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Our FAQs will give you a short description of common problems that might occur when using industrial chains. You will find information on possible causes, pictures of damaged chains to facilitate fast fault detection as well as practical tips on how to solve these problems.

Possible cause

Dynamic overload, high impact pressure, fatigue fracture

What to do
  • Check chain dimensioning
  • Choose more powerful chain
  • Reduce load
  • Attenuate chain drive
Broken bushings and/or rollers
Possible cause

Hydrogen embrittlement

What to do
  • Stop hydrogen supply
Broken plates and pins (unusual cracks)
Possible cause

Significant overload, overload breakage, result of fatigue fracture at another place, excessive chain wear far beyond replacement level

What to do
  • Check chain dimensioning
  • Select more powerful chain
  • Reduce load
  • Attenuate chain drive
Broken plates and/or broken pins without deformation
Possible cause

Dynamic overload, high impact load, fatigue fractures

What to do
  • Check chain dimensioning
  • Check wear level
  • Choose more efficient chain
  • Reduce load
Broken plates and/or pins with high deformation
Possible cause

Excessive chain and sprocket wear, no fixed shafts, insufficient chain tensioning, spring-loaded chain tensioning, not enough teeth

What to do
  • Replace chain and sprockets
  • Mount chain tensioner
  • Reduce slack in return strand
  • Higher number of sprocket teeth
Chain jumps off toothing
Possible cause

Strong polygon effect, eigenfrequency in the return strand, not enough teeth on sprockets, worn chain and / or sprockets, strands too long

What to do
  • Choose sprockets with more teeth
  • Mount chain tensioner
  • Change shaft center distances
  • Change speed
  • Use guide rails
Possible cause

High temperatures, chain overload by starting effects

What to do
  • Change ambient temperature
  • Check chain dimensioning
  • Improve lubrication
  • Reduce load
  • Reduce speed
Discoloration of chain
Possible cause

External impacts

What to do

Remove external impacts, plan chain protection box

External damage on chain
Possible cause

Strong joint wear due to insufficient lubrication and / or too high joint press, stiff chain, skew

What to do
  • Better lubrication or more frequent relubrication
  • More efficient chain
  • Replace with Biathlon / Marathon chain
  • Check alignment of chain drive
Noise development (squeaking)
Possible cause

Skew, insufficient alignment of sprockets (angle or parallel misalignment), twisted chain

What to do
  • Align chain drive
  • Test swirl and, if necessary
  • Untwist chain
One-sided wear of rollers, bushings and/or inner plates
Possible cause

Dynamic overload, high impact pressure, fatigue fractures, incorrect mounting of spring

What to do
  • Check chain dimensioning
  • Choose more powerful chain
  • Reduce load
  • Mount spring correctly
  • Use closed springs
  • Use connecting rings with cotters
  • Attenuate chain drive
Possible cause

Corrosion attack (laminar corrosion, stress crack corrosion, crevice corrosion, pitting corrosion)

What to do
  • Protect chain with chain casing
  • Use lubrication with corrosion protection
  • Coat chain
  • Replace with stainless steel chain
Rust development, material loss on components, pitting corrosion, unusual plate cracks
Possible cause

External influences, too much lubrication

What to do
  • Change ambient conditions
  • Plan chain protection box
  • Use wax or dry lubrication
  • Lubricate chain in joints only
  • Clean chain regularly
Soiling
Possible cause

Chain pitch does not match sprocket pitch, combination of worn chain with new sprockets, chain pre-tensioning too high

What to do
  • Check chain dimensioning
  • Use sprockets with hardened teeth
  • Replace sprockets AND chain
  • Use more efficient chain
  • Reduce load
  • Reduce speed
  • Check chain tensioning
Sprockets wear quickly
Possible cause

Angle and parallel displacement of sprockets, insufficient lubrication, clogging of joint or spaces between plates, soiling, twisted chains

What to do
  • Align sprockets
  • Improve lubrication
  • Clean chain and subsequently lubricate again
Possible cause

High friction in joint due to insufficient lubrication and / or too much joint pressure, chain tension too high

What to do
  • Check chain dimensioning
  • Choose more efficient chain
  • Replace with Biathlon / Marathon chain
  • Improve lubrication
  • Check chain tensioning
Twisted pins
Possible cause

Different chain lengths, uneven load, uneven lubrication, different drives

What to do
  • Match chains for lengths
  • Use the same lubrication for both chains
  • Ensure symmetric load for both chains
  • Drive both chains on one shaft
  • Check tension of both chains
Uneven elongation of parallel-running chains
Possible cause

Excessive joint wear due to insufficient elongation and / or too much joint pressure, chain tension too high

What to do
  • Check chain dimensioning
  • Choose more efficient chain
  • Use Biathlon/Marathon chain
  • Improve lubrication
  • Check chain tensioning
Unusual chain elongation, fretting (red oxidation) in the joints
Possible cause

Rollers overloaded, chain slants, chains and sprockets are worn, bad guide rails

What to do
  • Check chain dimensioning
  • Align chain drive
  • Check twist and untwist chain
  • Replace guide rails and sprockets
Worn rollers
Possible cause

Roller overload, stuck rollers

What to do
  • Check chain dimensioning
  • Choose more efficient chain
  • Reduce load
  • Reduce speed
Wound rollers open

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