Engineering components supplier Bearing Man Group (BMG) extended its Tsubaki chain wear indicators with the addition of the large size gauges.

The Tsubaki wear indicator is a hand held maintenance tool that will reduce total cost of ownership in the long run. If used and implemented correctly, it can prevent individuals from running the chain until a catastrophic failure occurs, says BMG power transmission business unit manager Carlo Beukes.

He adds that the Tsubaki chain wear indicators enable plant and machinery engineers to accurately measure roller chain condition and to determine critical wear in a simple operation.

“These robust gauges are valuable tools to ensure machinery is maintained in pristine condition and for minimising unexpected chain failures that lead to costly production downtime.”

Meanwhile, the new Tsubaki BS large size indicators are available in sizes RS20B to RS48B and ANSI large size indicators cover sizes from RS100 to RS240. These complement the existing BS sets, which are used with sizes F06B to RS16B and ANSI sets for sizes RS35 to RS80.

He notes that to meet market demand, the new large size indicators are available as individual items, rather than as part of a set.

The corrosion-resistant gauges – manufactured to stringent quality specifications – have one end shaped to mount over a roller, while the tip of the other end indicates the degree of wear, by highlighting the total elongation over a number of links. Since the chain might wear unevenly, BMG stresses the importance of measuring on several points of the chain.

“By regularly checking and replacing chains before they reach 1.5% elongation, shock loads are prevented, and sprocket wear is significantly hindered,” says Beukes.

Correct chain care involves monitoring chain wear, which can cause a loss of tension, thus reducing transmission efficiency. He explains that chain wear also affects the alignment accuracy of the drive, which increases noise and vibration levels. If wear is allowed to increase to a critical point, the chain will begin riding and jumping on the sprockets, which causes shock loads, which, in turn, further accelerates wear.

Beukes concludes that these problems can be avoided with the regular use of BMG’s Tsubaki chain wear indicators by using it as part of the regular maintenance schedule of a machine or production to ensure optimum efficiency of the overall drive system.