flywheel question!

[cavemanno1]

In my flywheel there are 6 little bearings that roll up and down as I move the flywheel around.They are located between the springs.My mechanic said he has never seen one before like that.Is it normal or they should be seated firmly?What purpose do they serve?

Thanks,

[XH29N0G]

Isn't that a pressure plate for the clutch?  I would think those bearings are related having those fingers move when the clutch is depressed so the pressure plate pulls back from the flywheel.

I just looked on the web, are things like on the site what you are looking at?  http://constructionmanuals.tpub.com/14273/css/Coil-spring-pressure-plate-137.htm

[John_Kunkel]

Those are called "centrifugal assist rollers"; as the RPM increases the rollers are thrown outward by centrifugal force and wedge themselves between the pressure plate and the cover...this increases the clutch's holding grip as the rpm/power increases.

[cavemanno1]

Isn't that a pressure plate for the clutch?  I would think those bearings are related having those fingers move when the clutch is depressed so the pressure plate pulls back from the flywheel.

I just looked on the web, are things like on the site what you are looking at?  http://constructionmanuals.tpub.com/14273/css/Coil-spring-pressure-plate-137.htm

Sorry,yes pressure plate.Don't know why wrote flywheel.

Those are called "centrifugal assist rollers"; as the RPM increases the rollers are thrown outward by centrifugal force and wedge themselves between the pressure plate and the cover...this increases the clutch's holding grip as the rpm/power increases.

So these are good then and won't need the buy another one?!

Thank you!

[Sublime/Sixpack]

Those are called "centrifugal assist rollers"; as the RPM increases the rollers are thrown outward by centrifugal force and wedge themselves between the pressure plate and the cover...this increases the clutch's holding grip as the rpm/power increases.

Seems like good engineering. Was it effective?

[John_Kunkel]

Sometimes too effective; the only downside to centrifugal rollers is they increase the pedal pressure when high-RPM shifting, the more rollers the stiffer the pedal. Generally speaking, the factory 6-roller pressure plates aren't that bad when shifted at 6,000 rpm or less.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

Generally speaking, the factory 6-roller pressure plates aren't that bad when shifted at 6,000 rpm or less.

This makes me wonder which cars came with roller pressure plates from the factory?

[John_Kunkel]

Even /6 pressure plates had rollers.

[Sublime/Sixpack]

I've never paid all that much attention to the actual mechanics of the pressure plates that I've removed or the new ones I installed. But the mention of centrifugal rollers piqued my curiosity. I checked the two spare three fingered pressure plates I still have and they are of a three pivot pin set up. Not centrifugal. I'd like to see one of the centrifugal set ups close up.

[John_Kunkel]

Long-style pressure plates (machined fingers) rarely have centrifugal assist rollers but the Borg & Beck (stamped fingers) usually do but aftermarket B&B plates often depend on very high spring pressure alone, especially when shifting at high RPM.