What is the Function of the Clutch Pressure Plate?
When you use your UTV extensively for Powersports and racing, it becomes necessary to undertake regular maintenance and repairs to keep it performing in peak condition. To do that yourself or even to get the work done by an experienced mechanic, you must have a reasonable understanding of the different parts of the UTV. One important part that is essential for the UTV’s transmission and that you should know about is the clutch pressure plate.
UTVs may have automatic and manual clutch systems. The clutch pressure plates are a part of the manual clutch system and can handle a lot of horsepowers.
What is the clutch pressure plate?
Clutch pressure plates are the mechanical part of the UTV that can transfer power or torque from the UTV engine to the transmission input shaft via the clutch disc. They are round in shape, metallic, and have springs and levers inside that are controllable with a release fork that connects to the shifter. A clutch pressure plate bolts to the engine flywheel and lies on top of a stack of clutch plates.
The compression and expansion of its inner springs and the corresponding actions of the levers cause the clutch pressure plate to put or remove pressure from the clutch plates. If the clutch pressure plate does not work, the entire clutch system will fail.
What is the function of the clutch pressure place?
The main function of the clutch pressure plate is to allow and disallow the flow of power from the UTV’s engine to its transmission.
To understand how this happens, it will help to learn about the clutch plates. In a manual transmission, there is a stack of fiber and steel clutch plates, and these are between the clutch pressure plate and the engine’s flywheel. The fiber plates are known as friction clutch plates, and the metal plates are known as drive clutch plates. They are in alternating order, with the metal drive plates being between the fiber friction plates.
The engine’s crankshaft connects to a drive gear that is part of the outer clutch basket. The steel friction clutch plates connect to the outer basket. The fiber drive clutch plates connect to the inner basket that connects to the transmission.
Every time you shift to the gear you want and release the clutch pedal, the clutch pressure plate’s levers release, and the inner springs expand. They push the clutch pressure plate back against the clutch plates. That causes the friction plates and the drive plates to bind and lock together, and the locked clutch plates push against the flywheel.
When the crankshaft rotates, it causes the clutch basket to turn too, and the locked clutch plates rotate the inner basket. The outer friction plate causes the locked clutch plates to rotate at the same speed as the spinning flywheel. That spins the transmission input shaft and moves the gearbox, chain, and rear wheels.
When you step on the clutch pedal and engage the lever, the action compresses the inner springs inside the clutch pressure plate. That causes the clutch pressure plate to lift away from the clutch plates. It also causes the friction plates and the drive plates to disengage, move apart, and begin spinning independently. The outer basket continues to rotate, but the inner basket stops rotating. That, in turn, stops the flow of power from the engine to the transmission and the rear wheels.
How can you improve the UTV performance with the clutch pressure plate?
If you make modifications to your UTV, such as adding bigger tires to increase the size of your vehicle, it is essential to make adjustments to the clutch system so that it can handle the extra weight and continue to perform as required.
You can improve UTV performances and clutch efficiency by installing strong clutch pressure plates that do not add extra weight to the clutch system. The right clutch pressure plate can fortify your clutch, allow for better air circulation, and extend the life of the drive belt by reducing the generated heat and keeping the belt temperatures down. That, in turn, can help the transmission to work more efficiently and will improve the performance of your UTV.