February 2013
ISSUE 115
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February’s Theme:
Clutches By Marek Krasuski
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lutches have undergone transformations over the years to keep pace with growing demand for performance, durability and reliability. Extended maintenance intervals and innovations in design and materials that help protect driveline components contribute to these advancements. As with everything in life, clutches have a life cycle which can be prematurely shortened by excessive heat, the major cause of clutch failure. Too much heat between the flywheel, discs, intermediate plate and pressure plate can lead to the destruction of materials and in serious cases, cause injury to the operator. Since 1980, Paul Morale of Fil-Mor Automotive & Clutch Products Ltd. has specialized in the re-manufacture of clutches and related clutch parts for the automotive and trucking industry. The company’s product line includes clutch kits, flywheels, water pumps and many related products from well known companies such as Sachs, Horton, Eaton, Lipe and TorqueMaster. Morale says that heat is just one cause for breakdown. “Many factors contribute to clutch deterioration. They can be abused or the driver can excessively ride the clutch. Clutches can last 100,000 or 500,000 kilometers, depending on many performance factors,” he said. Clutches have been around for as long as the trucks they are used on had to be powered. They transmit the power of the engine to the transmission or gearbox Clutches, page 4 >>
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