Industrial Torque Converter
Industrial torque converters provide the torque and horsepower that makes your projects go””but they’re not immune to breakdowns.
The torque converter is the part of your machine that controls how much fluid is passed on to the transmission. It also allows your engine to continue to run while completely stopped. If this specific component of the machine happens to malfunction, it can cause strange behavior such as slipping. The difficult part is trying to diagnose what the exact cause of the torque converter malfunctioning is. There can be many causes for problems with torque converters.
It can be difficult to separate an issue with the transmission from problems with torque converters. Yet, there are some signs you should be aware of that can help you pinpoint what the issue is, whether that issue be with the transmission or the torque converter.
Take a look at the three common torque converter problems you might run into:
1. Overheating
The most likely problem you’ll run into is overheating. Overheating can usually be directly traced to low converter fluid pressure and/or air present in the system. This can be caused by several factors, including:
- The fluid levels get too low
- The filter gets clogged
- The suction lines are cracked
- The charging pump is beginning to fail
Overheating can damage the seals, o-rings, and gaskets leading to fluid leaks and a lack of proper fluid circulation.
2. Deformed Blades
Fragmented or deformed turbine blades is another sure way to see an industrial torque converter quickly lose its effectiveness. This can happen as a result of rapid overheating of the torque converter or contamination ingested into the system which can lead to the turbine blades beginning to break and pull away from the hubs. With extreme heat, the blades can even break into pieces. Torque converters with deformed or fragmented blades require significant and expensive repairs (or a complete rebuild) to avoid a prohibitive loss of torque converter efficiency.
3. Proper Installation
When installing a new torque converter, it is best practice to install new cooler lines and have the radiator/cooler professionally cleaned. This ensures that all contamination from the previous converter installation is removed from the system. If coolers and lines are not clean, then debris from the previous converter failure will be ingested into the new converter causing a very quick and costly failure.
If you’ve been in this field long enough, you’ve likely dealt with a few common torque converter problems. Although we are confident in the excellent capabilities, and reliability, of the torque converters we provide, we also know that problems do occasionally arise. Considering the extreme mechanical feats of your heavy machinery, and the tasks required of the torque converters in those machines, this makes sense. What also makes sense, then, is being prepared and understanding the signs and symptoms of these common torque converter issues.
So, how can you tell when one of those issues is happening to your machinery? keep an eye out for these common symptoms of torque converter problems:
From our home office in Hurst, Texas, we supply only the best torque converters from the best brands. But we also stock a full catalog of replacement and repair parts, can manufacture customized specialty parts from our warehouse and can meet you with a service team just about anywhere in the world should you have a problem.
We’d like to take a minute and look at common symptoms to help you recognize when something has gone wrong. If you spot the problems early, they will be much easier and cheaper to fix.
SYMPTOM ONE ““ NO POWER FROM THE CONVERTER
A torque converter failure can seriously ruin a good day. You’re out in the field, slamming away at some major task worthy of an episode of Modern Marvels, and suddenly your giant Tonka starts pushing like it did when you were a kid. The engine’s running, and the pedal is pumping, but you’re getting nothing out of it. As the name suggests, your torque converter plays a vital role in converting horse power to torque. When you need it to provide you with power, you need to allow enough time for pressure to form. If it doesn’t, you won’t get the power you need. Give it time, don’t force it, and you may save yourself from a bad day.
SYMPTOM TWO ““ SURGING AND LAGGING
The death lurch. We all know it’s coming, but we never expect it to actually happen. Some machines go way too young, others seem to last forever. But so many good machines could be saved each year if owners payed attention to a few telltale signs of torque converter problems. The shudder. The jerk. They’re not dance moves, they’re problems.
When the machinery you are using feels as though it is shuddering, the problem may be the torque converter. Since the shuddering happens randomly, without rhyme or reason, you should get your transmission checked out as soon as you can.
If your machine is surging or lagging during operation, and can’t maintain constant speed, power or lift, then you may be dealing with erratic converter fluid pressure or flow. This could be due to low converter fluid in the day tank and/or air present in the converter fluid circuit. Check these levels, take care of them, and you won’t regret the extra time you spent on getting extra time from your converter.
SYMPTOM THREE ““ POWER LOSS DUE TO CLUTCH SLIPPAGE
Sometimes, after heavy acceleration, your clutch may slip. It may make you think that the converter is losing power, and that’s understandable. That’s what it feels like. But the engine is making power that the torque converter never sees, and it’s just the master clutch assembly that’s not transferring that power. With a simple clutch adjustment, you could be up and running in no time. If this condition goes untreated for too long, however, excessive damage will occur to your master clutch assembly, requiring removal and replacement. The key to saving money is maintaining your equipment and fixing problems quickly, before they grow into bigger problems.
SYMPTOM FOUR – FLUID CONTAMINATION
Another issue that points to torque converter problems is contamination in the fluid. If, when you check the fluid, you find thick clumps of dark material, either the clutches of the torque converter is damaged, or there is an issue with the transmission. Perform a fluid change before you assume the problem is the torque converter. Then, try and run the machinery for a while, and check back on it later.
SYMPTOM FIVE – SLOW ENGAGEMENT
With a ruined torque converter, the transmission will take longer than usual to engage the engine. This slow engagement results in higher stall speeds. Check you engine’s stall speed specifications, then perform a stall speed test based on the specifications listed, in order to diagnose for any torque converter issues.
Using machinery with a bad torque converter is extremely dangerous, and doing so exacerbates the symptoms listed above. Once you have identified that the torque converter is the problem, you will need to get it replaced by professionals. This particular piece of the machinery is delicate and complicated. Therefore, it should not be fixed by the average person. Otherwise, more damage to the equipment could occur.
At K&L Clutch, we provide only top-of-the-line torque converters from brands like Twin Disc, Allison, American, Clark, and more. But in those rare times when problems arise, our unparalleled service department can get you back up and running again in no time “” whether that’s from our home in Hurst, Texas, or from just about anywhere in the world you need us to be. Take a second from time to time to inspect your torque converter for visible problems like fluid levels, pressures and clutch adjustment to catch potential problems before they show up, but know that we’re here for you when more serious problems arise. Contact us for more information.
From construction to freight to salvaging forsaken ships at sea, current and early cranes are simply the arms that do the heavy lifting powering our global industries. The world just wouldn’t be the same without them””and it’s our goal to make sure your cranes will perform powerfully, flexibly, and effectively until the jobs are done.
So how did cranes become such an integral part of all of our lives (whether we realize it or not)? Let’s take a look back through history:
Democracy and Devotion: Greeks Invent the Crane
Necessity is the mother of all innovation””and you won’t find a more urgent group of inventors than those under threat of being smote from above. For whatever reasons, the Ancient Greeks felt compelled to build huge temples to their gods, and traditional methods like ramps for moving and lifting the enormous building stones of massive monuments like the Parthenon just weren’t going to get the jobs done. Meet the crane: at first a simple winch and pulley system, and later a compound pulley system credited to Aristotle.
Today, you can see the difference in the way temples were built in different time periods. Pre-cranes, building blocks actually tended to be much larger, because so much effort was required to push each one up a ramp that it was less labor-intensive to use bigger and fewer blocks. Post-cranes, blocks were smaller, but stacked higher, in more complicated and advanced structures, and more quickly.
In the end, the Greeks proved just how much more ambitious projects could be with the help of a crane. The Egyptian slaves responsible for building the pyramids block by ramp-elevated block are still squirming with envy in their graves.
Mobility and Versatility: Cranes Power the Roman Empire
Rome wasn’t built in a day, but without the introduction of and improvement upon the Greek cranes, construction would’ve taken much, much longer than it did. In fact, the Romans were the first to use multiple cranes for cooperative lifting tasks, as is evident by the massive cornerstone blocks used in some of the famous structures.
But beyond the beautiful, historic, crane-built city still very visible today, perhaps the most impressive aspect of Roman crane use was the way they were used far from their home. Again””necessity drives innovation. And as the Roman Empire stretched further and further away from Rome, and as conquering armies became more and more ambitious, mobility and versatility in their cranes became key. The Roman army needed cranes that could move quickly, be assembled and torn down quickly, and perform a variety of tasks””all without losing their powerful lifting capabilities.
Today, you can see that influence in how mobile cranes are used all over the world. You find them on boats, docks, trains, and trucks, often able to be quickly adapted for difficult, unusual tasks. Lifting capacity has skyrocketed, up to 1,000 tons. In the end, the Romans proved just how much mobility and versatility multiply capability.
At K&L Clutch, we understand just how many ways your business relies on your lifting capabilities. When a crane breaks down, we can be there””just about anywhere in the world””with the industrial machine parts to get your project back on track in no time.
Young MOC-8 heat exchanger
Our Young MOC-8 heat exchangers help maintain oil pressure, avoid air flow resistance, and keep your machines running at peak performance better than any others in the industry.
But beyond industrial machinery, heat exchangers play several vital roles in shaping our modern world, from industry to nature to our own, fragile bodies.
Here are three facts you might now know:
1. They’re used all over the place
Anything that needs highly optimized cooling and heating, really, as heat exchangers can reduce heat loss and redirect it to other purposes. Various types of heat exchangers are used in industrial sectors like power plants, petroleum refineries, and chemical plants. They keep jet fuel from freezing at high altitudes. They make up an important part of the wine production process. And they help keep waste water treatment plants operating at optimal temperatures, fostering the growth of microbes that remove pollutants from the water.
2. A similar system can be found in… birds, fish, and whales
Basically, arteries carrying warm blood to the skin get crossed and exchange heat with veins carrying cold blood away. The result is basically a “countercurrent” heat exchanger that reduces overall heat loss in cold waters””for baleen whales when the swallow enormous amounts of water to catch their evening krill, for storks, flamingos, and other wading birds when they stand in cool water, and for fish while breathing underwater.
No word yet if anybody has modeled an industrial machine after a blue whale.
3. We couldn’t live without them
Similarly, human bodies perform heat exchanger functions in two ways: Thanks to their large surface area, the lungs help moderate and optimize the hot or cold air we breathe in, before the oxygen is passed on into the blood stream.
Contact us for more information.
Our service department will come meet you just about anywhere in the world, and we’re proud of our commitment and reach. But we’re pretty proud of the service role our home location in Dallas-Ft. Worth plays as well.
Here are three reasons why:
We know it.
We’re located smack dab in the middle of one of the most powerful, innovative, high-growth industrial regions on the planet, and our fully-staffed service department reflects and benefits from such a concentration of expertise and capability. Simply put, we offer better, faster, and more comprehensive service than those who can’t capitalize on these advantages. We can figure out any problem, and come up with customized solutions for your unique needs.
Time is money, and our quick turnarounds minimize your project’s down time. We know how to get you back to work.
We stock it.
At our base in Hurst, Texas (a small suburb of Ft. Worth), we stock a comprehensive catalog of parts from the best brands in the business””like Twin Disc, Young, Allison, American, Clark, Bucyrys, Funk, Industrial Clutch, Link Belt, Lima, Manitowoc, Murphy, P&H, Oil States, Northwest, Quincy, Rockford Powertrain, and WPT””including parts for:
- Dredge Pump Drives
- Stationary Power Units
- Cranes
- Draglines
- Mud Pumps
- Rock Crushers
- Drilling Rigs
- Tub Grinders
- Marine Units
- And more…
Better stock equals better turnaround time, and our product catalog will have your project moving again in no time. But if it can’t…
We can build it.
At K&L Clutch & Transmission, we have a fully functional on-site manufacturing and production facility that gives us tremendous flexibility and the capability to meet your needs on the fly.
Just think about some of the problems that you run into out in the field. Often, there are no simple, by-the-book fixes. Our machine shop provides unusual, customized solutions for unusual, complicated problems, and leaves you with the peace of mind that any problem can solved.
Contact us for more information.
Torque Converter
We provide torque converters at K&L Clutch. Lots of them. Converters bursting with horsepower and grit. The best converters available anywhere in America. The kind you need””sometimes immediately””to get the work done, and the kind that won’t leave your valuable equipment investments vulnerable in the field.
In fact, as your torque converter provider, here’s our goal for you:
- Lower Maintenance Costs
- Increased Fuel Economy
- Increased Engine and Equipment Life
- Shock Protection from Load and Equipment Damage
- Smooth Operation at Optimum Efficiency Speed Ranges
- Less Downtime
Read Full Article →
K&L Clutch Dallas Service Shop
No matter where you are in the world, our office in Hurst, Texas will seem like just a local call away.
For years, we’ve been leaders in the worldwide sales of torque converters , PTOs and service parts. But with energy demands around the world growing, and with rapidly developing economies creating new business opportunities in the most remote corners of the earth (plus the improved internet services needed to reach those corners), we’ve expanded our international business reach from our head office here in Dallas-Ft. Worth to South America, Europe, the Middle East, and Russia.
This means that nearly anywhere in the world you can get industrial service and power products , units, and service for:
- Cranes
- Draglines
- Crushers
- Oil Field Units
- Stationary Units
From such manufacturers as:
But beyond our comprehensive product catalog and service capabilities (including sales and service staff with more than 150 years combined product knowledge), we offer extensive overseas experience, and this matters as much as anything when it comes to international industrial power projects. Here’s why:
As you probably know, each country can have a dizzying web of laws, cultural factors and customs that can complicate your project. With our experience comes the ability to anticipate where unexpected problems might arise and to address them with minimal project disruption. We know what to expect, how to react, and how to work effectively within complicated cultures. Flexibility, international savvy, and a keen eye for potential problems are key.
So when you’re looking for the best service, best pricing, best on-time delivery, and most experienced personnel””both here in Texas and on the other side of the globe””we at K&L Clutch International Sales know how to get you what you need. This is why so many of our clients and customers have to come to rely on us for their international industrial power needs again and again.
Contact us for more information. We’ll be there whenever and wherever you need us.
Great Industrial Product Support & Service all boils down to a commitment to three factors: service, product availability and shipping capability.
Basically, we can repair or replace almost anything you need, and we can do it anywhere. Our goal is to help you minimize your down time after breakdowns with off the shelf exchange, replacement, or on-site field service. This is made possible with our extensive parts and units inventory. Read Full Article →
Mobile oil coolers need to be durable, rugged, flexible and reliable. With that in mind, our mission to supply Texas with its heat exchanger needs came down to one brand and one brand only.
Our line of heat exchangers from Young Transmission do every job efficiently, and provide simple solutions to complex cooling problems. The mobile oil coolers come in eight standard sizes, each of which can be piped at installation in one or two pass oil flow arrangements, and boast performance ranges of 100 GMP oil flow and heat transfer capacities from 5,000 to 350,000 BTU per hour.
The result is low cost oil cooling systems with minimum oil pressure drop and low air flow resistance. Read Full Article →
At K&L Clutch, we supply only the highest quality torque converters. But to understand what this means, let’s start with the basics:
Torque converters are, of course, an automatic transmission’s answer to a manual transmission’s clutch””with one big advantageous twist (which we’ll get to below). Torque converters allow the engine to turn while a machine’s wheels and transmission gears come to a complete stop (think cars idling in a driveway).
More specifically, a hydraulic torque converter is a fluid coupling that lets an engine spin independently of a transmission.
To understand why this matters, think of a car in traffic. Keeping the car stopped at a stoplight takes just a light push on the brake, because there is only a tiny amount of torque being passed through the torque converter from the slowly turning engine or motor. But when you step on the gas, the engine roars and more torque is passed to the wheels. It’s basically a transfer of rotation power from any sort of internal combustion engine or electric motor to the driven object or load.
But here’s the twist “” hydraulic torque converters can actually multiply torque when there is enough of a difference between the rotational speeds of the engine and load, basically serving the same function as a reduction gear.
Hydraulic torque converters can be broken down into three basic parts:
Impeller “” The impeller (or the pump) is basically a ring of metal blades that are driven by the engine shaft, flinging fluid about in a manner similar to a washing machine, thereby imparting kinetic energy. The spinning also creates a vacuum, drawing even more fluid into the center.
Turbine “” The turbine is a set of three rings of blades connected to the shaft. The fluid from the impeller enters and turns the turbine and causes the transmission to spin, powering the machine.
Stator “” Located in the fluid circuit between rings of turbine blades, the stator (or reaction member) is made from two non-rotating sets of blades, contained in a stationary housing. The original fluid exits the turbine, moving in a different direction than when it came in (and in an opposite direction of the engine and pump spin). The stator keeps the fluid from hitting the pump, which would slow the engine.
Benefits:
· Longer Engine Life
· Longer Equipment Life
· More Efficient Fuel Economy
· Smoother Operation
· Better Shock Protection
· More Reliable Automatic Braking
· Faster Work Cycles
Hydraulic torque converters also have specific benefits that depend on your type of use.
For example, with slush pumps, hydraulic torque converters permit operation through a wide range of volume vs. pressure while using the maximum size liner. Crawler tractors can operate with maximum drawbar pull at all times, even in the roughest of operating conditions. Hoists and winches can hold loads in mid-air with the throttle alone, without bobbing. Shunting locomotives benefit from a good tractive effort curve. And in excavators, hydraulic torque converters deliver two to three times the amount of torque for hoist and crowd loads.
Check out our complete line of torque converters, or contact us for more information. We’ll tell you everything you need to know.
This great post has been a long lasting servant, and we recently decided to put out an update. Go ahead and read this too, though – It’s an oldie but a goodie!
After that, read our update: Boom Cranes: History, Parts and Anatomy
Cranes are multi-faceted pieces of apparatus, and while they are capable of some quite incredible feats the way they actually work is based on some pretty straightforward laws of physics. Boom cranes are used to effectively and effortlessly lift heavy and/or awkward to move objects. The crane is most commonly used to hoist weighty equipment and/or materials on construction sites and to load cargo to ships. Read Full Article →
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