What galling is
Galling is severe adhesive wear that affects stainless steel and other alloys with weak protective surface films. Under pressure, contact asperities weld, tear and pick up on each other, leaving torn metal and a joint that seizes.
Common causes
- Stainless steel running against stainless steel with no lubricant film
- High contact pressure from an undersized or overloaded drive
- High sliding speed at the joint during articulation
- Contaminant-free but dry running conditions in food plant
Warning signs
- Torn, rough pins and bush bores with material transfer
- Seized joints that resist articulation and cause kinking
- Rapid localised wear at only a few joints
- Metal fragments and black debris in the chain case
Prevention and correction
- Always lubricate stainless drives with a food grade or dry film lubricant
- Reduce contact pressure by increasing pitch or bearing area
- Avoid fine surface finishes that weld more readily, use the specified finish
- Inspect seized joints early and replace rather than force them free
Fix it with the right product
Food process and stainless chainsNeed a second opinion?
Send us the chain, the running hours and a photo. Our engineers will confirm the failure mode and quote the right replacement.
All chain failure modes
Chain ElongationFatigue FailureSide Plate CrackingPin and Bush WearRoller Wear and SpallingAbrasive WearAdhesive WearCorrosionStress Corrosion CrackingHydrogen EmbrittlementGallingSurface PittingTensile OverloadShock LoadingImpact FractureLubrication StarvationTight Links and KinkingMisalignmentChordal ActionSprocket Tooth Wear
Same & Next-Day Delivery Areas
Roller chain supply across South Yorkshire & the North
Dispatched from our Rotherham depot — order by 1pm for next-working-day delivery, or collect same-day within our 30-mile radius.
RotherhamDepot location
Sheffield9 mi · ~25 min
Barnsley6 mi · ~15 min
Doncaster16 mi · ~30 min
Mexborough3 mi · ~8 min
Maltby5 mi · ~12 min
Wath-upon-Dearne4 mi · ~10 min
Wakefield20 mi · ~35 min
Leeds25 mi · ~45 min
Huddersfield30 mi · ~50 min
Scunthorpe22 mi · ~35 min
Mansfield28 mi · ~45 min
Chesterfield18 mi · ~30 min
Worksop14 mi · ~25 min