Chain drive

Chain drive

Chain drive is a way of transmitting mechanical power from one place to another. It is often used to convey power to the wheels of a vehicle, particularly bicycles and motorcycles. It is also used in a wide variety of machines besides vehicles.Most often, the power is conveyed by a roller chain, known as the drive chain or transmission chain,passing over a sprocket gear, with the teeth of the gear meshing with the holes in the links of the chain. The gear is turned, and this pulls the chain putting mechanical force into the system.

Chains versus belts

Roller chain and sprockets is a very efficient method of power transmission compared to belts, with far less frictional loss.

Although chains can be made stronger than belts, their greater mass increases drive train inertia.


Drive chains are most often made of metal, while belts are often rubber, plastic, or other substances. Drive belts can slip unless they have teeth which means that the output side may not rotate at a precise speed, and some work gets lost to the friction of the belt against its rollers. Teeth on toothed drive belts generally wear faster than links on chains, but wear on rubber or plastic belts and their teeth is often easier to observe.