When a chain hoist “creeps” a few inches after you release the pendant, or stops holding the way it used to, the natural reaction is to buy parts and hope that fixes it. We see that every week at hoist-parts.com. Guessing, though, it costs twice: you lose time to the wrong repair, and you’re still standing under a hook you don’t fully trust. The real fork in the road is decisive but straightforward: are you dealing with a motor brake issue or a load brake issue? That single call determines which OEM Budgit Hoist Parts put your hoist back into safe, predictable service.
Budgit hoists employ two distinct braking systems with different functions and failure modes. The spring-set, electrically released motor brake supplies holding force when power is removed, while the load brake, integrated within the gear train, regulates controlled lowering and prevents uncontrolled descent. Because these mechanisms perform different roles, the timing of the symptom is the primary diagnostic: drift immediately after stopping points to the motor brake; irregular or resistant lowering indicates a load-brake condition.
When Does the Problem Appear?
Slow the situation down for one lift: same load, same stop point, eyes on the hook for five seconds after you let go. Write down exactly what happens and when. That simple baseline turns noise into a roadmap.
· The hook settles a little, then stops and holds. Start with the motor brake. That short “creep at stop” almost always points to a brake that isn’t clamping fully; often, an air gap that has opened up as the friction discs wear. Make it visible by taping a bright flag at hook height, stopping on a mark, and measuring the settle. If the air gap and discs check out, then consider the load brake.
· Lowering feels notchy or refuses to move while the motor hums. This pattern usually lives in the load brake. Operators will try “bumping” the pendant to coax motion, which only compounds wear. Treat that as a signal, not a workaround.
· The hoist chatters and won’t raise a heavy pick. Don’t blame a brake yet. Confirm the supply voltage and listen for the overload clutch slip, which indicates that protection is doing its job. Ordering hoist parts before ruling out an overload event is how carts get filled with the wrong fixes.
People often tell us the hoist “changed overnight.” What actually changed was margin: clearances grow, discs glaze, and inching habits hide the drift until it’s obvious. Pinning the symptom to a moment in the lift gives you the shortest path to the right repair and to the right OEM Budgit Hoist Parts the first time.
If It’s the Motor Brake
Hold Test → Air Gap → Friction Discs → Coil
The motor brake is spring-set and electrically released: power energizes the coil to free the disc pack; loss of power lets the spring clamp and hold. Anything that weakens that clamp, such as a too-large air gap, thinned or glazed discs, or a release circuit that isn’t giving the coil what it needs, shows up as that telltale creep.
Work the sequence that saves time and budget.
· Land or block the load, then verify the hold. Energize, lift a few inches, stop, remove power. If the hook moves after the power is off, you’re in the right neighborhood and working safely.
· Measure and reset the air gap to factory spec. Budgit sets the brake air gap at 0.100 in. As discs wear, the gap opens; when it reaches 0.200 in, readjust it back to 0.100 in. Many “mystery drifts” end here with no parts required. Log the before/after so the next tech sees the trend, not just the snapshot.
· Inspect the friction discs and hardware. Glazing, oil contamination, heat checking, or a visibly thinned wear surface all reduce holding force even with a perfect gap. If you smell light burn, see dark scoring, or find wobbly guide hardware, plan on a disc-set replacement and a careful reset of the gap.
· Confirm the release circuit. A brake that buzzes, drags, or runs hot can be suffering from low coil voltage or poor connections. Electrical weakness can mimic a “weak brake” and send you chasing the wrong hoist parts.
This order matters because it gives you a fast, low-tool diagnostic that either fixes the symptom in minutes or cleanly justifies moving to parts. When replacement is the answer, buy once: OEM Budgit Hoist Parts (brake discs, coils, studs, mounts) fit and hold to spec, which is exactly what you want in a holding brake.
If It’s the Load Brake
Treat it Like a Calibrated Safety Device
The load brake is the governor for down. Inside is a pawl-and-ratchet assembly with a pre-loaded spring that keeps lowering smoothly and prevents runaway. When it’s right, down travel is steady; when it isn’t, you get inconsistent motion, binding in down, or the need to “bump” the pendant just to get movement.
Budgit treats this assembly as calibrated for a reason. Proper service requires controlled disassembly, correct ratchet orientation, and precise spring pre-load using the procedure and torque values in the manual. Over- or under-winding changes how the hoist behaves under load; this is not a place to improvise. If your shop regularly calibrates load brakes, follow the book; otherwise, isolate the symptom, pull the gear/clutch assembly, and send it to an authorized station. Your role in-house is the clean isolation, safe removal, and accurate reinstall—with OEM Budgit Hoist Parts standing by if replacement subassemblies are needed.
A common pattern after clearing a chain jam: motor brake checks good, discs are fresh, but down feels ratchety and inconsistent. That’s classic load-brake damage from the jam. Teams that resist swapping a perfectly good motor brake save days, not hours.
How We Help—OEM Budgit Hoist Parts, No Guesswork
We’re hoist-parts.com, and we sell OEM Budgit Hoist Parts—the exact components these hoists were built around. That includes motor-brake kits (friction discs, coils, hardware) and, when it’s the right call, complete load-brake/gear subassemblies. If your hoist creeps, binds, or slips and you’re not 100% sure which subsystem is failing, send us three things: when the symptom shows up, a nameplate photo, and what you’ve already measured (air gap, disc condition, voltage). We’ll help you zero in fast and build the correct hoist parts cart, so you buy once, install once, and get back to safe, predictable lifts.
Ready for a precise fix? Contact us to shop OEM Budgit hoist parts now.