Description
Product Overview
The LF520 is a narrow-pitch flat top chain family — designating a 50.8 mm (2 inch) pitch rather than the 25.4 mm pitch of the standard LF820 series. Despite the wider pitch, the LF520 operates at lower maximum speed and lower maximum working load than the LF820: maximum dry-run speed 50 m/min, maximum lubricated 80 m/min, working load 1,250 N, and maximum conveyor run 12 m. These reduced ratings reflect the LF520’s application domain — it is not a general-purpose flat top chain but a specialised chain designed for specific mechanical conveying and drive applications where the 50.8 mm pitch matches existing sprocket and frame infrastructure. EverPower plastic chain Australia Pty Ltd supplies the LF520 as a direct replacement for System Plast 520 across all standard width designations.
Standard packing is 10 ft (3.048 m) per box at 39 links per metre — fewer links per metre than the LF820 (26 links/m) as a direct consequence of the doubled pitch. The chain body is POM-C with SUS304 stainless steel connecting pins and operates across the standard temperature range of −40 °C to +90 °C.
Why a 50.8 mm Pitch Exists in Flat Top Chain
The 50.8 mm (2 inch) pitch in the LF520 is not an arbitrary dimension — it corresponds to the standard pitch of ANSI double-pitch roller chain (ANSI B29.3), the steel chain family that the LF520 was developed to replace in plastic-compatible applications. Double-pitch roller chains are widely used in agricultural, industrial, and material handling equipment where the reduced link count per metre (half that of standard single-pitch chain) reduces chain weight, cost, and the number of lubrication points — advantages that matter in dry, non-food environments where chain weight per metre and cost per metre are the primary selection criteria.
When a facility handling or processing food products with double-pitch steel chain equipment wants to eliminate steel corrosion risk in wet or food-adjacent zones, the LF520 provides a direct dimensional replacement for the steel double-pitch chain. The sprocket pitch circle diameter and tooth spacing for ANSI double-pitch chain are the same as for the LF520 — the existing sprockets typically do not need to be changed, simplifying the conversion from steel to plastic chain on existing equipment.
LF520 vs LF820: Choosing the Right Pitch for New Installations
For new conveyor installations where no existing chain pitch infrastructure constrains the specification, the LF820 (25.4 mm pitch) is almost always the superior choice over the LF520. The LF820 provides higher working load, higher maximum speed, longer maximum run, and a denser link support grid (26 links/m vs 39 links/m — note: LF820 has more links per metre at 25.4 mm pitch, providing more product support points per metre of conveyor). The LF520’s 50.8 mm pitch creates a wider gap between successive link plates, which is problematic for small products whose base diameter is comparable to the 50.8 mm inter-plate gap.
The LF520 is specified for new installations only when the application explicitly requires the 50.8 mm pitch — typically for integration with existing double-pitch sprockets and frames already installed on the line, or for drive applications where 50.8 mm pitch sprocket availability and sizing is more convenient than the 25.4 mm pitch equivalent. For any new food or beverage conveyor project starting from a clean sheet, the LF820 is the correct starting specification.
| Parameter | LF520 (50.8 mm pitch) | LF820 (25.4 mm pitch) |
|---|---|---|
| Pitch | 50.8 mm (2 inch) | 25.4 mm (1 inch) |
| Links per metre | ~39 | ~26 |
| Working load | 1,250 N | Width-dependent, up to ~3,500 N |
| Max. speed (dry) | 50 m/min | 60 m/min |
| Max. speed (lub.) | 80 m/min | 90 m/min |
| Max. run | 12 m | Up to 24 m (width-dependent) |
| Product support density | Lower (wider inter-plate gap) | Higher (narrower inter-plate gap) |
| Best fit | Double-pitch replacement, drive applications | General conveying, food and beverage |
Application Contexts for the LF520 in Australia
Canning and jar processing equipment often uses double-pitch chain in the drying and labelling sections — zones where the chain is inside the machine housing and direct food contact does not occur, but where wash-down water reaches the chain during CIP cycles. Replacing the steel double-pitch chain in these zones with LF520 eliminates the corrosion problem without requiring sprocket changes or machine modifications.
Agricultural product grading and sorting machinery — particularly fruit and vegetable inspection tables — traditionally uses double-pitch roller chain to drive the product carriers or sorting fingers. In facilities transitioning to POM chain for hygiene compliance, the LF520 replaces the existing steel chain directly using the same drive sprockets, reducing the equipment modification required for the hygienic upgrade.
Matched Components EverPower Supplies
| Component | Description | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| LF520 Sprockets (50.8 mm pitch) | POM and SUS304, matched to double-pitch tooth profile | ✓ On request |
| LF520 Connecting Master Links | SUS304, all LF520 widths | ✓ In stock |
| LF820 Standard Flat Top (25.4 mm) | For new installations where existing pitch is not a constraint | ✓ In stock |
| Plastic Roller Chain C2042 / C2052 | For double-pitch roller chain drive applications | ✓ In stock |
What Our Customers Say
“LF520 replaced the double-pitch steel chain in our jar labelling machine — same sprockets, same frame, no modifications. The steel chain was corroding at the hinge pins from the rinse water during CIP. LF520 has run 16 months without corrosion or any adjustment. The direct pitch compatibility is what made the swap practical.”
— Maintenance Engineer, Jam and Condiment Production, Melbourne VIC
“Fruit grading conveyor in our packing shed. The double-pitch finger drive chain was rusting seasonally — we were replacing it every 12 months. LF520 went in without any machine changes. Two seasons in and the chain shows no corrosion and is still within elongation specification. We will not go back to steel chain in a wet-zone application.”
— Farm Operations Manager, Fruit Packing, Riverland SA
“LF520 on the drive section of our industrial parts washer conveyor. The 50.8 mm pitch matched our existing gear motor and sprocket assembly exactly. No retooling, no re-speccing the drive. The plastic chain handles the wash zone chemistry — alkaline at 80 °C — better than the steel chain we replaced.”
— Plant Engineer, Precision Parts Manufacturing, Sydney NSW
