Eaton Corp. on Thursday, Oct. 14, introduced a new heavy-duty clutch family that offers longer service intervals and expanded warranty coverage. The company says its new Advantage Series clutches feature numerous product improvements and enhancements that allow for new 50,000-mile service intervals — replacing current 25,000-mile intervals — and a new 2-year/unlimited mileage aftermarket warranty replacing the current 1-year/unlimited mileage warranty.
Eaton will continue offering customers two 15.5-inch heavy-duty clutch options. The manually adjusted Eaton Easy Pedal Advantage clutch replaces the Eaton Easy Pedal clutch, while the new self-adjusting Eaton Solo Advantage clutch replaces the Eaton Solo clutch. The clutches are available now for new truck orders and through the aftermarket.
“The clutch plays a very important role in the overall value of any heavy-duty vehicle,” says John Beering, vice president and general manager of clutch and aftermarket for Eaton. “With that in mind, we developed our new Advantage Series clutches to help ensure consistent, trouble-free and long-lasting service that is well reflected with the new service intervals and new warranty coverage that we can now offer our customers.”
The Advantage Series feature an enhanced release bearing design that incorporate a more robust bushing material, Eaton says. The new clutch also has a new release bearing housing with three grease fittings designed to allow for flexibility in setting up a lubrication path regardless of release fork design.
Other features of the new bearing housing, according to the company, include a more efficient grease reservoir that allows for the extended grease intervals; new composite slingers that better retain grease and keep out contamination; a new casting design for improved strength; and wider thrust plates that increase the contact area with release forks to enhance performance.
