1/8” Or More Wear On The Brake Beam Strut Necessitates The Costly Replacement Of The Brake Beam Assembly
Rule 6 of the AAR Interchange Rules requires that brake beam struts that exhibit 1/8” or greater lever slot wear must be replaced. Wear results from a combination of lever movement during brake operation and vibrational impacts at the point of contact between the lever and the strut.
Typically when a strut is found to be worn, the entire brake beam and strut assembly is replaced as a unit – a repair that costs over $200* in labor and materials plus the cost for transport and out-of-service time for the rail car.
SOLUTION:
Pennsy Brake Beam Strut Protector Effectively Eliminates Slot Wear Extending the Service Life of the Strut
The Pennsy Brake Beam Strut Protector is a specially-designed product that is installed between the brake lever and the strut, thus eliminating direct contact between the lever and the bearing surface on the strut.
Testing has shown the Pennsy Brake Beam Strut Protector to have a wear potential that is approximately double that of an unprotected strut slot. In the event the Strut Protector becomes worn or damaged, it can be quickly and easily replaced without special tools and at a fraction of the cost to replace a brake beam.
The Pennsy Brake Beam Strut Protector can be installed on both new and existing brake struts, effectively eliminating slot wear on new brake beam struts and preventing further wear on partially worn struts.**
Results:
Low cost preventive maintenance on new brake beam struts
Low cost repair on partially worn struts
Can be replaced an indefinite number of times on the same strut
No special tools required for installation
Fits #18 and #24 Brake Beams
Universal design fits most manufacturer’s struts
Works with Straight, S-bend and Hook & Eye brake lever arrangements
Effectively eliminates the problem of worn strut slots thereby extending strut service life
Simple & Fast Installation
Remove pin retaining clip/cotter pin and slide and partially remove strut pin
Slide protector between lever and strut aligning center hole with strut pin hole
Re-insert strut pin and replace retaining clip/cotter pin
No special tools needed - No jacking of car required
The Pennsy Brake Beam Strut Protector eliminates wear between the strut and brake lever thus reducing the frequency of brake beam replacements.
Fits New & Partially Worn Struts
Prevents slot wear on new brake beam struts
Halts wear on previously worn strut slots**
*Amounts based on figures published in the 2008 AAR Office Manual of Interchange Rules
** Does not repair already-condemned struts with 1/8” or greater wear
