Chain Failure Glossary
Failure mode
Side Plate Cracking
Also known as Link plate fracture, sidebar failure
What side plate cracking is
Side plate cracking covers plate fractures that are not purely tensile overload. Plates crack across the waist between pin holes, along the plate edge, or radially from a pin hole. The location of the crack tells you whether the cause is fatigue, embrittlement or mechanical damage.
Common causes
- Fatigue from cyclic loading with a poor surface finish on holes or edges
- Hydrogen embrittlement after acid pickling and plating without adequate baking
- Pinch or jaw damage during fitting with a chain tool
- Shock loads from jammed material in conveying applications
Warning signs
- Visible splits across the plate waist or radiating from a pin hole
- Broken links clustered in one section of the chain
- Chain failure shortly after a plating or rework batch is fitted
- Fine cracks visible only under magnetic particle or dye penetrant inspection
Prevention and correction
- Specify components with controlled hole edge quality and no stamping burrs
- Source plated chain from suppliers who bake after plating
- Use the correct pin extraction and pressing tools when fitting
- Clear jams promptly and fit overload protection on conveying drives
Fix it with the right product
Roller chain supplier hubNeed 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