Handrail Drive Chain

Overview

Handrail drive chains transmit power from the escalator drive unit to the handrail friction wheel, keeping the handrail synchronised with the step speed. When the chain stretches, the handrail lags behind the steps, and the speed deviation is logged as a safety fault. One Elevator supplies replacement drive chains sized to the original specification, including duplex and triplex versions where the drive requires them.

Applications

They are fitted on escalators and moving walks from OTIS, KONE, Schindler, Mitsubishi, ThyssenKrupp and Hyundai, in the same environments as the main drive: metro stations, airports, malls and hotels. A worn drive chain shows up as handrail slip and speed deviation, so it is usually replaced together with the friction wheel. Replacing both at once costs little more in parts and avoids a second shutdown. Chains on outdoor and coastal units corrode from the inside out, so we recommend a sealed or plated version even where the original was plain steel.

Types and Range

Simplex, duplex and triplex handrail drive chains
Standard and heavy-duty series for transit escalators
Chains with extended pins for fitted attachments
Corrosion-resistant versions for outdoor and coastal installations
Matched sets supplied with tensioner sprockets and idler wheels
Chains cut to length with the correct connecting and offset links

Length is confirmed from the machine model or by counting links on the old chain.

Selection Guide

When ordering, check the pitch and strand count, the number of links, and whether the chain carries attachments. Inspect the friction wheel and sprocket teeth at the same time; a new chain on worn sprockets will wear out in months. Check the tensioner travel as well, because a chain fitted at the end of its adjustment range will need retensioning within weeks. Each chain is tested for tensile load and pitch accuracy before dispatch.

Ordering and Lead Time

Tell us the equipment brand, model and the marking stamped on the chain, and we will cross-reference the part and return a firm quote, usually within 24 hours.

Frequently asked questions

How do I identify a handrail drive chain?: Count the strands and measure the pitch and the pin diameter. The marking stamped on the side plates usually identifies it outright.
Should the chain and the friction wheel be changed together?: Yes on high-duty machines. A new chain on a glazed friction wheel slips, and a new wheel on a stretched chain runs slack.
How fast can you quote?: Send the equipment brand, model and the chain marking, and we will cross-reference the part and return a firm quote, usually within 24 hours.