Nitro® ANSI Roller Chains

ANSI standard roller chains are the most commonly used power transmission chains in the United States. Engineered for precision and long-term performance, Nitro® ANSI roller chains are built to handle a wide range of industrial applications and are fully manufactured to ANSI B29.1 standards. Our latest N2 Series represents the next generation of Nitro® roller chains—offering enhanced wear resistance, improved fatigue performance and longer service life in demanding environments.

Nitro® ANSI roller chains are available in multiple configurations, including single-strand and multi-strand options for applications requiring higher horsepower capacity or increased load handling.

Backed by more than 45+ years of roller chain manufacturing experience, Nitro® continues to engineer products that deliver dependable performance link after link. When you need a roller chain you can trust, choose one built with true industry expertise.

Double Pitch Roller Chain

ANSI Roller Chain Numbering Quick Guide

The ANSI roller chain numbering system makes it easy to identify a chain’s pitch, strength class, and configuration. Common sizes such as #40, #50 and #60 are determined by pitch, while additional letters and numbers indicate variations for heavier loads or multi-strand setups. We offer a complete ANSI roller chain numbering system guide that goes more in depth oh how chains get their identification numbers.

Common ANSI Chain Numbers

Chain numbers like 40, 50, 60 represent different pitch sizes and are the most widely used in industrial equipment. These sizes are fully standardized under ANSI B29.1 for consistent performance and interchangeability.
View our full roller chain size chart ›

What “H” Means (Heavy Series)

Chains marked with an “H”—such as 40H—feature thicker side plates for added shock load capacity and improved fatigue resistance. Heavy series chains are ideal for more demanding applications where higher strength is required.
Learn more about heavy series roller chains ›

What “-2” and “-3” Mean (Multi-Strand)

Designations like 40-2 and 40-3 refer to multi-strand roller chains. These chains use two or more parallel strands to significantly increase horsepower capacity and load distribution for high-demand power transmission systems.

This quick breakdown helps simplify chain identification and ensures you choose the right ANSI chain for your application. For complete technical details or sizing information, explore the links above.

ANSI Riveted vs Cottered Roller Chains

Chains are manufactured with two different pin constructions, which are referred to as riveted or cottered. Dimensionally both chains are the exact same other than the overall width where the cottered chain is slightly wider. The benefit with cottered is that it eliminates the need of grinding down the pin heads to disassemble the chain. This is especially beneficial when working with larger pitch roller chain.

There are certain situations where cottered chain is not recommend due to higher chances of cotter pins breaking or falling out. As an example, we recommend not using cottered chain in applications with severe vibrations or where material may contact the chain.

Standard Vs Heavy Duty ANSI Roller Chain

Standard roller chain and heavy duty roller chains mostly have the same dimensions. The main difference is that the heavy roller chains are produced with thicker inner & outer link plates. By using thicker plates, this improves the heavy duty chains working load strength and fatigue resistance. This makes the heavy duty roller chain a better choice for drives with moderate shock loads and/or frequent starting and stopping. Many customers ask if they can upgrade from standard to heavy series, so we created this guide to explain when you can and can not.