DICTIONARY OF AUTOMOTIVE TERMS - "Cl"


CL:
Acronym for "Comfort Luxe" as a designation for a vehicle which is more luxurious than an "L" but not quite as luxurious as a "GL"
Cladding:
  1. A process of covering one material with another and gluing them together under high pressure and temperature.
  2. The outer body panels which are attached to the vehicle's frame.
  3. Excessive decorative elements applied to a vehicle.
Claire:
See:
Wills Sainte Claire
Clamp:
A fastening device which secures something within its jaws without constant human pressure.
Also See:
bar clamp
battery clamp
battery hold down clamp
C-clamp
cable clamp
distributor clamp
distributor hold-down clamp
G-clamp
hold-down clamp
hose clamp
hose clamp installer
hose clamp pliers
hose clamps
locking bar clamp
locking clamp
long-reach C-clamp
piston ring clamp
sheet metal clamp
triple clamp
v-band clamp
welding clamp
wheel clamp
Clamping load:
In a clutch, the amount of pressure on the plates.
Clamp installer:
See:
hose clamp installer
Clamp pliers:
See:
hose clamp pliers
Clamshell:
A shape which has a bottom and top but is hinged at one end so that it can be opened to expose its interior.
Clapboard:
A narrow board which is thicker at one edge than the other edge and used to protect from the weather.
Clark:
Clark, Jim -- Winner of 3 Formula One Championships, 25 Grand Prix races and of the 1965 Indianapolis 500
Class 1 driver's license:
class1

Semi-trailer truck

In Canada, a driver's license which permits driving semi-trailer trucks and all other motor vehicles or combinations of vehicles except motorcycles

Class 2 driver's license:
class 2

Class 2

In Canada, a driver's license which permits driving the following:
  1. Buses, including school buses, special activity buses and special vehicles
  2. Trailers or towed vehicles that do not exceed 4,600 kilograms except if the bus and trailers or towed vehicles do not have air brakes
  3. Any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles in Class 4

Class 3 driver's license:
class 3

Class 3

In Canada, a driver's license which permits operating the following:
  1. Trucks with more than two axles, such as dump trucks and large tow trucks, but not including a bus that is being used to transport passengers
  2. Trailers that do not exceed 4,600 kilograms except if the truck and trailers do not have air brakes
  3. A tow car towing a vehicle of any weight
  4. A mobile truck crane
  5. Any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles in Class 5
Class 4 driver's license:
class 4

Class 4

In Canada, there are two types of Class 4 driver's license: unrestricted and restricted The unrestricted Class 4 allows driving the following:
  1. Buses with a maximum seating capacity of 25 persons (including the driver), including school buses, special activity buses and special vehicles used to transport people with disabilities
  2. Taxis and limousines
  3. Ambulances
  4. Any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles in Class 5
class 4

Class 4

The restricsted Class 4 allows driving the following:
  1. Taxis and limousines (up to 10 persons including the driver)
  2. Ambulances
  3. Special vehicles with a seating capacity of not more than 10 persons (including the driver) used to transport people with disabilities
  4. Any motor vehicle or combination of vehicles in Class 5
Class 5 driver's license:
class 5

Class 5

In Canada, a driver's license which permits operating the following:
  1. Two axle vehicles including cars, vans, trucks and tow trucks
  2. Trailers or towed vehicles may not exceed 4,600 kilograms
  3. Motor homes (including those with more than two axles)
  4. Limited speed motorcycles or moped (in some provinces, a Class 8 is required to operate these) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
  5. Passenger vehicles used as school buses with seating capacity of not more than 10 persons (including the driver)
  6. Construction vehicles
  7. Three-wheeled vehicles - does not include three-wheeled motorcycles (trikes) or motorcycle/sidecar combinations
  8. Does not include Class 4 vehicles or motorcycles
Class 6 driver's license:
class 6

Class 6

In Canada, a driver's license which permits operating the following:
  1. Motorcycles, all-terrain cycles, allterrain vehicles (ATVs)

Class 7 driver's license:
class 5

Class 7

In Canada, a learner's driver's license which permits operating the following:
  1. Two axle vehicles including cars, vans, trucks and tow trucks
  2. Trailers or towed vehicles may not exceed 4,600 kilograms
  3. Motor homes (including those with more than two axles)
  4. Limited speed motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
  5. Passenger vehicles used as school buses with seating capacity of not more than 10 persons (including the driver)
  6. Construction vehicles
  7. Three-wheeled vehicles - does not include three-wheeled motorcycles (trikes) or motorcycle/sidecar combinations
  8. Does not include Class 4 vehicles or motorcycles
Class 8 driver's license:
moped

Moped

In some provinces of Canada, a driver's license which permits operating a moped or limited speed motorcycles

Class 9 driver's license:
class 9

Class 9

In some provinces of Canada, a driver's license which permits operating a farm tractor

Class A driver's license:
class 1

Class 1

  1. In some provinces of Canada, a driver's license which permits operating:
    1. Any tractor-trailer or combination of motor vehicle and towed vehicles where the towed vehicles exceed a total gross weight of 4,600 kilograms
    2. Any motor vehicle pulling double trailers
    3. Any motor vehicle pulling a trailer with air-brakes
    4. Any car, van or small truck or combination of vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg.
  2. A class A with restrictions prevents operating:
    1. a motor vehicle pulling double trailers
    2. a motor vehicle pulling a trailer with air-brakes

Class B driver's license:
class B

Class B

In some provinces of Canada, a driver's license which permits operating the following:
  1. Any school purposes bus with designed seating capacity for more than 24 passengers
  2. Any regular bus with designed seating capacity for more than 24 passengers
  3. Any truck or motor vehicle combination exceeding 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg
  4. School purposes bus - maximum of 24 passenger capacity
  5. Regular bus maximum of 24 passenger capacity and ambulances
  6. Any car, van or small truck or combination of vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg.

Class C driver's license:
class C

Class C

In some provinces of Canada, a driver's license which permits operating the following:
  1. Any regular bus with designed seating capacity for more than 24 passengers
  2. Regular bus maximum of 24 passenger capacity and ambulances
  3. Any car, van or small truck or combination of vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg.

Class D driver's license:
class D

Class D

In some provinces of Canada, a driver's license which permits operating the following:
  1. Any truck or motor vehicle combination exceeding 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg
  2. Any car, van or small truck or combination of vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg.

Class E driver's license:
class E

Class E

In some provinces of Canada, a driver's license which permits operating the following:
  1. School purposes bus - maximum of 24 passenger capacity
  2. Regular bus maximum of 24 passenger capacity and ambulances
  3. Any car, van or small truck or combination of vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg.

Class F driver's license:
class F

Class F

In some provinces of Canada, a driver's license which permits operating the following:
  1. Regular bus maximum of 24 passenger capacity and ambulances
  2. Any car, van or small truck or combination of vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg.

Class G driver's license:
class G

Class G

In some provinces of Canada, a driver's license which permits operating any car, van or small truck or combination of vehicle and towed vehicle up to 11,000 kg provided the towed vehicle is not over 4,600 kg.

Class M driver's license:
class M

Class M

In some provinces of Canada, a driver's license which permits operating one or more of the following:
  1. Motorcycles
  2. limited-speed motorcycle (motor scooter)
  3. motor-assisted bicycle (moped)

Class A RV:

Class A RV The Class A is the largest and usually most luxurious motorhome. They are frequently constructed on custom undercarriages or on a 3-10 ton truck chassis. Many also feature an automatic slideout so that at the touch of a button, a portion of the RV exterior wall can extend outward to expand living space. Most models offer complete self-containment, with on-board generator, large water and holding tanks, big batteries and a generous propane supply. They usually provide cooking facilities, a refrigerator, heating, air conditioning, a self-contained toilet, water tanks (fresh water, grey water, black water), faucets, sinks, a LP (propane) gas supply, a separate 100-125 volt electrical system, and a full array of appliances and entertainment features. They are especially good for "dry" camping (without hookups), even for extended periods. They can sleep up to eight people, depending on the model and the floor plan. Prices range from $80,000 to above $700,000 for high end rear diesel models.


Class A thread:
A British term for external thread.
Class B RV:

Class B RV A small motorhome usually called a van conversion or camping van conversion. The basic Class B RV is built on an ordinary van chassis which retains the original dimensions of the van but features a raised roof (usually fiberglass) in order to allow full standing headroom. They also include a small galley (cooking facility, refrigerator, heater, fresh water tank, waste water tank, faucet, sink), a LP (propane) gas supply, 110 Volt AC and 12 Volt DC electrical outlets, and portable toilet. They can sleep from two to four people.


Class B thread:
A British term for internal thread.
Class C RV:

Class C RV A recreational vehicle (also called a mini-motorhome) built on a van chassis that has been cut just behind the cab (the driver's section) so that a camping unit can be attached to the rear. Generally these units are easier to drive than a Class A motorhome. They are generally constructed on a larger van chassis. The driver compartment is similar to a van, with a large box in the back. Class C motorhomes usually come with a sleeping bunk above the cab, in addition to a bedroom in the rear of the unit. Like their Class A big brothers, many Class C units feature a slideout to quickly extend the motorhome's living space. Class C units usually provide cooking facilities, a refrigerator, heating, air conditioning, a self-contained toilet, water tanks (fresh water, grey water, black water), faucets, sinks, a LP (propane) gas supply, a separate 100-125 volt electrical system, and a full array of appliances and entertainment features. Class C motorhomes can sleep up to ten people depending on the model and the floor plan.


Classic car:
A vehicle that is generally considered to be one of the finest models ever built. Unlike antique cars, classic cars do not have to be extremely old. Mustangs and VW bugs built in the late 1960s are considered to be classics by many people; however, they are really milestone cars. Classic cars are defined by the Classic Car Club of America and are considered to be certain models during the years 1925-1948. They include the following built during those years: The items marked with an asterisk (*) indicate that these models require application to be a classic car.
Classic Car Club of America:
P.O. Box 443, Madison, NJ 07940. Organization which defines which cars are true classics.
Classification:
See:
American Industrial Classification
Classification society:
Independent and reputable organizations which verifies and inspects vessels for seaworthiness. As technical experts, they serve to provide the necessary basis for adjusting insurance rates for the vessel.
Classification System:
See:
North American Industrial Classification System
Claw hammer:

Claw Hammer A hammer with a forked end on the head which is used for removing nails.

Claxton horn:
A horn which makes a particular sound "Ah-oo-gah."
Also See:
horn
Clay model:
When the design department is creating a new model, it will be built in clay to full size to determine its looks etc.
Clean:
See:
steam clean
Cleaner:
A product to purify or remove unwanted substances.
Also See:
abrasive cleaner
air cleaner horn
air cleaner
air filter
bath air cleaner
low-profile air cleaner
oil bath air cleaner
paper air cleaner
piston ring groove cleaner
thermostatic air cleaner
Cleaner element:
See:
air cleaner element
Cleaner horn:
See:
air cleaner horn
Cleaning:
See:
blast cleaning
self-cleaning
Cleaning unit:
See:
spray gun nozzle cleaning unit
Clean oil:
Fresh oil that has not been used in a vehicle before.
Clean oil lubrication:
A lubrication system where fresh oil is supplied to the engine as needed -- such as in a two-stroke engine.
Clean shot:
Trucker slang for "No highway patrol around" as in "Large Car you got a clean shot all the way to the state line."
Clearance:
A given amount of space between two parts such as between piston and cylinder, bearing and journal , etc.
Also See:
bearing clearance
front wheel tire clearance
ground clearance control
ground clearance
lateral clearance
lateral tire clearance
longitudinal tire clearance
pedal clearance
piston clearance
piston ring side clearance
radial clearance
ring side clearance
tire clearance
valve clearance
vertical tire clearance
Clearance control:
See:
ground clearance control
Clearance depression:
See:
valve clearance depression
Clearance fit:
Parts that are assembled so that there is clearance between them so that one part can slide in or on the other. Also called "sliding fit"
Clearance height:
  1. The distance between the ground and the lowest portion of the bottom of a vehicle (not counting the wheels). Also called ground clearance.
  2. The distance between the top of a vehicle and the bottom of a bridge or tunnel which determines whether the vehicle can pass under it.
Clearance lamp:
A light which is mounted on the extreme edges of the roof of a truck to show the maximum height and width of a vehicle. Also called "marker lamp."
Clearance pocket compressor:
Small space in a cylinder from which compressed gas is not completely expelled. This space is called the compressor clearance space or pocket. For effective operation, compressors are designed to have as small a clearance space as possible.
Clearance sensor:
See:
ground clearance sensor
Clearance volume:
The space above a piston when it is at the top dead center.
Clear coat:
A clear paint covering used on modern vehicle bodies. It is the top coat.
Clear flood mode:
A situation in which a carburetor or fuel injection system increases the amount of air or reduces the amount of fuel when necessary to correct a problem of flooding.
Clear system:
See:
base and clear system
Clearwater stern:
A stern with a "shoeless" stern frame
Cleat:
  1. An attaching bracket
  2. Clips at intervals on the horizontal stiffeners of hatch coamings to secure the hatch covers
CLEPA:
Acronym for "Comité de Liaison de la Construction d'Equipements et de Pièces d'Automobiles" (i.e., European Association of Automotive Suppliers).
Clevis:
A U-shaped metal piece with holes in each end through which a pin or bolt is run, used for attaching the brake pedal to the power brake booster pushrod, the clutch pedal to the clutch cable or master cylinder pushrod and for various other connections on an automobile.Clevises are sometimes used in other parts of the brake system, like attaching the parking brake cable to the parking brake lever at the rear brakes
Clevis pin:

Clevis Pin A cylinder with a head at one end and a hole at the other. When the clevis pin is inserted into a hole, the head prevents it from going all the way through. A cotter pin or hitch pin clip is inserted in the other end of the clevis pin to keep it secure.

Click:
  1. The action of inserting a bicycle shoe's bracket into the receiving part of a click-in pedal (formerly known as a clipless pedal).
  2. A colloquial term for a kilometer
Click-in pedals:

Click-in Pedals A term for road bike pedals that use a releasable mechanism like that of a ski binding to lock onto cleated shoes and do not use toe clips or straps. Replaces the term clipless pedals. Some brands are: SPD, Look, Time, and Speedplay.

Click-type torque wrench:
A torque wrench which gives out an audible click when the preset torque is reached.
Climate change:
The international concern that increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere are changing the climate in ways detrimental to our social and economic well-being.
Climate control:
  1. A lever or button which you can move to change the temperature in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. It controls the heater, vent, and/or air conditioner.
  2. A space in which an ideal climate is maintained by some devices.
Climatic chamber:
A test area into which an automobile can be placed to see if it will meet the extremes of temperature and humidity.
Climbing ability:
While some vehicles may have a high top end speed on a road with no incline, the real test of a vehicle in mountainous terrain is its ability to go up a hill at an adequate speed (i.e., its climbing ability).
Clincher:
A tire whose edges hook under the curved-in hooked edge of a special rim, not commonly found anymore on bicycles and often confused with the common wired-on tire.
Clincher rims:
Type of wheel rim used with early beaded-edge tires
Clincher tire:
A tire whose edges hook under the curved-in hooked edge of a special rim, not commonly found anymore on bicycles and often confused with the common wired-on tire.
Clinometer:
An instrument which measures the steepness of a hill.
Clip:
  1. To move at a fast pace
  2. A securing fastener
    Also See:
    alligator clip
    crocodile clip
    hose clip
    hose clip installer
    hose clip pliers
    jubilee clip
    rebound clip
    spring clip
Clip installer:
See:
hose clip installer
Clipless pedal:
See:
clipless pedals.
Clipless pedals:

Clipless Pedals An obsolete term for road bike pedals that use a releasable mechanism like that of a ski binding to lock onto cleated shoes and do not use toe clips or straps. Preferred term is click-in pedals. Some brands are: SPD, Look, Time, and Speedplay.

Clip-on engine:
An engine that is attached to a conventional bicycle frame
Clip-ons:
  1. Low racing handlebars for a motorcycle that clamp directly onto the fork legs
  2. Handlebars that attach directly to the fork tubes, rather than to the top yoke, that hold the fork tubes together
Clip-on weight:
A wheel weight that is clipped on the rim between the rim and the tire. It is used to balance a wheel.
Clip pliers:
See:
hose clip pliers
Clock:
  1. An instrument showing the time.
  2. An odometer as in the statement I want to buy this car, but it has too many miles on the clock.
  3. To record the speed or time that vehicle makes.
  4. To turn the odometer back (an illegal practice)
Clocking:
  1. The action of recording the speed of a vehicle.
  2. In Britain, it is the action of turning the odometer back.
C/locking:
Abbreviation for "central locking."
Clockwise:
Rotation to the right like the direction of clock hands. In most cases it is the direction to secure a nut to a bolt. It is the opposite to counterclockwise.
Clog:
To obstruct a passageway or track so that the normal flow or operation of something is hindered.
Close call:
In driving it is the near possibility of an accident.
Closed circuit:
Electrical circuit in which electrons are flowing.
Close coils:
The coils or loops of a spring which are tightly together.
Close coupled sedan:
See:
close-coupled sedan.
Close-coupled sedan:
Similar to the sedan, this body style is shorter and thus usually accommodates only five passengers. The rear quarter windows were eliminated.
Closed container:
Container sealed by means of a lid or other device so that neither liquid nor vapor will escape from it at ordinary temperatures.
Closed cooling system:
See:
coolant recovery system.
Closed crankcase ventilation:
A system in which crankcase vapors are discharged into the engine intake system (usually through the intake manifold) and pass through the engine cylinders rather than being discharged into the atmosphere.
Closed-end connector:
Solderless connector shaped like a hat. Used to join two, three, or more wires together. Similar to wire connectors used in home wiring, but installed by crimping instead of twisting
Closed end lease:
Most leases offered today are close-end leases, meaning that the residual value is fixed and stated in the lease contract. The lessee's financial obligations are unaffected by what the vehicle is actually worth when the lease ends. In other words, the lessee assumes no risk for the depreciation of the vehicle.
Closed loop:
  1. An operating condition or mode which enables modification of programmed instructions based on a feedback system
  2. A condition, after the appropriate sensors have indicated that predetermined conditions have been met, where the computer actively controls the fuel system and other functions based on exhaust gas conditions and other parameters.
Closed loop system:
  1. A self-adjusting system which keeps conditions stable and is controlled by negative feedback from a sensor.
  2. A computer controlled system which monitors the exhaust gas with a sensor and adjusts the fuel delivery, and may or may not adjust spark timing, transmission, and other devices to meet emission and driveability criteria
Closed system:
An anti-lock brake system with some means, generally a pump, to restore hydraulic pressure that's bled off during an ABS stop
Closed type check valve:
A valve which allows fluid flow in only one direction.
Also See:
check valve
open type check valve
residual pressure valve
residual brake pressure type check valve
two-way type check valve
Close-ratio gearbox:
A transmission in which there is very little difference between one gear ratio and the next. This kind of transmission makes it easy for fast shifting.
Closes:
See:
exhaust valve closes
intake valve closes
Closing:
See:
power closing
Closing cam:
A cam or rocker which closes a valve in a mechanically operated valve system. Other types close the valve through the operation of the valve spring. Also called "closing rocker."
Closing force:
The force needed for the spring to close a valve.
Closing panel:
A panel which covers a hole in the body, interior panels, or frame.
Closing rocker:
A cam or rocker which closes a valve in a mechanically operated valve system. Other types close the valve through the operation of the valve spring. Also called "closing cam."
Closing system:
See:
automatic closing system
Closure:
See:
road closure
Cloth:
See:
emery cloth
tack cloth
Cloth upholstery:
The fabric of the seats made of cloth rather than leather or vinyl.
Cloud point:
The temperature at which diesel oil tends to thicken and cloud up (i.e., become cloudy).
Cloverleaf:
A highway overpass system which has four basic loops for getting on the highway or leaving it.
Club:

Club A security device which surrounds the steering wheel making it difficult for a thief to operate the steering wheel.
Also See:
automobile club
Royal Automobile Club

Club Cab:

Club Cab A type of pickup truck (by Dodge) which has a second row of seating; but unlike a crew cab (which has four full size doors) it has a "half-door" that can be opened only after the main door is opened. The seating is usually a little more cramped than in a crew cab. Also called Extended Cab, King Cab, XtraCab, Access Cab, SuperCab, or Cab Plus.

Club coupe:

Club Coupe The club coupe designation seems to come from club car, describing the lounge (or parlor car) in a railroad train. The early postwar club coupe combined a shorter-than-sedan body structure with the convenience of a full back seat, unlike the single-seat business coupe. That name has been used less frequently in the 1976-86 period, as most notchback two-door models (with trunk rather than hatch) have been referred to as just "coupes." Moreover, the distinction between two-door coupes and two-door sedans has grown fuzzy.
Also See:
two-door club coupe

Club hammer:
A hammer with a short handle but a large, heavy head. It is used to hit the back end of a chisel or drift.
Clunker:
A vehicle which might run but is rusty and in need of a lot of repair work.
Cluster:
See:
analog cluster
analogue cluster
electronic cluster
footpedal cluster
instrument cluster
lamp cluster
rear lamp cluster
seat cluster
Cluster gear:
The cluster of gears that are all cut on one long gear blank. The cluster gears ride in the bottom of the transmission. The cluster provides a connection between the transmission input shaft and the output shaft. Also called "counter gear."
Cluster panel:
The reverse side of the instrument panel or dash where all the wiring or circuit board is located.
Clutch:
Coil spring clutch
  1. An electrically operated coupling device that connects or disconnects the compressor pulley and compressor shaft
  2. A device that disconnects the engine from the transmission, to allow the vehicle to change gears, and then allows the engine and transmission to resume contact and turn together at a new speed.

Also See:
center the clutch
centrifugal clutch
clutch diaphragm spring
clutch disc
clutch explosion
clutch housing
clutch lever
clutch pedal free travel
clutch pedal
clutch pilot bearing
clutch pressure plate
clutch release bearing
clutch semi-centrifugal release fingers
clutch shaft
clutch solenoid
clutch throwout fork
coil spring clutch
cone clutch
diaphragm spring clutch
diaphragm clutch
disengage the clutch
dog clutch
double clutch
double clutching
dry clutch
electromagnetic clutch
fan clutch
fluid clutch
freewheeling
friction clutch
heavy clutch
hydraulically-activated clutch
hydraulically-assisted clutch
hydrodynamic clutch
light clutch
lock-up clutch
magnetic clutch
multi-plate clutch
multiple-plate clutch
multiple disc clutch
oil-immersed clutch
one-way clutch
one way clutch
overrunning clutch starter drive
overrunning clutch starter
overrunning clutch
positive clutch
pull-type clutch
push-type clutch
reactor one-way clutch
reverse clutch
riding the clutch
roller clutch
self-operating clutch
single-plate clutch
slip the clutch
sprag clutch
stator roller clutch
sticky clutch
torque converter lock-up clutch
twin-plate clutch
wet clutch
Clutch aligning set:
A group of tools used to align the clutch plates with the flywheel. Usually there is a shaft, pilot bearing adapters, and tapered universal sleeves
Clutch aligning tool:
A tool which looks like a bar or a disc which can be used to line up the clutch plates with the flywheel.
Clutch antirattle spring clip:
Antirattle spring clip A specially shaped wire that prevents the clutch plate and spring from making noise when no pressure is applied to the plate.
Clutch brake:
A device for slowing down the clutch discs (and thus the gears themselves) so that shifting is smoother and quieter.
Clutch cable:
A cable (usually a cluster of thin strands within a plastic sheath) which operates the movement of the clutch plates. At the other end is a pedal (in automobiles) or a handlebar lever (left side).
Clutch cover:
A metal cover which encases the clutch plates.
Clutch cycling switch:
A device that turns the compressor on and off in response to changes in pressure or evaporator temp
Clutch diaphragm spring:
clutch diaphragm spring A round dish-shaped piece of flat spring steel. It is used to force the pressure plate against the clutch disc in some clutches.
Clutch disc:
clutch disc A spinning plate located at the end of the driveshaft facing the engine flywheel and covered with a friction material such as asbestos. When the clutch is engaged, the disc is squeezed between the flywheel and the clutch pressure plate, causing the engine and the transmission to turn at the same speed. British term is called "clutch plate."
Clutch drag:
When the clutch discs do not disengage completely after the clutch pedal is depressed or the clutch lever is pulled in, there is excessive friction so that it is difficult to shift gears because both the driven discs and the input shaft are both rotating.
Clutch explosion:
clutches have literally flown apart (exploded) when subjected to high rpm, a scatter shield is used on competition cars to protect the driver and spectators from flying parts in the event the clutch explodes.
Clutch facing:
The asbestos-type lining on a clutch plate.
Clutch field:
A clutch part on an air condition compressor, consisting of hundreds of windings of wire, that creates a magnetic field when current is applied, pulling in the armature to engage the clutch
Clutch fork:
When the clutch pedal (or lever) is depressed, it pulls on a cable which moves the clutch fork which in turn pushes on the release bearing and disengages the clutch discs. Also called clutch release fork.
Clutch housing:
A cast iron or aluminum housing that surrounds the flywheel and clutch mechanism. Also called "bell housing."
Clutching:
See:
double clutching< /dd>
Clutch interlock switch:
A switch that prevents the vehicle from starting unless the clutch pedal/lever is pressed.
Clutch judder:
A British term for "clutch shudder."
Clutch lever:
A hand-operated blade located on the left side of the handlebar of a motorcycle. When the clutch lever is pulled in, it disengages the clutch so the engine and the crankshaft can turn independently of the transmission and the rider can change gears.
Also See:
clutch release finger
Clutch lining:
The friction material on the face of the clutch discs.
Clutch, magnetic:
Clutch built into automobile compressor flywheel. operated magnetically. which allows pulley to revolve without driving compressor when refrigerating effect is not required.
Clutch pedal:
A foot-operated pedal located on the floor of the vehicle to the left of the brake pedal on cars with manual transmission. When the clutch pedal is depressed, it disengages the clutch so the engine and the crankshaft can turn independently of the transmission and the driver can change gears.
Clutch pedal free travel:
The specified distance that the clutch pedal may be depressed before the throwout bearing actually contacts the clutch release fingers.
Clutch pilot bearing:
A small bronze bushing, or in some cases a ball bearing, placed in the end of the crankshaft or in the center of the flywheel depending on the vehicle, that is used to support the outboard end of the transmission input shaft.
Clutch plate:
The clutch discs.
Clutch pressure plate:
Clutch Pressure Plate That part of a clutch assembly that through spring pressure, squeezes the clutch disc against the flywheel thereby transmitting a driving force through the assembly. To disengage the clutch, the pressure plate is drawn away from the flywheel via linkage.
Clutch pulley:
The clutch part turned by the drivebelt. The pulley or rotor "free-wheels" until the clutch is engaged. On rotors which contain the field, the electrical connection is made through brushes similar to alternator and starter motor brushes
Clutch release bearing:
See:
throwout bearing.
Clutch release finger:
A flat piece of metal shaped like a curved finger. Through the movement of the throwout fork, the throwout bearing pushes against the clutch release fingers or levers to release pressure against the pressure plate. Also called "clutch release lever."
Clutch release fork:
Clutch release fork A lever attached to the clutch throw-out bearing. When the fork presses the throw-out bearing against the center of the conical diaphragm spring, it pops inward, releasing the pressure plate from the flywheel and freeing the clutch disc so that the engine can turn without driving the transmission.
Clutch release lever:
See:
clutch release finger.
Clutch rotor:
The clutch part turned by the drivebelt. The pulley or rotor "free-wheels" until the clutch is engaged. On rotors which contain the field, the electrical connection is made through brushes similar to alternator and starter motor brushes
Clutch semi-centrifugal release finger:
See:
clutch semi-centrifugal release fingers.
Clutch semi-centrifugal release fingers:
Clutch release fingers that have a weight attached to them so that at high rpm the release fingers place additional pressure on the clutch pressure plate.
Clutch shaft:
The shaft that takes power from the clutch into the gearbox. Also called the "drive pinion."
Clutch shudder:
When the clutch tries to engage (when the pedal or lever is released), but the discs do not mate securely, the discs engage intermittently and slip past each other making a noise like a shudder. In Britain, it is called "clutch judder."
Clutch slip:
Clutch slip occurs when the clutch tries to engage (when the pedal or lever is released), but the discs do not mate securely.
Clutch solenoid:
In some automotive air conditioners, a solenoid that operates a clutch on the compressor drive pulley. When the clutch is engaged, the compressor is driven and cooling takes place.
Clutch spring:
The clutch cover will have several posts over which the clutch spring (shaped like a cylinder) fits and pushes the pressure discs against the driven clutch discs to transmit power.
Clutch starter:
See:
overrunning clutch starter
overrunning clutch starter drive
Clutch starter drive:
See:
overrunning clutch starter drive
Clutch starter interlock:
A device which disengages the starter once the engine has started.
Clutch stop:
A clutch brake
Clutch throw-out bearing:
Throw-out bearing A part of the clutch activated by the clutch pedal that allows the clutch to disengage. If you allow the vehicle to idle in gear with the clutch pedal depressed, instead of shifting to neutral gear, you can wear out the throwout bearing. The British term is "clutch release bearing."
Also See:
free pedal play
clutch throw-out bearing
Clutch throwout fork:
The device or fork that straddles the throwout bearing and that is used to force the throwout bearing against the clutch release fingers.
Clutch thrust bearing:
The clutch release bearing.
Cluttered engine compartment:
An engine compartment or bay in which all the available space around the engine is occupied by other objects (alternator, pumps, air intake system, battery, wiper motor, heater motor, windshield washer motor, starter, radiator, air conditioner, hoses, pipes, wiring, electronic boxes, etc.)



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