How to lubricate and care for them
How to Lubricate a New Chain
You've just spent a large amount of money, possibly as much as tens of thousands of dollars, on a new drive chain. You had to buy it because your old chain has stretched to nearly 102% percent of its original length. (Chains don't actually stretch, but they do appear to get longer... click here to learn why.) As soon as it hits the 3% mark, or preferably a bit before, that chain is going to have to be replaced. What is the best way to treat the new chain? And, more importantly, how can you make sure you get the maximum life out of this new purchase, instead of having to replace it in a few months?
Interflon has decades of experience working with clients in this situation. Our goal is to help you save money on chain maintenance, lubrication, and replacement. Over the years, we have gained tremendous expertise in this field, and we routinely help clients extend their chain life by two times, often much more. Instead of getting just three or four months out of a chain, you can get six months, eight months, or more. In addition, you'll be spending less on lubricant and less on man-hours required to maintain the chain. Call us at (877) FIN-LUBE to find out how we can do the same for your company.
Below, we offer the tips every industrial production facility should follow immediately upon receiving a new chain. Even before the chain is installed, there are key precautions you must take in order to protect your company's very expensive investment.
5 steps to get the most out of your new chain.
1. Clean it.
Interflon recommends immediately immersing your new chain in a cleaner, such as our Interflon Degreaser EM30+. The reason for this is simple: although your chain may come already coated, the coating is usually not designed for actual use. Instead, it's there to protect the chain from damage or corrosion during shipping. It's often a wax coating that comes off easily and has nothing like the staying power of an Interflon lubricant. If you attempt to lubricate the chain without removing this coating, the capillary action of the lubricant will be affected, and it will not be able to reach into all the tiny spaces that must be coated in order to prevent metal-on-metal contact.
2. Blow the chain dry with compressed air.
After cleaning, complete this step. This is the best way to make sure that you remove all traces of soil, as well as any lingering amounts of cleaner, which will prevent the lubricant from doing its job properly.
3. Apply lubricant.
That's right... apply the lubricant that is appropriate for the purpose the chain will be used for, even if you don’t plan to install it right away. This accomplishes two things: the chain will be well protected for as long as it sits in storage, and it will be ready to go at a moment's notice.
4. Allow the chain to hang until dry.
Note that we do not recommend blow-drying the lubricant from the chain. That's only for cleaner. After lubing, allow it to dry naturally. This will allow the capillary action of Interflon lubricants with MicPol® to complete their work of getting into every tiny nook and cranny, ensuring that all pins, bushings, and rollers are thoroughly coated.
5. Store the lubricated chain.
That way, it’s ready to go at a moment’s notice, and you can be sure it will be properly protected from corrosion even before it is used.
Protip: A chain should never be dry. It should always be coated in the lubricant best suited for its purpose, even before it's installed.
