Chain technique

The storage of products before their assembly onto the installation should be such that their initial quality is retained. In particular, the following rules must be obeyed:
• Keep products away from a damp, corrosive or dusty atmosphere or where they may come into contact with harmful chemicals,
• Protect against mechanical damages or accidents,
• Do not exceed the stipulated storage period suitable with the original factory lubrication
The product should be handled with care, and operators should be advised on how to avoid its deterioration. In particular, shocks and forces applied perpendicular to the linkplates can cause kinks in the chain.

Before using the chain, it must be ensured that the quality of the installation conforms to advice given here above. When all the checks have been made, adjust chain length.

When assembling, the following safety rules should be obeyed:
• Wear safety glasses, safety gloves and safety shoes.
• Remove motor fuses, clamp motor starters of I.C. engines etc., to ensure no accidental premature start up.
• Use suitable, good quality tools.

In addition, the following applies to all chain drive installations:
• Take care when unrolling the chain, not to twist it.
• Chain must be properly handled to protect the chain itself or some of its components from damage.
• Transverse forces during assembly must be controlled by guides to avoid deforming the chain.
• Place the connecting link on the slack strand and take notice to fit it the right way.
• Do not fit new links into a worn chain or a new chain onto worn sprockets.
• When a link is damaged, replace it completely, and not just the damaged part. Change any link which may have been accidentally heated by a blow lamp or torch near the chain.

Before starting-up, check:
• the connecting link assembly, the fitting of spring clips with the closed end pointing in the direction of chain travel, that nuts are properly tightened and that there are no tight joints.
• the absence of nuts, tools and spanners on the chain or trapped in the installation.

Upon starting-up:
• start off slowly and gradually, keeping a close watch during the first revolution or first cycle of the process,
• run the drive under a light load or none at all for a while,
• check the complete drive after a few hours or days of use,
• check that the forces on the chain are like those in the cal- culation used for the chain selection,
• The state and position of the lubricant nozzles should be checked. The color and degree of lubricant contamination enables the efficiency of the lubricant to be measured, and also whether it is sufficient and when it should be renewed. If this is the case, apply once again or empty the installation using a lubricant of the same quality or superior quality.  First it is necessary to get rid of the lubricant and clean the chain in order to get rid of deposits of dirty oil which could prevent the lubricant from penetrating the contacting surfaces (between the plates).