OLD ROLLER CHAIN NUMBER EQUIVALENTS

[doxford jim]

Hi Guys,

I am wanting to replace the roller chain on my old snow blower.
The Allied King Bhuler catalogue shows the chain to be a RC-88 (old numbering series).
I have tried to find the equivalent number for present day numbering system (eg. #50 chain, #60 chain etc), but have had no success. Maybe it is because of what I have entered into the search engine - I don't know.

Can someone please point me into the right direction to find the proper equivalent.

Thank you

Jim

The blower concerned is a SB73" Allied King 3TPH tractor rear mount blower
- 1989 vintage.

 

[leonz]

Hi Guys,

I am wanting to replace the roller chain on my old snow blower.
The Allied King Bhuler catalogue shows the chain to be a RC-88 (old numbering series).
I have tried to find the equivalent number for present day numbering system (eg. #50 chain, #60 chain etc), but have had no success. Maybe it is because of what I have entered into the search engine - I don't know.

Can someone please point me into the right direction to find the proper equivalent.

Thank you

Jim

The blower concerned is a SB73" Allied King 3TPH tractor rear mount blower
- 1989 vintage.

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Do not worry about thier designations period-

Roller chain is universal so no worries there.

Take the entire chain to a chain seller that knows what to do with chain-Kaman, TSC
Farm N Fleet- any large equipment dealer/shop with salt spreaders.

You may need 2 boxes of roller chain for the repair and replacement which are 10 feet of roller chain per box for most of the middle sizes.


The side plates of the chain that are the connector have the chain size numbers stamped on them so no worries.

The chain reseller will have roller chain sizing charts and it will be available.

Just be sure you know you have a standard chain or an H series chain which is heavy duty use roller chain.

If at all possible buy the roller chain with cotter keys and the installation will be much easier for you.

You need to purchase a roller chain breaker and a roler chain tensioning tool
tp break and assemble the chain and to avoid a lot of aggravation and &^%&*(*&^ words and time.

REMEMBER the LOWER STRAND can not have any more than a 1/16 of an inch of slack when it is installed and tensioned as the drive chain travels in only one direction whether it has a tensioner or not and or an idler sprocket.

You should also invest in a roller chain tension gauge to avoid headaches and to monitor the chains condition during the season while under use.

Be sure to use Blue Loctite on the bolts securing the chain guard if it is expose and can be used to route the new chain.

IF you are fortunate to buy cotter keyed chain be sure to mount the chain with the cotter keys outward to aid in installing it and if it needs to be shortened.

 

[doxford jim]

Leonz

Thanks for the info. However, I just want to be able to determine the equivalent of RC-88 roller chain without disabling my snow blower and doing the job twice.

Up here where I live, last night the outside temperature was -23C or -8F. It is starting to get a little chilly. Like a dummy I left the work on my blower until the last minute. I live some 40+ miles out of town in a small village. I go to town once a week generally and would like to get the equivalent chain in that one trip - and still have the blower available for use if need be.

So, if anyone out there can give me a source for roller chain equivalents of RC-88, I would very much appreciate it.

Thx

Jim

 

[leonz]

Jim,

I have been around roller chain for a long time and its universal; even our german mining machinery had SAE chain so no worries.

if you can bring the entire chain with you to town you will be able to replace it if there is supplier of roller chain in the area.

Your chain may be simply the designation "roller chain eighty eight pitchs in length" which is the number of spaces which are between the rollers for this size chain in new chain.

Roller chain is roller chain is roller chain and sprockets too are SAE as everyone has the same size.

As long as you have a number stamped on the side link you can find it. If the chain has an H following the numerical size it denotes heavy duty chain.

 

[BXpanded]

Jim,
I've never heard of the RC-88 chain size. The #40, #50, #60 have been used for many years. There are also sizes like 428, 530, etc.
Just measure the pitch and width and you'll be able to figure out what size you need. Count the number of links to get the correct length. Don't forget a new master link.

 

[doxford jim]

Thanks for all the comments.

The RC-88 is the chain link description type lifted out of the makers parts manual - and yes I have seen similar numbers before - I am a retired Millwright, Marine Engineer and Stationary Engineer and am very familiar with fitting roller chains and a whole slew of associated equipment.

I am trying to get the modern "equivalent sizes" (ie.#50, #60 etc) of the older series chain links RC-88.

I guess this is beyond the knowledge of some of you younger "shade tree mechanics".

Again, thanks for the comments - I guess there is room for lots of improvements on this subject.

Cheers

Jim

 

[leonz]

Thanks for all the comments.

The RC-88 is the chain link description type lifted out of the makers parts manual - and yes I have seen similar numbers before - I am a retired Millwright, Marine Engineer and Stationary Engineer and am very familiar with fitting roller chains and a whole slew of associated equipment.

I am trying to get the modern "equivalent sizes" (ie.#50, #60 etc) of the older series chain links RC-88.

I guess this is beyond the knowledge of some of you younger "shade tree mechanics".

Again, thanks for the comments - I guess there is room for lots of improvements on this subject.

Cheers

Jim

I would bet the drive sprocket on your snow blower has 19 teeth- and would be equivalent to a Tsubaki RS25 1/4 inch pitch chain.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

McMaster lists the dimensions of the various chain sizes if you can get to the chain to measure it.
McMaster-Carr

If you were given the chain size over the phone could it be 80H (1" pitch heavy) vs. 88?

 

[aczlan]

Thanks for all the comments.
The RC-88 is the chain link description type lifted out of the makers parts manual - and yes I have seen similar numbers before - I am a retired Millwright, Marine Engineer and Stationary Engineer and am very familiar with fitting roller chains and a whole slew of associated equipment.
I am trying to get the modern "equivalent sizes" (ie.#50, #60 etc) of the older series chain links RC-88.
I guess this is beyond the knowledge of some of you younger "shade tree mechanics".

Is is possible that the RC-88 is the Bhuler designation for that chain?

If not, it shouldn't be a big deal to pull the shroud and measure the pitch of the chain with a micrometer, then see what size that translates to.

Aaron Z

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

Hi Guys,

I am wanting to replace the roller chain on my old snow blower.
The Allied King Bhuler catalogue shows the chain to be a RC-88 (old numbering series).
.

Could the RC-88 be bhulers part # having nothing to do with the size.. 1989 isn't that old and going back to the 70's chain # have been the same.
Bill

 

[TO_Bud]

Email the manufacturer and ask them for assistance. info@buhler.com

 

[doxford jim]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your replies - most appreciative.

It sure seems that the catogorizing of chains appears to be very challenging to get information on.

To answer some of the comments.

1) I have sent two emails to Buhler about the blower and have yet to get a reply. They could be weeks in answering - who knows.

2) Sometime today I will go with a set of caliper and measure the chain - possibly remove the joining link for accurate measurements. That should at least give me the main dimensions.

3) I still have to remove the chain guard to get a close up look - I might be able to get some further info when I do.

4) As best as I can tell after spending hours googling on the net, it seems as if the RC-88 might just be a British Standards number - a bit like ASME etc. That would just cover the standards for that type of chain and not be a size number.

Yes, there is a bit of work to do and being a "stubborn old sod", I will keep at it until I can get some real information that I can pass along to anyone who is interested.

Going on memory, I think my chain has a pitch of about 1" or longer and is close to 3/4" across (width?). I will find out for sure sometime today - hopefully the outside temperature will climb to around 0F or -17C or if I am real lucky, get even warmer

Anyways, whatever I come up with I will certainly pass along to you guys.

Thanks for all the positive comments and I apologize if I have come across as arrogant.

Cheers

Jim