<p>I'm not sure there's any official answer for this, however I can answer with an anecdote.</p>

<p>There have been a few times where I've come across old bricks that have been assembled together for a very long time (ie many years). When prised apart, I've spotted that the studs have actually made an indentation on the sides of the tubes.</p>

<p>Based on this, I wonder whether there's more danger of bricks losing their clutch power from being assembled (which means they're in compression) for a long time, rather than being repeatedly assembled and dis-assembled?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-21T13:57:22.287Z
Good points but, for this one, I'm focussing on the mechanical wear instead of the ageing effects
pcantin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-21T11:35:49.543Z
2012-12-21T11:35:49.543Z
Frankie Roberto
<p>The optimal clutch power is attained after 8 to 10 couplings(search for "clutch"); that is, before that, the bricks will sometimes cling a little too much on each other.</p>

<p>However, I don't think anyone ever actually stated when clutch power would start to deteriorate. I'd tend to assume that once the optimal clutch is reached, there is just enough plastic at the coupling to make it work, but not enough that it would wear of.</p>

<p>Of course, as you said, I suppose there is still a little that wears off, but I'd wager it isn't that much, and it's probably negligible with regards to the manufacturing tolerance of the bricks. In other words, you're more likely to find two bricks which come loose too easily because they're at the limit of the tolerance, each at a different extreme; than to take two bricks with normal clutch power and try to wear them off so that they too come loose easily.</p>

<p>Then again, I don't think it's ever been extensively tested. We'd need two bricks, and a robot that assembles/disassemble them a great many times. (Unless you want to do it manually)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-21T13:54:35.360Z
I have to say that, unless there was already data available, my plan was to build a robotic rig to test this.
pcantin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-23T01:31:39.887Z
You must start this right away and give your results!
Lynnea Taylor
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-21T08:38:39.480Z
2012-12-21T08:38:39.480Z
Joubarc
<h1>37,112 times</h1>
<p>Well I did it. I built a <a href="http://phillipecantin.blogspot.ca/2013/02/legos-magic-number-is-37112.html" rel="noreferrer">machine</a> to test this. It took 10 days until the LEGO at the bottom couldn't stay on anymore.</p>
<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/rTJKK.jpg" alt="lego clutch tester 5000" /></p>
<p><a href="http://phillipecantin.blogspot.ca/2013/02/legos-magic-number-is-37112.html" rel="noreferrer">&gt;&gt;&gt; Check my blog for more details</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-05T10:14:46.667Z
Now that's dedication
Joubarc
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-15T18:11:09.110Z
Did one side give out more than the other, or are they both equally worn?
QWasson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-15T18:27:07.880Z
Because there was rotation in the movement, it worn for one position but sticks a little when turned 180deg
pcantin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-18T14:49:13.110Z
@pcantin lol. I saw your test posted on my local LUG site. I rushed over here to post it, but somehow, you already knew about it...
Major Stackings
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-18T15:11:00.160Z
I'm riding this wave of visitors for 3 days now.  This story is going around the whole net (ArsTecnica, Make blog, Arduino.cc, ... ). The cool thing for us, is that it created a massive flow of hits on our LEGO SE.  I hope that many people join us on this site.  What a promotion.
pcantin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-19T02:00:32.043Z
@pcantin I think it would be very interesting to try out your device on a cheaper LEGO imitation brand brick and see if the brick wears out with significantly fewer repetitions.
ulmangt
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-19T02:06:35.320Z
@ulmangt This is definitely an option when I do the next test rig.
pcantin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-03-01T01:50:16.180Z
2015-03-07T19:34:11.793Z
2020-06-18T08:28:58.637Z
pcantin
<p>In <a href="http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/08/24/why-are-legos-so-expensive/">this article</a> it's mentioned that one very important feature of the LEGO bricks are their 'clutch power' which is "the ability of its bricks to snap together tightly while also being easy to separate, thereby readily allowing for de- and reconstruction"</p>

<p>Since a LEGO brick is ABS plastic and will wear with use, I wonder how many times you can assemble and dis-assemble two pieces before they no longer stay together.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-12-21T01:33:34.753Z
+1 for 'clutch power' - hadn't realized it was a term used for more than the character
Lynnea Taylor
<plastics><durability>
How much usage can a LEGO piece take before it loses its 'clutch power'?
pcantin
# How much usage can a LEGO piece take before it loses its 'clutch power'?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-12-21)

In [this article](http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/08/24/why-are-legos-so-expensive/) it's mentioned that one very important feature of the LEGO bricks are their 'clutch power' which is "the ability of its bricks to snap together tightly while also being easy to separate, thereby readily allowing for de- and reconstruction"

Since a LEGO brick is ABS plastic and will wear with use, I wonder how many times you can assemble and dis-assemble two pieces before they no longer stay together.

**Tags:** plastics, durability

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: +1 for 'clutch power' - hadn't realized it was a term used for more than the character  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2013-03-01. Score: 273 | Accepted answer

# 37,112 times

Well I did it. I built a [machine](http://phillipecantin.blogspot.ca/2013/02/legos-magic-number-is-37112.html) to test this. It took 10 days until the LEGO at the bottom couldn't stay on anymore.

![lego clutch tester 5000](https://i.sstatic.net/rTJKK.jpg)

[>>> Check my blog for more details](http://phillipecantin.blogspot.ca/2013/02/legos-magic-number-is-37112.html)

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Now that's dedication  
> **username_4**: Did one side give out more than the other, or are they both equally worn?  
> **username_0**: Because there was rotation in the movement, it worn for one position but sticks a little when turned 180deg  
> **username_5**: @username_0 lol. I saw your test posted on my local LUG site. I rushed over here to post it, but somehow, you already knew about it...  
> **username_0**: I'm riding this wave of visitors for 3 days now.  This story is going around the whole net (ArsTecnica, Make blog, Arduino.cc, ... ). The cool thing for us, is that it created a massive flow of hits on our LEGO SE.  I hope that many people join us on this site.  What a promotion.  
> **username_6**: @username_0 I think it would be very interesting to try out your device on a cheaper LEGO imitation brand brick and see if the brick wears out with significantly fewer repetitions.  
> **username_0**: @username_6 This is definitely an option when I do the next test rig.  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-12-21. Score: 21

The optimal clutch power is attained after 8 to 10 couplings(search for "clutch"); that is, before that, the bricks will sometimes cling a little too much on each other.

However, I don't think anyone ever actually stated when clutch power would start to deteriorate. I'd tend to assume that once the optimal clutch is reached, there is just enough plastic at the coupling to make it work, but not enough that it would wear of.

Of course, as you said, I suppose there is still a little that wears off, but I'd wager it isn't that much, and it's probably negligible with regards to the manufacturing tolerance of the bricks. In other words, you're more likely to find two bricks which come loose too easily because they're at the limit of the tolerance, each at a different extreme; than to take two bricks with normal clutch power and try to wear them off so that they too come loose easily.

Then again, I don't think it's ever been extensively tested. We'd need two bricks, and a robot that assembles/disassemble them a great many times. (Unless you want to do it manually)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I have to say that, unless there was already data available, my plan was to build a robotic rig to test this.  
> **username_1**: You must start this right away and give your results!  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-12-21. Score: 12

I'm not sure there's any official answer for this, however I can answer with an anecdote.

There have been a few times where I've come across old bricks that have been assembled together for a very long time (ie many years). When prised apart, I've spotted that the studs have actually made an indentation on the sides of the tubes.

Based on this, I wonder whether there's more danger of bricks losing their clutch power from being assembled (which means they're in compression) for a long time, rather than being repeatedly assembled and dis-assembled?

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Good points but, for this one, I'm focussing on the mechanical wear instead of the ageing effects  

---

