Chain Breaker 11137-1000: Purpose-Built for Dairy Conveyor Maintenance

Why a Dedicated Chain Breaker Matters

Anyone who has worked in a fluid dairy plant knows the frustration of dealing with conveyor chain maintenance. The 3498 and 3500 series double flex chains that power in-floor dairy conveyors are built to last — but when a section needs to be removed for replacement, repair, or rerouting, you need a tool that can extract hardened chain pins without damaging the surrounding links.

Improvised methods — hammers, punches, portable presses — risk bending link plates, mushrooming pin ends, and creating safety hazards on a slippery plant floor. The Knight Industrial 11137-1000 Chain Breaker eliminates all of that with a purpose-built, hydraulic tool designed specifically for the job.

How the 11137-1000 Works

The Chain Breaker uses a self-contained hydraulic system to push chain pins out of the link plates in a single, controlled stroke. Here is the sequence:

1. Position the tool — Set the Chain Breaker on the chain section. The front opening accepts the chain links and self-align the tool to the pin centerline.
2. Clamp the chain — The clamp mechanism locks the chain in place. An internal support block holds the chain from below.
3. Actuate the hydraulic cylinder — Pump the hand pump to pressurize the hydraulic ram. The cylinder rod pushes the chain pin through and out of the link plates.
4. Remove and repeat — Release pressure, remove the extracted pin, reposition for the next pin if needed. The entire operation takes under a minute per pin.

The internal mechanism ensures the force is applied evenly and in perfect alignment with the pin axis. There is no side-loading, no guesswork, and no risk of link plate damage.

Built for the Plant Floor

The 11137-1000 was designed as a portable field tool from the ground up. Two integrated carry handles make it easy for a single technician to transport and position. The self-contained hydraulics mean there is no need for an external power source, air supply, or electrical connection — just set it down and start working.

The compact block footprint fits into the tight spaces typical of dairy plant conveyor pans and floor channels. At roughly the width of the chain pan itself, the tool can be used in-situ without pulling excessive chain length out of the floor.

13 Custom Machined Components

Every functional component of the Chain Breaker — all 13 custom components — is individually machined to tight tolerances. This matters for two reasons:

• Precision: Internal components must align to within thousandths of an inch to properly engage the chain pin without contacting the link plates. Off-the-shelf components cannot achieve this.
• Serviceability: Every part is individually replaceable. If a component wears after hundreds of pin extractions, you replace that component — not the entire tool. This makes the 11137-1000 a long-term investment rather than a disposable tool.

The main body housing is assembled with 17 perimeter fasteners, plus additional internal mounting hardware. This bolted construction means the tool can be fully disassembled for inspection, cleaning, and rebuilding — important in food-grade environments where sanitation standards apply to maintenance tools as well as production equipment.

Hydraulic System Details

The hydraulic assembly consists of:

• Hand Pump: Manual hydraulic pump that provides the operator with full control over the extraction force and speed.
• Hydraulic Ram: Hydraulic cylinder that converts pump pressure into linear force on the internal mechanism.
• Hose and Quick-Disconnect Coupler: Connects the pump to the cylinder with a standard hydraulic quick-connect fitting for easy assembly and breakdown.

The manual pump was chosen deliberately over a powered option. In dairy plants, compressed air lines and electrical outlets are not always available at the point of maintenance. A manual pump works anywhere, every time, with no external dependencies.

Compatible Chain Types

The 11137-1000 is designed for:

• 3500 Series Double Flex Chain: The standard chain in most fluid dairy manufacturing conveyors. 2.500"/3.000" alternating pitch, 48,000 lb average tensile strength.
• 3498 Series Double Flex Chain: A related chain type used in similar dairy and food processing applications.

Both chain types use hardened pins that require significant force to extract — exactly the kind of force the hydraulic cylinder delivers in a controlled, linear stroke. The Chain Breaker's front opening geometry is matched to the link plate dimensions of both series.

When to Use the Chain Breaker

Common scenarios where the 11137-1000 saves time and prevents damage:

• Chain replacement: When a worn section of 3500 chain needs to be cut out and replaced with new chain.
• Conveyor modifications: When a conveyor run is being extended, shortened, or rerouted and the chain must be broken at specific points.
• Scheduled maintenance: During plant shutdowns when chain is inspected and worn sections are proactively replaced before failure.
• Emergency repairs: When a chain failure occurs during production and the damaged section must be removed as quickly as possible to restore the line.

Order the 11137-1000 Chain Breaker

The Chain Breaker is available exclusively from Knight Industrial. We stock the complete tool as well as all individual replacement components (all replacement components) and hydraulic assembly parts.

If your plant runs 3498 or 3500 series dairy conveyor chain, the 11137-1000 belongs in your maintenance tool inventory. It pays for itself the first time it saves you from a botched pin extraction that damages good chain.

Contact Knight Industrial at (844) 564-4489 or info@knightindustrialinc.com to order the Chain Breaker or request a quote on replacement components.