What pin and bush wear is
Every roller chain joint is a plain bearing: the pin rotates inside the bush under load. Wear here is normal and predictable, but rate of wear decides chain life. Accelerated pin and bush wear is the number one reason industrial chains are replaced early.
Common causes
- Inadequate or infrequent lubrication between pin and bush
- Abrasive contamination in the joint clearance
- Continuous operation at high speed with high articulation
- Corrosive atmospheres attacking the bearing surfaces
Warning signs
- Pitch growth measured well ahead of the expected wear rate
- Brown or black oxide slurry weeping from joints
- Rattling joints and a hot chain after running
- Rough pin surfaces and scored bush bores on sectioned samples
Prevention and correction
- Use a penetrating lubricant that reaches the pin and bush, not a surface coat
- Shorten re-lubrication intervals in hot, wet or dusty conditions
- Specify stainless or coated chain for corrosive areas
- Track wear rate per month and act on any step change
Fix it with the right product
Roller chains with lubrication guidanceNeed 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