This 22 minute video will help you on your way to troubleshooting electromagnetic clutch and brake issues. The video is conveniently broken down into sections. You can jump to "Will not disengage" at 9:55
Potential Problem
Possible Reason
Solution
Voltage not releasing.
Faulty switch.
Replace switch.
Rotor and armature locked together.
The clutch has been severely galled and has locked up. (Galling is the condition
whereby a piece of metal is trapped between the armature and the rotor
and melts due to high pressure and heat, spot welding the surfaces together.)
If rotor and armature cannot be separated, replace the clutch. If they do separate,
follow burnishing procedure.
Pulley bearing locked.
Bearing lost grease due to seal problem, temperature or water contamination. (Example)
Replace clutch.
Clutch Will Not Engage
This 22 minute video will help you on your way to troubleshooting electromagnetic clutch and brake issues. The video is conveniently broken down into sections. You can jump to "Will not engage" at 4:21
Potential Problem
Possible Reason
Solution
No voltage going to the clutch.
Wiring connector not seated properly.
Pull apart and re-seat connector.
No voltage or low voltage coming from the battery.
Check with voltmeter, battery should be 8-16 volts. (Assuming 12 volt battery.)
Fix or replace lead wire. If destroyed, replace clutch.
Fuse blown.
Replace fuse.
Defective switch operating clutch.
Replace the switch.
If voltage is going to the clutch, but the clutch will still not engage.
Coil open or shorted.
Check coil with ohmmeter. A range close to 3 to 4 ohms should be present at an ambient coil temperature of 70\uffffF. Replace coil. (Example)
Check coil voltage to make sure it is compatible with the voltage coming in. (If voltage is too high, this could cause the coil to burn out.)
Change battery or coil to meet your requirement.
Burnt out coil caused by frictional contact (rotor strike). If so, coil will be discolored, can be cracked, burnt or epoxy can be melted. ( Example 1, Example 2 )
Armature could be warped because of heat due to slippage. This means it will pull in, but will slip when a load is supplied. Clutch should show signs of heat. (Example)
Replace clutch and determine why it slipped.
Clutch Slips
This 22 minute video will help you on your way to troubleshooting electromagnetic clutch and brake issues. The video is conveniently broken down into sections. You can jump to the following sections that deal with slippage:
Excessive slipping - 16:45
Excessive slipping from electrical - 17:19
Excessive slipping from contamination - 18:32
Excessive slipping from the application or lack of burnishing - 19:08
Potential Problem
Possible Reason
Solution
Low voltage going into the clutch.
Defective battery.
Check with voltmeter, battery should be 8-16 volts. (Assuming 12 volt battery.)
Lead wire cut which could be intermittently grounding out the lead wire causing the clutch to turn on and off or not to give full voltage. (Example)
Fix or replace lead wire.
Erratic engagement.
If lead wire is kinked or pinched and the break is internal, the clutch operation may show up as being erratic engagement. (Example)
Fix or replace lead wire.
Clutch is contaminated.
Oil or other lubricant has been sprayed on the clutch surface. Sometimes this shows up after the clutch is disassembled. Physical evidence is either burnt oil or a greasy metallic surface showing oil still present. (Example)
Clean off surfaces with solvent and re-burnish. Replace the clutch if damage is severe enough.
Clutch overloaded.
Output torque required is greater than what the clutch can handle. If input torque going into clutch is greater than the output torque required, the clutch will slip. If it slips too long, the clutch surfaces will be galled
Size clutch correctly for the application. Replace clutch.
Output stalled.
If output is stalled, clutch could slip to the point where it will burn up and destroy either bearings or the field.
Replace clutch.
If voltage is going to the clutch, but the clutch will still not engage.
Coil open or shorted.
Check coil with ohmmeter. A range close to 3 to 4 ohms should be present at an ambient coil temperature of 70\uffffF. Replace coil.
Clutch not burnished.
If full torque is required immediately and clutch is not burnished, it will slip and could become galled.
Try to re-burnish clutch. If slipping is to severe, clutch will have to be replaced.
Noisy Clutch
This 22 minute video will help you on your way to troubleshooting electromagnetic clutch and brake issues. The video is conveniently broken down into sections. You can jump to the following sections that deal with Noise:
Noise - 11:47
Noise - armature/hub - 12:34
Noise - bearings - 13:33
Noise - rotor contact - 15:42
Potential Problem
Possible Reason
Solution
If clutch is able to move on the shaft.
Check center bolt and washer to make sure it is tight. If it is tight, make sure that the shaft is not too long. Clutch shaft should end before the end of the clutch to allow some deflection in the center bolt and washer to keep clutch on tightly. (Example)
Retighten center bolt or change spacer or shaft length.
Noise from pulley bearing.
Check if bearing feels rough. Check belt load to make sure pulley and bearings are not over loaded.
Reduce belt load.
High temperature can be caused by either operating environment or due to slippage. If slippage, clutch should be discolored. Refer to slippage section for potential reasons.
Reduce the heat or eliminate slippage.
Pinging or scraping noise noticed when clutch is disengaged
Check to see if the clutch is discolored to see if it shows signs of slippage.
Refer to slippage section.
Check for damage to both the outer race and inner race of the bearing. Make sure key is not too tight forcing pressure on the inner race . In the outer race area, check for marks or damage that could have caused the clearances to close up.
(Example 1, Example 2, Example 3)
Replace clutch.
Check temperature of shaft where clutch is mounted to verify that it is under 300°.
Reduce reason for the high temperature overloading on the engine.
Check torque tab or backing plate to make sure that there is freedom of movement of 1/16 of an inch axially and radially. Check to see if any marks are evident that would indicate axial forces applied. (Example)
Loosen torque tab to make sure it has freedom of movement both axially and radially.
