Sprocket wear - Donghua

Sprocket wear, recognise it in time and avoid downtime – Donghua explains

Een versleten kettingwiel is vaak de stille boosdoener in industriële aandrijfsystemen. Het leidt tot versnelde kettingslijtage, verminderde efficiëntie en uiteindelijk ongeplande stilstand. Bij Donghua leveren we niet alleen hoogwaardige kettingen en kettingwielen, we zorgen er ook voor dat u begrijpt hoe slijtage ontstaat en hoe u het voorkomt.

This is how wear occurs on your sprocket – Donghua explains

Wear usually starts on the tooth flanks of the wheel – where the chain rollers make constant contact. This is a normal process with use, but excessive wear can result from improper conditions. Think improper chain fit, poor alignment, overloading, shocks in the drive, or using a sprocket without hardened teeth. An outdated chain that no longer fits properly also accelerates wheel wear.

What are the consequences of sprocket wear? Donghua warns of risks

You can recognise a worn sprocket by pointed or worn-in teeth, an increased noise level during use, vibrations, or a chain skipping. All these signs indicate that the tooth shape no longer fits the chain correctly, causing it to pull crookedly and wear faster. Ultimately, this leads to higher maintenance costs and unexpected downtime of your installation.

When should you replace a sprocket? Donghua provides practical guidelines

Our advice: replace a sprocket after using three chains. When a new chain is placed on a worn wheel, it will not engage properly and wear out at an accelerated rate. Regular visual inspection of the sprocket when replacing a chain is therefore essential. Do not wait for the failure to occur, but anticipate with timely maintenance.

Avoid unnecessary wear – Donghua’s tips for longer life

By choosing smartly and maintaining them properly, you will significantly prolong the life of your sprockets. For continuous use or high loads, always choose a wheel with hardened teeth. In addition, ensure accurate alignment of the chain and monitor the tooth profile regularly. Poor fitting or deformed tooth shapes accelerate wear – and that is a waste of your investment

Sustainable drive starts at Donghua - this is how we solve wear problems

At Donghua, we think beyond standard solutions. We offer sprockets with hardened teeth, help you choose the right chain and wheel, and provide customised solutions from our own production. In our in-house laboratory, we can also analyse worn parts so that we can provide you with targeted advice on improvements. Are you suffering from recurring wear or downtime? Contact us – together we will ensure a durable and reliable driveline.

Donghua strives for service and collaboration: More than just supplying

We believe in collaboration. That’s why we sell our industrial roller chains and sprockets exclusively through a network of stocking partners (MROs) and to machine builders (OEMs). This ensures fast delivery, local availability, and technical support when needed. Our engineering team provides custom advice and guidance to ensure that your drive systems always perform at their best. Together with our partners, we build sustainable solutions and long-lasting relationships.

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