How to maintain clutch spring?

Clutch springs are a kind of motorcycles parts can be found in use on most motorcycle clutch assemblies. Five or more clutch springs are used per motorcycle clutch assembly. Stiffer springs are typical of higher output engines. Softer springs beget, a lighter clutch lever pull effort. When maintaining your clutch, it is important to check the free length of clutch springs. If clutch springs are out of specification, they can cause clutch to slip which will result in premature failure of other clutch components.

l How many types does clutch spring have?

l What are the functions of clutch spring?

l How to maintain clutch spring?

How many types does clutch spring have?

Coil clutch springs: are compression springs which may be used in different types of clutches. Some are used in clutch dampers to control vibrations and sound. The coil clutch springs are compressed by the radial vibrations of a drifting engine. Coil clutch springs will be compressed to solid height when the main damper springs take over. Coil clutch springs are also used for vehicular clutches, being installed in between the diaphragm springs and make the clutch engage and release in the course of changing gears.

To adjust the force of a coil clutch spring, there are several options. For more force, you may increase the wire diameter, decrease the outer diameter, take some coils out, or add more free length to generate more force through more travel. On the other hand, for less force, you may decrease the wire diameter, increase the outer diameter, add coils, or shorten the free length although shortening the free length is not recommended in these cases. Because stock coil clutch springs have already been at a length where it is pre-loaded at a minimal distance traveled.

Tension clutch springs: are extension springs with hooks coming off the spring’s ends. Tension clutch springs are used in centrifugal clutches where the engine’s speed dictates the position of the clutch’s position. Centrifugal force is used to automatically engage the clutch when the rpm’s get too high, and to disengage when they get too low. The clutch has legs which are held inwards by these tension clutch springs until the centrifugal force exceeds that of the tension clutch springs, thus making the legs driving the output.

To adjust the force of a tension clutch spring, there are several options. For more force, you may increase the wire diameter, decrease the outer diameter, take some coils out, or decrease the hook lengths to generate more force through more travel. While for less force, you may decrease the wire diameter, increase the outer diameter, add coils, or make the hook lengths longer although elongating the hook length is not recommended in these cases. Because tension clutch springs have already been at a length where it is pre-loaded at a minimal distance traveled.

What are the functions of clutch spring?

The function of these short coil springs is to continuously hold the friction and driven plates together through spring tension, preventing slippage except when the clutch lever is engaged.

There are four clutch springs on the clutch friction plate which are attached to the clutch torsion damper, playing a role in easing the impact. We know that the power of a car comes from the engine, and the power of the engine is emitted intermittently with the work of each cylinder. This kind of intermittent power will produce torsional impact on the parts of the automobile drive train, and cause vibration and noise. In order to reduce this impact, the designer built a torsion damper on the clutch friction plate with clutch springs, which reduces this impact through the action of the clutch spring. The clutch spring itself works as the compression spring and the separating rod, which reduces the number of parts and weight. The clutch spring has good non-linear characteristics. Proper design can make the friction plate wear to the limit. The compression force can still be maintained and reduce the pedal force when the clutch is released, making the operation easy.

How to maintain clutch spring?

The performance of the clutch spring will be weakened after long-term use. Therefore, the maintenance of the clutch spring is an important matter. So how to maintain the clutch spring?

The clutch spring is subjected to static pressure most of the time. When it is used for too long, plastic deformation will occur that the free length will be shortened and the elastic force will be weakened. After the elasticity of the clutch spring is weakened, the torque that can be transmitted by the clutch will be reduced, thus the power of the engine will not be fully utilized, causing the locomotive not to work well. When the elastic force of the clutch spring is found to be weakened, it can be adjusted by adding a gasket of appropriate thickness in the pit of the part contacting the spring. When adding gaskets, pay attention to that the free length of each spring on the same clutch assembly should be the same, including gasket thickness. If the clutch spring cannot recover the original elastic force after adding the gasket, a new set of clutch springs should be replaced.

Under normal circumstances, when the clutch spring is used for 2500～3000h, 1～2 mm thick gasket should be added to adjust the pressure. After 5000h, all clutch springs should be replaced at the same time.

Learn more something about clutch spring can know the functions of clutch spring and how to maintain clutch spring. If you want to buy high-quality clutch spring or CNC machining parts with reasonable price, Holy Precision Manufacturing Co., Limited can help you to open up a further and larger market, it is wise to choose us as your business partner. We provide different types of clutch springs or even custom clutch springs by contacting us online.