learned how to break things down to laymans terms .Ok clutch works like a break for the trans shifter only when you depress it tho . when you step on pedal pushs a rod n fork to a roller bearing that pushs on clutch fingers to spread the clutch plate down on top of the clutch disk this acts as a break on trans so you can shift it to another gear once you release the pedal the trans starts turning again on the flywheel..Some times this disc the lineing which is made of brake material wears out or burns up you get a smell somethings burning .. hope this helps