What is Chain Supply UK - CSUK?

BS & ANSI Roller Chains British Engineered Excellence Since 2005 UK manufacturer & supplier of British Standard (BS) and American Standard (ANSI) roller chains, shaft mounted gear units (SMGU/SMSR) & industrial drive solutions. Serving Mining, Food Processing, Agriculture & Manufacturing from Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

🇺🇸Fast international shipping to the USA. ANSI-standard chains in stock.

UK: +44 1709 878 282

Chain Failure Glossary

Failure mode

Misalignment

Also known as Shaft misalignment, parallel and angular offset

What misalignment is

Misalignment exists when sprocket faces are not in the same plane, when shafts are not parallel, or both. The chain then side loads against the tooth flanks. Wear concentrates on one side of the plates and teeth, and the chain can climb off the sprocket under load.

Common causes

Installation without a straight edge or laser check across both sprockets
Frame movement, settling or thermal expansion of a machine
Shaft deflection under load from a long, unsupported span
Worn bearings allowing the shaft to shift off centre

Warning signs

Wear and bright polish on one side of the plates and teeth only
Chain riding to one side of the sprocket or climbing off
Uneven elongation across strands of a multi-strand chain
Repeat failures at the same link positions

Prevention and correction

Align sprockets with a straight edge or laser at installation and re-check annually
Support long shafts and check bearing condition
Keep sprockets as close to the bearings as the drive design allows
Correct frame movement rather than compensating by re-tensioning