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  • Star Roller Grill Issue

    Posted by kchris on January 16, 2025 at 10:21 am

    I have a Star Roller Grill model 50SCE that I recently replaced all of the roller assemblies on. When I got everything put back together I noticed that the drive train slips at times and I can’t find anything wrong to cause it. Do the chains on these wear out or loosen? I was going to replace the chain and the spring extension. The idler arm appears fine, no damage or wear and tear. All of the sprockets are working correctly. Anyone have an opinion on this? I appreciate the help.

    fixbear replied 3 weeks, 4 days ago 2 Members · 3 Replies
  • 3 Replies
  • fixbear

    Member
    January 16, 2025 at 4:52 pm

    Roller chains do wear. mostly internally with the pin/roller. That makes the pitch change and not match the sprockets. But if run with worn chains, the sprockets also wear and the chain climbs up on the tooth. Often breaking off the top of the tooth. And no amount of tightening of an idler will correct it. Also watch for the chain wanting to hang onto the sprocket. Usually lack of lubrication of the roller chain. They have to be soaked to get the oil into the pin/roller area.

  • kchris

    Member
    January 19, 2025 at 8:40 am

    Thank you for the reply? I am going to replace the chain and the idler sprockets. Do I need to oil the new chain when I get it and what do you recommend for chain lubricant?

  • fixbear

    Member
    January 19, 2025 at 10:07 pm

    a food grade mineral oil would be sufficient. Soaking in a pan overed for 12 hours is best, then drain. Often on the roller grills, the chain gets abused by improper cleaning and strong degreasing solutions. The chain should be removed like every 6 to 12 months and resoaked. Chain is cheap, sprockets are the big cost. Mainly due to the precision and hardening process.

    On a side, back in the early seventies, I bought a two stage 8 ft snow blower. I would go through two sets of sprockets and chain a year. Thats when i contacted Boston Gear on chain drives. After upsizing the chain to 80 and keeping a spare chain in bar oil that we changed every other storm, I never had to replace any more sprockets. New chain every year.

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