The sun., 1918-10-27
ALWAYS Be KIND
TO YOUR CLUTCH
This Vital Unit Of Motor Car
Should Be Handled
Gently.

which / mean the actual driving, of the
motor car as the clutch. The clutch
that Is properly taken care OF and ad-
1usted performs its functions In such
a way that its very existence Ia almost
forgotten. But let the part get out
Of gear. the facing fail. the bearings
wear and the results are instantaneous
and unpleasant. An ailing clutch IL one
OF the most prodigious MASTERS OF power
and reducers OF efficiency that can be
imagined. In fact, a badly disorgan-
lied clutch can reduce the whole me-
chanism OF the car to impotency.
The clutch occupies peculiarly STRAIT
egic position In the mechanism, II In
the connecting link between the engine
and the transmission, acting as a fex-
ible connection whereby the power may
be applied to or removed from the
rear wheels. The operating function of
the clutch Is controlled by a pedal, and
the part must be employed each time
a change of gear is necessary. OBJ
y,ously the clutch is a fairly busy bit OF
mechanism.
Modern clutches fall readily into three
distinct types. known respectively as
cone, disc and plate clutches. Cone and
disc clutches are divided into two sub
tvpes according to whether they run In
oil or dry.
Not very long ago cone clutches were
almost universal on American cars. but
within the past few years there has
been a notable change in this respect
and at the present time disc clutches
are In the majority. with cone In second
place. As tho name implies, the cone
clutch embodies a cone as the driven
member. This cone fits into the ny
wheel, which has been followed out to
receive it. the engagement Being assured
by spring fitted for that purpose. The
surface Of the clutch Is faced with
leather or with fabric composed prin-
c:pally OF asbestos to reduce the danger
OF burning or charring. Pressure on the
control pedal releases the clutch from
engagement with the hywheel and the
power is at once removed from the driv-
ing mechanism. When the foot Is re-
moved from the pedal the cone is pressed
homo, the surface grips the inside OF the
cavity in the fywheel and the power is
transmitted to the rear wheels. Simple
enough and efficient in action as long
MS the part is properly maintained.
In the so-called multiple disc clutch
the part is fitted with a number of small
discs sometimes more than, fifty being
used. The inside OF the fywheel Is
fitted with drum on the inner sur
face of which are arranged keys de-
signed to maintain the discs in a fixed
position with regard to each other. The
discs attached to the fywheel act as
driving discs. and the driven discs which
At in between are attached to the clutch
shaft itself. As the clutch Is released
the discs separate and the power IL re-
moved from the driving mechanism.
When the clutch Is pressed into engage
ment the discs come together and the
power is sent back through the trans
mi Ssion IN the rear wheels
Finally there is the plate clutch, which
is really only variation OF the disc
type Instead of using a number OF
small discs this type employs three large
plates. OF which two are the driven
plates and one is the driving plate, fixed
on the fiywheel. The plates may be OF
metal or they may have n fabric facing.
Within the last year or two the plate
clutch has made considerable strides into
popularity and there seems to be a
bright future for this type.
And now to examine in detail the all
uients to which the different types OF
clutches are heir and suggest the
remedies to be used for each. The cone
clutch consists primarily of the cone
the shaft and suitable bearings In add
ton there Is a spring. whose function
IS 10 press the cone into engagement with
the fiywheel. In some cases instead Of
one main spring, three or even more
smaller springs are used and in this
case they are mounted at right angles
70 the cone. In course of time the ten
sion OF the clutch spring is quite likely
20 suffer impairment so that II has no
strength enough to press the cone firmly
home. In this case the result II slipping
and the cure is adjustmentsof the spring
on almost all modern clutches an ad
tustment 10 provided for regulating thu
-apeipu ,af tnn anrinR M1Bal ly the ad
justment takes the form OF a collar be
hind the spring. and 1t is q simple matter
10 change the tension by this means
When no means OF adjustment is pro
vided II is necessary to ut a SHIN o.
even TO renew the spring. but m am
event the spring must be lsept At to per
form its function or much power will b.
wasted through slipping.
The clutch shaft usually rests upor
two bearings, generally OF the ball type
one located in the centre of the fly
wheel and the other placed to take III
thrust that results when the clutch Il
released Wear in these bearings Is {
serious matter. Since on their proper &C
ton rests the functioning of the clutch
any suggestion of wear should be a
once taken up.
In many cone clutches there Is
tendency to grab" that is, to engage
tended. Many makers At n series o
springs either In the fiywheel or unde
ne leather facing of the cone, so tina
engagement takes place more gradually
In cases where grabbing is habitual re
moving the leather or fabric facing
soaking II over night in meats foot oil
and then running II through clothes
wrlEger will often serve to soften tn
leather and make gradual engagement
possible.
On the other hand, when the facing o
the cone clutch becomes too heavily oil
soaked, II tends to slip and the result l
heavy loss OF power. The cure in TIL
case is simply to sprinkle a light laye
Of fuller's earth over the surface. AM
this serves to soak up the excess oil
Incidentally. when treating the facing o
the clutch the fiywheel surface SHOULD
also be cleaned of
fabrication OF the clutch 10 one OF tn
most iml ortant things to be remem
bered. The bearings at the throwou
collar and the thrust bearing on tn
shaft must be given plenty of prope
lubricant. Generally oil or grease cup
are provided for this purpose. and thes
must be filled or turned down at regu
lar intervals; one neglect may caus
serious trouble.
All tho suggestions made for carin
FOR cone clutches apply equally to dis
and plate clutches, except, OF course
lose for caring for the leather Cacinf
The springs must be kept UP TO tn
mark, the bearings must be regularl
!ubrcated. In the case of disc clutche