Clutch lever with variable lever ratio

A clutch assembly comprising:

• a clutch cover;
• a rotatable input shaft;
• an axially moveable retainer connected to said input shaft;
• at least one clutch disc to be selectively brought into and out of engagement;
• a moveable pressure plate to selectively squeeze said at least one clutch disc into and out of engagement;
• and
• a plurality of pivotable clutch levers positioned between said retainer and said pressure plate to selectively cause said pressure plate to move, and structured so that axial movement of said retainer pivots each of said plurality of clutch levers between an engaged position in which said clutch levers press said pressure plate into engagement with said plurality of clutch discs to transmit rotation between a transmission and engine, and a disengaged position in which said clutch levers release said pressure plate from engagement with said plurality of said clutch discs to disengage rotation between said transmission and said engine, wherein a lever ratio of said clutch levers varies as said clutch levers pivot and wherein when said clutch levers pivot and cause said pressure plate to be squeezed against said clutch disc, said lever ratio and thus a clamping force applied by said clutch levers is higher than said clutch lever ratio present at a disengaged position wherein said clutch disc is disengaged, thereby enabling said clutch levers to maximize both the clamping force while said clutch disc is engaged and to maximize clutch lift clearance when said clutch disc is disengaged.