Matchless 46/G3L 1946 Maintenance Manual And Instruction Book Download

Page: 46 / 92

On allowing the clutch handlebar lever to return to its normal position the clutch

operating lever becomes " free " and the clutch spring pressure causes the clutch thrust

rod D, the steel ball C and the operating plunger B to move to the right.
The whole of the clutch spring pressure is thereby transferred to the clutch spring

pressure plate F and this forces the steel plates G tightly against the clutch friction

plates H to that power, transmitted by the engine to clutch sprocket L, is transferred

through clutch case J to friction plates H, to steel plates G, to clutch centre E which

causes the gear box main shaft T to revolve.

64 CLUTCH SPRING ADJUSTMENT

If clutch slip is experienced the most probable cause is incorrect cable adjustment.
If the clutch cable adjustment is found to be correct,

i.e.,

there is the clearance mentioned

in Para. 65, the clutch spring adjusting nuts should be adjusted.

To adjust clutch spring adjustment nuts :—

Obtain access to clutch spring adjustment nuts by removing outer half of front

chaincase. See Para. 61.
Screw home, one-half of a complete turn, each clutch spring adjustment nut.

Test machine for clutch slip.
If necessary, repeat, by screwing home a further half-turn but be careful to adjust

each of the nuts a similar amount.
If, to remedy clutch slip, it is necessary to screw nearly home the four nuts, this

is a clear indication that, either the clutch springs have lost their strength, and/or,

the fabric inserts in the clutch friction plates have worn so that they are past

further useful service. Replace with new.
The standard setting of the clutch spring adjusting nuts is obtained by fully tighten-

ing all four nuts and then unscrewing each exactly four complete turns.

65 CLUTCH ADJUSTMENT

Minor adjustment of the clutch operating mechanism is obtained by screwing,

in or out, the clutch cable adjuster located in the back of the kick-starter case.
Major adjustment of the clutch operating mechanism is o b t a i n e d by altering the

position of the fulcrum pin of the clutch operating lever in the kick-starter case.

(Lever A  in Illustration  16 and 175-X-4 in Illustration 17).
This  Major  adjustment  is  explained  below.  (See  Illustration  17)
175-X-4  is  the  gear  box  clutch  operating  lever, and 66-X-7  is  the  pin  on  which

it hinges.
329-X is the operating lever fork and this, slides in the kick-starter case cover.

Its position being determined by the sleeve nut 331-X.
Cap 328-X is secured to the outside of the kick-starter case cover, being fixed

by the two screws 333-X and acts as a locking device for the sleeve nut 331-X

and acts as a locking device for the sleeve nut 331-X.
It is essential that there is about 1/32" clearance between the operating plunger

330-X and the nose on operating lever 175-X-4 when the clutch is in the engaged,

or driving position.
It will be appreciated that, as the result of wear on the fabric inserts in the clutch

friction plates, the plates will tend to close up towards each other. This increases

the effective length of the clutch thrust rod. On the other hand, the clutch

control inner wire tends to stretch in use. These two actions will neutralise

each other but the fact remains that, from time to time, it is necessary to adjust

the rod clearance and also take up cable stretch.
Clutch slip caused by the clutch thrust rod permanently bearing on the spring

pressure plate will rapidly ruin the fabric inserts and thrust rod. In addition,