How Exactly Does The Verto Clutch Work
Turbo Mini Forums

I understand the basic theory of a clutch and have seen diagrams that made sense but for the life of me I can't quite figure out how this works.
As I understand it, the pressure plate and flywheel are all one assembly on the Verto sytle units.
So, my figuring:
Whole assembly mounts to the crankshaft via the keyed shaft. The clutch plate sits on the primary gear. The primary gear is free to spin on the crankshaft and is connected to the gearbox via the transfer gear.
When the clutch is depressed, the flywheel is left to spin but the clutch plate is no longer attached.
Does this mean that with the clutch depressed, the primary gear spins on the crank shaft?

When the clutch is released, the plate and flywheel are linked and the primary gear turns with the crankshaft.

So, my questions are:
Does the entire clutch assembly spin or just the flywheel?
Does leaving the clutch depressed for a long time potentially wear out the primary gear bush?
How's my understanding?

Seems so simple but I keep getting a bit confused in my reasoning.

The entire clutch assembly spins on all cars verto or otherwise. This includes the flywheel.

Pressing the pedal has no bearing on primary bush wear..

If the vehicle is stationary, when you depress the clutch the primary gear is disconnected from the drive and could potentially stop.
If the car is stationary and in gear with the clutch depressed, the primary gear will not turn.

When you release the clutch, it drives.

Edited by stevieturbo on 14th Feb, 2014.

9.85 @ 145mph
202mph standing mile
speed didn't kill me, but taxation probably will

Seahuston,

yes it seems you understand how the clutch works,

the entire assembly spins with the crank, apart from the primary and clutch plate when the clutch is depressed.

I would say leaving the clutch depressed can wear the primary gear bush, it shpuldnt be an issue thopugh unless the bush is a bit tight or lacking lubrication, or you have a large rpopm difference between the primary and crank (ie holding the clutch down in gear anr reving the throttle a lot)

yes joe, seen many primary gear bushes goosed out with that technique

Thanks for the help guys. Seemed like such a simp concept but I could quite get the fully visualization.

The clutch plate staying with the primary kind of threw me off but I go it know. The clutch plate is sandwhiched between the pressure and flywheel which both spin with the crank.

Roger that. Thanks!