june2021 - 22

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Avoiding a clutch catastrophe
Misuse and improper maintenance are two of the
leading causes of clutch failure on a manual transmission.
AMTs remove direct human interaction
so misuse is less of an issue, though improper
maintenance can still lead to clutch failure even
on an AMT.
Not properly maintaining a vehicle's clutch
can lead to slippage, hard pedal actuation (for
manual transmissions), excess heat, and premature
failure, noted Steve Toninato, director of
service at Rihm Kenworth.
Clutch failure due to misuse or improper mainTP-16-3SA
TWO
POST LIFTS
tenance is, however, somewhat by design. The
clutch in both manual transmissions and AMTs
is designed to be a weak point in the system that
will wear out or break first in order to protect the
transmission itself.
" Improper maintenance or vehicle operation
can result in the clutch wearing down and
breaking, " said Volvo's Agebrand. " In prolonged or
extreme cases, the clutch is designed to fail; otherwise,
the actual gears and gearing shafts inside
the transmission will break. This is the same for
both AMTs and manuals. "
Detroit's Copeland noted that maintenance is
critical since transmission issues can lead to wider
spread vehicle problems.
" Improperly maintained transmissions can lead
to cascading failures throughout the powertrain, "
Copeland noted. " Fleets can experience decreased
service life, [decreased] operating performance,
increased clutch failures, and severe overheating.
Always refer to your OEM maintenance manual to
make sure you are maintaining your equipment
as recommended to help prevent these issues. "
Warning signs
The first step to avoiding a clutch failure is to be on
the lookout for signs of imminent trouble. Drivers
and technicians alike should watch for clues that
the transmission is stressed. Manual transmissions
MP-18
The future of AMTs
and manual transmissions
MOBILE COLUMN LIFTS
TR-25
FOUR POST RUNWAY LIFTS
Manual transmissions still
have their place in the heavy
duty market, and likely will
for some time. But automated
manual transmissions
(AMTs) are quickly taking up
more market share than ever
before - and for good reason.
" When we look at Volvo Trucks'
customer base, we see a
clear distinction, " said Johan
Agebrand, product marketing
manager at Volvo Trucks North
America. " Fleets using AMTs are
performing better and growing
in their businesses compared
with those using manual
transmissions in the same
segments and applications. "
AMTs tend to be more efficient,
require less preventive
maintenance, and - perhaps
most importantly - require
less experienced drivers.
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Chad Seth, director of truck
sales at Rihm Kenworth, agreed.
He noted Rihm Kenworth
customers are purchasing
AMTs over manual transmissions
by a wide margin.
" Our current deliveries in 2020
and 2021 have been roughly 75
percent [or more] AMT or automatic
transmissions, and I fully
expect that number to
continue to rise in the future, "
Seth said. " I would guess as
more AMT configurations
[13- and 18-speed] come out
with dynamic shifting, that
more of the vocational on-highway
trucks will also migrate
to automated, bringing the
percentages even higher. "
Agebrand estimates an even
higher rate of sales for AMTs
versus manual transmissions
when it comes to new heavy
duty trucks. He further predicts
the demise of the manual sooner
than some might expect.
" Depending on annual fluctuations
in the size of the
Class 8 market overall, Volvo
Trucks' market share for AMT
versus manual has stabilized
at around 95 to 98 percent
for AMT and 2 to 5 percent for
manual, " Agebrand said. " Based
on transformational changes
moving our industry toward
fossil-free and CO2 neutral
solutions, manual transmissions
will likely be dropped from all
» AMTs tend to be more
efficient, require less preventive
maintenance, and - perhaps
most importantly - require less
experienced drivers.
Photo courtesy of Volvo Trucks North America
major OEM portfolios within
the next five to ten years. "
Eaton predicts that AMT penetration
will increase in the
future due to more stringent
emissions regulations coming
in 2024 and beyond, noted
Becky Parsons, global clutch
product strategy manager
at Eaton Vehicle Group.
" This will require even more
integration between the engine
and transmission and how
they work together to improve
fuel economy, " Parsons said.
" That's something you can't do
with a manual transmission. "
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june2021

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