Determining how long a friction clutch or brake will last has much to do with application.  Cycle rates, revolutions per minute and the air pressure required to produce the torque to drive or stop the load are just a few of the considerations.  Assuming the unit has been properly sized and the application is not unusually rigorous, the majority of friction brakes and clutches will measure their service life in years as long as the manufacturer’s instructions for installation, operation and routine maintenance are followed.  Mach III has compiled its recommendations for users who want to do all they can to ensure that the clutches and brakes installed on their machinery last as long as possible.  Topics covered in the eBook, Make It Last, include:

• Proper Selection
• Regulating
• Proper Mounting
• Chain & Belt Alignment & Tension
• Environmental Considerations
• Routine Maintenance

Click Here or on the graphic to download the eBook.

Like the brake pads in your car, the friction linings of a clutch, brake, combination clutch-brake or torque limiter wear over time. The period in which this will occur varies widely by application. We have seen units in operation for 20 plus years with the original friction linings. On the opposite end of the spectrum, linings can fail in a matter of months due to extreme operation, overload or air system failure. (Click here for more info about service life.) Whether the wear is gradual or sudden, the end result is the same; a machine component which no longer functions.

Unless the unit has slipped excessively and overheated, it can typically be restored to operation with the installation of a repair kit.  Mach III offers repair kits which contain all the typical wear parts; friction discs, springs, o-rings, and related pins and screws.  Rush order repair kits will typically ship the same day and overnight freight service will have the kit on your dock the following morning.

However, what happens when waiting even one day is not an option? Customers who are forced to use a same-day air or courier service typically pay four to six times the price of the repair kit - just on freight charges! Add the cost of lost production and this quickly becomes one pricey life-lesson.  If the operation of a clutch, brake or torque limiter is critical, avoid this worst-case scenario and stock a repair kit at your facility.

For information about repair kits for the Mach III units in your facility or in the facilities of your customers, please contact customer service toll free (866-291-0849) or by email. It will be helpful if you know the Mach III product number or numbers when you call or email. Click here for a guide to finding the Mach III product number.