3-Jaw Clutch Pressure Plate Assembly — Heavy-Duty Forklift Clutch with Friction Plates & Separation Bearing

This is a 3-jaw clutch pressure plate assembly — a fundamentally different design from the diaphragm-spring pressure plates used on modern 2-3.5 ton forklifts. The 3-jaw mechanism uses three individually pivoted forged steel release levers (the “jaws”) that are actuated simultaneously by the release bearing to retract the pressure ring and disengage the clutch. This lever-actuated design generates a higher and more adjustable clamp force than diaphragm springs, making it the preferred specification on 5-10 ton heavy forklifts, container handlers, and older-generation diesel lift trucks where the engine torque output exceeds what a single diaphragm spring can reliably hold. If you try to substitute a diaphragm pressure plate on a machine originally designed for a 3-jaw unit, you will get clutch slippage under load within days — the spring force curves are not interchangeable, and the release bearing stroke geometry is different. Conversely, installing a 3-jaw unit on a light forklift results in an unnecessarily heavy clutch pedal and accelerated release bearing wear.

The most common failure mode specific to 3-jaw pressure plates — and the reason replacement is often urgent — is uneven jaw wear. When one of the three levers develops excessive pivot pin clearance or a worn contact pad, it retracts less than the other two during disengagement. The pressure ring then tilts instead of lifting evenly, causing the clutch disc to drag on one side. The operator feels it as a clutch that won’t fully disengage — gears grind during shifting, the forklift creeps with the pedal fully depressed, and the clutch disc facings glaze over from constant partial contact. Unlike diaphragm units where finger wear is visually obvious, 3-jaw lever wear is internal at the pivot points and can’t be assessed without removing the assembly. A second failure point is the pressure ring friction surface — because 3-jaw units carry higher clamp loads, heat spotting occurs faster and penetrates deeper. Once heat spots are visible, the pressure ring is scrap: machining won’t remove them without going below the minimum thickness specification. This kit includes both the pressure plate assembly with the 3-jaw mechanism, the matched friction plates, and the separation (release) bearing — all pre-assembled and pre-adjusted to eliminate in-field setup errors.

This assembly is built for 5-10 ton heavy-duty forklifts from Heli (CPCD50-CPCD100), Hangcha (CPCD50-CPCD100), TCM (FD50-FD100), Komatsu (FD50-FD100), and older-generation models where the original equipment specified 3-jaw clutch designs. Always verify your flywheel bolt circle diameter, clutch disc diameter, and input shaft spline count before ordering — 3-jaw assemblies come in multiple sizes that are not cross-compatible. During installation, check that all three jaw lever heights are identical (use a dial indicator on the release bearing contact face while rotating the assembly), replace the pilot bearing simultaneously, and torque the mounting bolts in a star pattern. For matching heavy-duty clutch discs, browse our clutch disc category. Reference OEM heavy-duty specifications at Heli official website.

Technical Specifications

• SKU: CLUTCH-3JAW-PP
• Key Differentiator: 3-Jaw Lever Design — NOT interchangeable with diaphragm-spring pressure plates. For 5-10 ton heavy forklifts.
• Includes: Pressure Plate Assembly + Friction Plates + Separation/Release Bearing (Pre-Assembled)
• Jaw Mechanism: Forged Steel Release Levers, Individually Pivoted, Adjustable Clamp Force
• Application: 5-10 Ton Heavy Diesel Forklifts, Container Handlers, Older-Generation Lift Trucks
• Warranty: 12 Months

Compatible Forklift Models (5-10 Ton, 3-Jaw Clutch)

Kingstream 3-jaw pressure plate assemblies are factory pre-assembled with jaw lever heights calibrated and matched, individually packed in heavy-duty reinforced cartons with molded foam cradles and VCI anti-corrosion wrapping. QC inspection includes jaw height consistency measurement (tolerance ±0.2mm across all three levers), pressure ring flatness verification, pivot pin clearance check, and release bearing rotation smoothness test. 12-month replacement warranty. Contact us with your forklift model and clutch disc diameter for fitment verification or bulk pricing.