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fm Page 380 Wednesday, August 17, 2005 9:20 AM

380 Standard Handbook of Chains

TABLE 15-1
Chain drive and conveyor inspection and maintenance guide (continued)

This table shows only some of the more common chain problems and possible causes and cures. It is only a general guide
for troubleshooting. The user should always consult the chain manufacturer when a chain fails.

SPROCKET WEAR
Inspect the sprockets for signs of worn teeth. As roller chain sprocket teeth wear in a drive, the
teeth begin to take on a “hooked” shape. A badly worn roller chain drive sprocket is shown in
Figure 15-1. Engineering steel drive sprockets wear in a similar way.
Idler sprockets for roller and engineering steel chain drives wear in a different way. There is
not much pressure on the working faces of the teeth on an idler sprocket. So idler sprockets usually
wear at the bottom of the tooth space. A badly worn idler sprocket for roller chain is shown in
Figure 15-2. When the tooth space is worn deeply enough, the chain rollers may bind against the
tooth tips as they enter and leave the idler sprocket.
It is very hard to measure sprocket wear directly. The sprocket teeth shown in Figure 15-1 and
Figure 15-2 are very badly worn and should be replaced. But some sprockets with less wear than
shown in Figure 15-1 may also need to be replaced.
If a new chain sticks, clings, or binds as it disengages from a sprocket tooth, the tooth may be
worn out and the sprocket may need to be replaced. If a high-speed drive is very noisy or runs
rough, the sprockets may be worn badly enough that they need to be replaced.
Reversing the sprocket on the shaft can sometimes extend the life of a worn sprocket. But this
is only possible if the flange is centered on the hub, or if there is space to do so.
Sprockets for silent chain wear in a much different way, but noise and rough running still may
indicate that the sprockets are worn and need to be replaced. Contact an ACA silent chain manu-
facturer for more information about silent chain sprocket wear.

CHAIN WEAR
Rotate two sprockets opposite each other to get a tight section of chain. Measure that tight section
of chain, as shown in Figure 15-3. The section of chain that is measured should be at least 1 ft
long or contain at least eight pitches of chain.

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