Ningbo Ruican supplies custom feeder chain sprockets for combine harvesters, manufactured in 42CrMo4 alloy steel with quench-and-temper heat treatment. Each sprocket is investment cast (lost-wax) to near-net shape, then finished-machined on our 5-axis CNC centers to deliver precise tooth geometry, hardened wear flanks, and press-fit hub tolerances that keep feeder chains tracking under dust, chaff, and shock loads during wheat, corn, and rapeseed harvest.
Built for seasonal peak production, every sprocket is batch-traced from melt to shipment. Ningbo Ruican holds IATF 16949 certification and supplies tier-1 harvester OEMs and aftermarket distributors across Europe, North America, and South America.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Material grade | 42CrMo4 (EN 10083 / AISI 4140 equivalent) |
| Casting process | Silica-sol investment casting (lost-wax) |
| As-cast tolerance | ISO 8062 CT5 (≈ ±0.10 mm per 25 mm) |
| Post-machining tolerance | ±0.03 mm on hub bore & keyway; ±0.02 mm on tooth profile |
| Surface finish | Ra 1.6 µm hub / Ra 3.2 µm tooth flank |
| Part weight range | 1.2 – 8.5 kg |
| Wall thickness | 8 – 22 mm |
| Heat treatment | Quench & temper (Q&T), 38–42 HRC tooth flank; through-hardened hub optional |
| Surface treatment | Shot peening on root radius; optional black oxide or Zn flake coating |
| Applicable standards | ISO 606 (chain pitch), DIN 8187, ISO 9001 / IATF 16949 QMS, EN 10204 3.1 |
Key Features
- 42CrMo4 Q&T to 38–42 HRC on tooth flanks for abrasion resistance against chain pin wear.
- Investment-cast tooth profile minimizes secondary machining stock and preserves grain flow at the root radius.
- Induction-hardened tooth tips available for high-acreage combines running 60+ chains.
- Concentric hub within 0.05 mm TIR to prevent feeder-shaft vibration.
- Shot-peened root radius to raise fatigue endurance under cyclic crop surges.
- Pre-balanced for direct press-fit on feeder shafts; keyed, splined, and bolted hub variants available.
Typical Applications
- Combine harvester feederhouse drive chains (wheat, barley, corn, soy, rapeseed).
- Straw-walker and rotor-feed conveyor drives.
- Header feeder / auger drive sprockets.
- Aftermarket harvester replacement sprockets for John Deere, Claas, Case IH, New Holland, AGCO platforms.
- Custom OEM feeder chain upgrades for specialty harvesters.
Quality & Compliance
- IATF 16949 certified quality management system (Ningbo Ruican).
- PPAP / First Article Inspection (FAI) available on request.
- CMM inspection reports on every heat-treat lot; gear-tooth profile verified with a gear-measuring center.
- Material certificates to EN 10204 3.1, including chemical composition and mechanical properties.
- 100 % dimensional inspection on critical bores; magnetic-particle or dye-penetrant NDT on root radius.
- Batch traceability from pattern tooling to shipped carton.
FAQs
What tooth count and pitch can you cast? We cast sprockets from 12 to 60 teeth, in pitches from 12.7 mm (08B) up to 76.2 mm (48B). Send your drawing for a DFM review.
Can you match my OEM reference number? Yes. Share the OEM or chain-sizesheet reference (e.g., Claas, CNH, AGCO part number) and we will reverse-engineer the tooth profile from your sample or print.
What hardness can you guarantee on the tooth flank? Standard Q&T delivers 38–42 HRC. Induction or flame hardening can reach 50–55 HRC on the tip for high-cycle harvesters.
Do you supply pilot samples before serial production? Yes. We deliver a pilot batch (typically 50–200 pcs) with full FAI and PPAP documentation before serial release.
What is the typical lead time? Tooling 25–30 days, pilot samples 10–15 days after tooling approval, serial production 30–45 days depending on lot size.
Do you offer matched feeder-chain-and-sprocket kits? Yes — we cast the sprockets and source matched roller chains from audited partners, kitting everything under one part number for your line.
