One-Way Bearing Product Line
All our GMN sprag clutch products can be used in backstopping, indexing, and overrunning applications.
High Torque
Capacity

Complete Sprag Clutch Units
Includes built-in ball bearing support.
Supports heavy loads & has a high torque capacity: 53 to 588 Nm
Bore (ID) sizes: 10 to 60 mm (0.393 to 2.362 in)
Low to Med Torque
Capacity

Ball Bearing Sprag Clutch
Includes built-in ball bearing support.
Supports medium loads & low to med torque capacity: 53 to 267 Nm
Bore (ID) sizes: 17 to 40 mm (0.669 to 1.57 in)
Highest Torque Capacity w/ No RPM Limits

FE 8000 Series
No built-in ball bearing support.
Has no RPM limits & Supports high torque needs: 609 to 14,060 Nm
Bore (ID) sizes: 38.09 to 220 mm (1.499 to 8.66 in)
Low to High Torque Capacity

Sprag Clutch Elements
No built-in ball bearing support.
Good for large orders & low to high torque needs: 1 to 2673 Nm.
Bore (ID) sizes: 2 to 240 mm (0.078 to 9.448 in)
Please note: GMN Bearing USA is the only authorized distributor of GMN products in the USA.
Overview of our GMN One-Way Bearing Product Lines
Complete Sprag Clutch Units
These complete units are designed with roller bearings and ball bearings making it the most powerful and robust clutch in our product line. Therefore, this is great for machines that require a heavy load and high torque from the clutch.
Stats at a Glance

- Clutch Width (mm): 27 (open) or 34 (sealed)
- Operating Temperature: 212°F (100°C) or 284°F (140°C)
- ID Size Range (mm): 10 to 60
- OD Size Range (mm): 31 to 110
- Torque (Nm): 60 to 588
- Inner Ring: Press Fit and/or Keyway
- Outer Ring: Press fit and/or Mounting Tab
- Bearing Style: Integrated Ball and Roller Bearings
- Lubrication: Oil or Grease
- Seals: Rubber Seals or No Seals
Ball Bearing Sprag Clutch Units
Most Popular Clutch Line
These ball-bearing clutches are economical and are designed with ball bearings only, and doesn’t have the roller bearings like the complete units above. Similarly, the sizes are matched to 6200 radial ball bearings and most importantly, this product line is a good choice for low to medium torque requirements.
Stats at a Glance:

- Clutch Width (mm): 12 to 18
- Operating Temperature: 284°F (140°C) or on request, 338°F (170°C)
- ID Size Range (mm): 17 to 40
- OD Size Range (mm): 40 to 80
- Torque (Nm): 53 to 267
- Inner Ring: Press Fit and/or Keyway
- Outer Ring: Press fit and/or Keyway
- Bearing Style: Integrated Ball Bearing
- Lubrication: Grease
- Seals: Rubber Seals or No Seals
Sprag Clutch Element
This one-way bearing element comes with either mounting rings or without. The components consist of a cage, sprags, and a spring.
Stats at a Glance:

- Clutch Width (mm): 7 or 12
- Operating Temperature: Max 338°F (170°C)
- ID Size Range (mm): 2 to 240
- OD Size Range (mm): 10 to 236
- Torque (Nm): 4 to 14,060
- Inner Ring: Press Fit and/or Keyway
- Outer Ring: Press fit
- Bearing Style: N/A
- Lubrication: Oil or Grease
- Spring Types: Tension or Meander
- Cage Material: Steel or Plastic
Top Resources & Guides for our GMN One-Way Bearings
- Sprag Clutch Guide
- How Does A Sprag Clutch Work?
- How an Overrunning Clutch Works
- Lubricating a Sprag Clutch: Best Practices
- Three Stopping Options for a One-Way Sprag Clutch
How to Choose the Right One-Way Bearing for Your Mode of Operation
Before choosing your clutch, you need to know a few key pieces of information.
- What’s driving the force? Electric motor, engine, etc.
- How will you be using the clutch? Backstopping, overrunning or indexing?
- How much torque will be transmitted/needed?
- What is your shaft diameter or bore size?
- Environment temperature while in operation.
- Will you need grease or oil lubrication?
Frequently Asked Questions About One Way Bearings
How Do Sprag Clutches Work?
Insert elements are the components inside a sprag clutch and contain a cage, sprags and a spring.
The number of sprags in an insert element is determined by the size of the shaft. The spring preloads the friction between those sprags and parts.
These insert elements are not self centering and require additional bearing support for proper function, which both our complete sprag units and ball bearing units provide.
What are the benefits of buying one-way sprags from GMN?
The design of our GMN sprag clutches offers some key benefits for our customers:
- Our clutches are manufactured with small sprags which makes them light, compact (space-saver) and allows high indexing frequencies.
- Optimized design of the clamping curve allow our sprags to operate with high production and indexing accuracy.