Is C55 and CA550 Chain Interchangeable?
When selecting industrial or agricultural chains, particularly for conveyors, elevators, and machinery, you may ask:
Can C55 and CA550 chains be interchanged?
The answer is no, but understanding why requires exploring their specifications, design intent, and compatibility.
What Is C55 Chain?
Type: Cast combination conveyor chain
Pitch: 1.631″ (41.4 mm)
Construction:
Cast inner links with block-style barrels
Steel pin links
Symmetrical design — can operate bidirectionally
Strength:
Tensile strength ~12,150 lb (≈54 kN)
Application: Common in bucket elevators, flight conveyors, grain handling, sugar processing, etc.
| Pitch | Sidebar height | Sidebar thickness | Pin diameter | Barrel diameter | Tensile strength |
| 1.631"(41.4mm) | 0.75" | 0.188" | 0.375" | 0.72" | 9000-12150 lb |
What Is CA550 Chain?
Type: Agricultural roller chain
Pitch: 1.630″ (41.4 mm)
Construction:
Solid rollers, heat-treated steel components
Designed for high durability in agricultural environments
Strength:
Ultimate tensile strength ~11,250 lb
Application: Common in corn head gathering chains and agricultural drive systems
| Pitch | Roller diameter | Roller width | Pin diameter | Plate height | Plate thickness | Ultimate strength |
| 1.630"(41.4mm) | 0.656" | 0.797" | 0.281" | 0.750" | 0.105" | 11250 lb |
CA550 Chain Attachments
We offer various chain attachments for you to choose from to meet different application needs
CA Series Chain with C17E Attachment
CA Series Chain with K12 Attachment
CA Series Chain with C6E Attachment
Non-Interchangeability of C55 and CA550 Chains
| Feature | C55 Chain | Interchange？ | |
| Pitch | 1.631" | 1.630" | ✔ Pitch matches |
Roller diameter | ~0.72" | 0.656" | ✘ NO |
Pin diameter | ~0.375" | ~0.281" | ✘ NO |
Plate height/thickness | Heavier cast links | 0.750"/0.105" | ✘ NO |
Typical application fit | Conveyors, elevators | Agricultural gathering | ✘ NO |
Roller & Roller Width:
C55 uses barrel cast blocks.
CA550 uses precise rollers of specific widths.
Pin Diameter & Plate Thickness:
C55 pins are larger (0.375″ vs. 0.281″),
CA550 plates are thinner.
Wear & Application Mismatch:
C55 excels in abrasive conveyor settings; CA550 is tailored to dynamic agricultural stress.
Strength & Fatigue:
C55 is stronger overall, but not engineered for rolling stresses under diverse loading.
C55 and CA550 chains are not interchangeable.
They may share pitch, but differ significantly in pins, rollers, attachments, and usage. Installing the wrong chain risks poor engagement, accelerated wear, broken attachments, or outright failure.
CTS | Chain and Sprocket Manufacturer
In addition to the C55 chain and CA550 chain, we also produce sprockets for use with them. If you need custom chain sprockets, we also provide custom service for you.
CA550 Chain Sprocket
C55 Chain Sprocket
CTS®-ChinaTransmissionS is a trusted supplier of industrial power transmission solutions. We have supplied agricultural chains and sprockets for many years.
Our durable agricultural machinery chains, such as CA550, CA555, CA557, CA620, etc., are replacements for many well-known brand agricultural machinery chains. Our high-quality agricultural machinery chains keep your machines running longer and reduce downtime.
