What shock loading is
Shock loading is a repeated dynamic condition rather than a single event. Sudden accelerations, impacts at loading points or reversing drives generate peaks several times the steady load. The peaks damage plates, rollers and joints while the average load reading still looks acceptable.
Common causes
- Product dropped onto a conveyor at a transfer point
- Frequent stop start or reversing duty
- Backlash and lost motion in the drive train
- Reciprocating or indexing machines with high inertia loads
Warning signs
- Cracked plates and battered rollers with average load well within rating
- Loose or elongated joint clearances on a low hour chain
- Noise and vibration peaks at particular machine positions
- Failures that correlate with a specific part of the machine cycle
Prevention and correction
- Soften transfer points and control product fall height
- Add flywheels, resilient couplings or soft start to smooth peaks
- Size the chain from the peak load, not the average
- Remove backlash and check alignment of the drive train
Fix it with the right product
Drive and conveyor chain selectionNeed 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