Page 21
Understanding the Installed Gap
The installed gap is the distance between the Rekluse pressure plate and the clutch pack when
the EXP friction disk is in a collapsed state at idle (automatically disengaged). The installed gap
allows the clutch to automatically disengage when the engine comes down to idle speed and the
EXP friction disk is in its collapsed state.
When the engine is at idle, the force of the pressure plate springs rests on the center clutch nut.
As the engine is revved, the EXP friction disk expands, lifting the pressure plate. When the
installed gap is set properly, the pressure plate is lifted a small amount, transferring the force of
the pressure plate springs from the center clutch nut to the clutch pack.
If the clutch pack thickness shrinks, through wear or initial break-in of the friction disks and/or
EXP components, the installed gap will grow. If the installed gap grows too far, the EXP friction
disk will not be able to expand enough to lift the pressure plate and pressure plate adjuster
completely off the center clutch nut and the spring pressure transferred to the clutch pack will be
reduced. A reduction in spring pressure to the clutch pack will cause the clutch to slip, perhaps
imperceptibly and possibly leading to a clutch pack failure.
The clutch pack will shrink most when a new set of friction disks is first installed or when the Core
EXP components are new. When first installing the Core EXP components or new friction disks,
the installed gap should be set to the break-in setting of 1 full turn. After the new components are
broken in,
the installed gap must be reset
.
After break-in, Rekluse recommends the installed gap be set to 1 full turn + 2 tick marks.
