Top picture is from Club's Resto Guide and bottom picture is my teardown.

The club's picture shows a spring on the shaft, which was not on mine, and I don't find one in vendors' parts lists. Was the spring factory original or aftermarket, is it necessary, and what purpose does it serve? The release ring (and the shaft) is perfectly located axially by its swallow on the clutch shifter, and pedal return is done by the spring on the low speed band, so I can't figure this spring's worth.

If you look closely at the picture you will see an O ring between the washer against the spring and the hogs head. Many people add springs to their clutch shafts to prevent oil leaks but, it is not stock nor completely necessary.

Stephen

The spring is holding a cup washer and felt or rubber seal in place. This is to help prevent oil loss. Read the whole story, it is explained.

Hey Richard I think it is just someone's idea to stop oil from leaking around the shaft the caption says there an O ring there.

This is a tinkering tip that has been around for a while by home mechanics and was not a factory application. The spring is simply used to hold a metal washer & rubber washer along the shaft to keep it from leaking out. the spring gives pressure to the rubber washer or o ring. It works pretty well and is a way to get by until you decide to place a bushing to tighten up the tolerance.

OK I see now. Thanks to all. I did see what the caption said but I didn't make the connection that the spring was there for the purpose of compressing the O-Ring. I thought the O-Ring was taking advantage of a spring already there for its own purpose. But I got it now, thx.