Support the weight of a motor and transfer torque to another shaft at the same time with these couplings. Often used to hang motors from conveyor belts and other driven equipment, or to connect long sections of shafts, these couplings eliminate the need for support brackets. Use a torque arm to prevent hanging motors from spinning.

The clamping screws on the coupling face squeeze two outer collars against an inner ring, pressing it tight against shafts to lock them together. This ring-locking mechanism leaves no room for backlash, meaning that all of the turning force created by the motor is passed on to the second shaft. These couplings grip shafts of any shape, so you can install them onto existing keyways and splines without using a key.

To install these couplings, use a torque wrench to tighten each screw to the fastener tightening torque listed for each coupling size. To remove, gradually loosen each screw in sequence until you can slide the coupling on the shaft. Warning: Do not remove any clamping screws from the coupling until the outer collars are separated from the inner ring. The ring is under tension, and a sudden release of the collars can cause serious injury.

Overhung load capacity is the amount of downward force that a coupling can withstand from a motor or other object that it is supporting. To calculate the overhung load, measure the distance from the center of the coupling to the center of gravity of the motor. Multiply that distance by the combined weight of the motor and the portion of the shaft between the coupling and the motor. Do not exceed the overhung load capacity for a coupling.

For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.

Connect splined shafts to keyed shafts. These couplings are commonly used to connect hydraulic pumps, compressors, and other heavy duty equipment, which often have splined shafts, to electric motors and other components that often have keyed shafts. They have a splined hub on one side and a keyed hub on the other. A spider cushion in the middle damps vibration, absorbs shock loads, and adjusts for misalignment. Because the hubs interlock with the spider, these couplings will continue to work even if the spider breaks or wears away. This fail-safe design gives you time to shut down your power source before damage occurs to other components. Lubrication is not required.

A complete coupling consists of two hubs and one spider. All components are sold separately.

Buna-N spiders are best for high-speed systems and jobs with frequent starting, stopping, and reversing. The most commonly used spider material, Buna-N absorbs vibration better than other materials but cannot handle as much torque. It won't break down when exposed to oil and chemicals.

Use polyurethane spiders for high-torque, continuous-motion applications where vibration is a concern. They absorb vibration better than Hytrel spiders but are not as resistant to oil and chemicals. They're not for use in applications with frequent starting, stopping, and reversing.

Hytrel spiders handle the highest torque of any of our spiders and have the best resistance to oil and chemicals. However, they don't compensate for as much misalignment and are not recommended for applications with frequent starting, stopping, and reversing.