When the clutch is released, pedal 1 rotates on axis 20 and with its upper arm pulls the cable behind it by earring 2, which through lever 12 rotates the clutch release fork. The fork moves the coupling with the release bearing along the guide sleeve. Initially, the gap between the clutch release bearing and the petals of the pressure spring is selected, this is where the free travel of the clutch pedal ends (clutch release fork lever). During the working stroke of the pedal, the clutch release bearing acts on the petals of the pressure spring, bending it on the support rings 14 (see figure 57). The outer edge of the spring stops pressing on the pressure plate and the driven plate moves away from the flywheel surface, i.e. the transmission of torque to the gearbox stops. At the same time, when the clutch is disengaged, the servo mechanism is triggered, reducing the force applied to the pedal. This occurs because when the pedal is pressed, the force from the lever is transmitted to the pusher 26 (see figure 58) and a thrust washer 25. When they are moved, the spring 24 contracts and the shoulder "H₁" decreases, which means that the moment holding the pedal in its original position decreases. When the connection point with the servo lever passes through the "dead" point, the shoulder "H₂" occurs, which means that the moment creates additional force on the pedal. This torque will increase as you move the pedal further to a certain value.
When the clutch pedal is released, under the action of the compressed spring 24 the pedal returns to its original position, and the release spring of the lever 12 returns the fork and the sleeve with the clutch release bearing to its original position. The pressure spring 12 (see figure 56), taking its original shape, moves the pressure plate towards the flywheel 7 and the driven disk is clamped between the surfaces of the flywheel and the pressure plate.
In a clutch with a backlash-free drive, in the initial position of the pedal, the clutch release bearing rests against the petals of the pressure spring, which leads to their joint rotation. The force of the bearing compression does not cause the pressure spring to deflect on the support rings and the clutch discs remain closed. When the clutch is released, the pedal's working stroke begins immediately, as a result of which the value of the full pedal stroke decreases. The full stroke should be 125... 130 mm and should not exceed 160 mm, after which it should be adjusted with nuts 6 and 7 (see figure 58).
The clutch release bearing with a gapless drive is installed with a small radial clearance on the coupling, which allows it to "float", i.e. self-install. This increases the durability of the contacting pair: the bearing and the pressure spring.
Despite the constant pressure of the bearing against the petals of the pressure spring, its operability is maintained for the entire mileage until major repairs. This is ensured by improved bearing sealing and the absence of dynamic loads on it when disengaging the clutch. The latter is typical for drives with a gap between the bearing and the petals of the pressure spring, when at the moment of disengaging the clutch the bearing takes on sharply increasing loads.