WHAT IS A CLUTCH?
The clutch is a coupling that sits between the engine and gearbox. Its purpose is to connect and disconnect the engine’s torque to the gearbox and driving wheels.
WHY IS IT CALLED A CLUTCH?
To clutch something is to grasp something tightly – grab hold of it.
A good way to look at it is that a clutch is a way of grabbing hold of the torque of the engine (and letting go of it as well).
WHAT’S THE PRINCIPLE?
A clutch is just like a vice. You have two sides to the vice that are designed to clamp down onto something, in this case a clutch plate. When the vice is tightened the disc is held, when the vice is loosened, the clutch plate is not held.
