143960A1 Agricultural Sprocket — 9T Induction Hardened for Case IH 2188/2388

Premium Agricultural Sprocket for Case IH Combine Clean Grain Elevator

OEM Part Numbers: 143960A1 / 165292C1  |
Teeth: 9  |
Bore: 1.375″ (35 mm)  |
Weight: 1.561 kg  |
Material: Forged Carbon Steel

The 143960A1 is a forged carbon steel agricultural sprocket designed for the clean grain elevator drive on Case IH 2188 and 2388 combine harvesters. It also covers the 2100 and 2300 series where the same elevator chain drive geometry applies. The 9-tooth profile fits a 1.375″ diameter shaft and transmits header drive torque through the chain to the clean grain auger working assembly. This part directly replaces OEM numbers 143960A1 and 165292C1 under a single stocked unit.

What separates this unit from standard aftermarket alternatives is the induction hardening process applied to the tooth flanks after hobbing. Induction hardening heats only the tooth surface zone to hardening temperature — leaving the core microstructure unchanged — which produces a wear-resistant case over a tough, impact-absorbing core. In grain elevator service, where chain tension spikes every time a loaded flight engages the sprocket, that combination of surface hardness and core toughness matters more than bulk hardness alone.

The outer surface is painted for atmospheric resistance, protecting the part during off-season storage when grain dust and moisture accelerate corrosion on bare steel components. Custom specifications — bore diameter, tooth count, hub configuration, or alternative surface treatments — are available for non-standard applications.

Technical Specifications and Dimensions

Cross-Reference: Replaces OEM Numbers 143960A1 & 165292C1

This combine harvester sprocket consolidates two active OEM part numbers into one stocked unit. If your parts catalogue, combine service manual, or dealer system shows either reference, this is the correct replacement.

If you are unsure which number applies to your machine, send your combine serial number and we will confirm compatibility before your order is placed.

Superior Durability with Induction Hardened Teeth

Not all agricultural sprockets are hardened the same way. Through-hardening raises the bulk hardness of the entire part, which increases brittleness and the risk of tooth fracture under impact load. Induction hardening — the process used on this unit — selectively heats only the tooth surface to hardening temperature using a high-frequency electromagnetic field, then quenches rapidly. The result is a hard wear layer at the tooth flank and root, while the core retains the toughness of normalised carbon steel.

• Tooth surface hardness: Induction hardening typically achieves HRC 50–58 at the flank surface on C45 carbon steel, well above the HRC 20–30 range of non-hardened equivalents. This directly reduces the rate at which tooth profiles wear and elongate the chain.
• Impact resistance retained: Because the core microstructure is not affected by the induction process, the teeth absorb the impulse loads from chain engagement without fracturing — a failure mode common in through-hardened sprockets running on grain elevator chains with variable loading.
• Forged carbon steel base: The forging process aligns the grain structure of the steel with the tooth geometry, giving each tooth a higher fatigue resistance than a sprocket cut from bar stock or produced by casting. This is the starting point before any heat treatment is applied.
• Painted outer surface: An atmospheric-resistance paint coat on all external faces slows oxidation during the months a combine sits between harvests. Surface pitting that starts on non-functional faces can eventually migrate to tooth roots, reducing fatigue life.

Precision Engineering for Grain Elevator Performance

The clean grain elevator on a Case IH 2188 or 2388 runs continuously at throughput rates that can exceed 10 tonnes per hour during peak harvest. At that load, any dimensional deviation in the induction hardened sprocket — pitch error, bore runout, or tooth-profile asymmetry — translates immediately into chain noise, uneven loading across the 9 teeth, and accelerated wear on both the sprocket and chain. The manufacturing process addresses each of these failure points in sequence.

Order Wholesale Replacement Parts for Your Fleet

Dealers, agricultural machinery repair shops, and fleet operators running multiple Case IH combines benefit from consolidated procurement. This agricultural sprocket covers two OEM part numbers and four combine model series from one SKU, reducing the number of line items that need to be tracked, stocked, and reordered across a season.

• Volume pricing tiers apply from 10 units per order. Contact us for a current schedule before placing a bulk order for the season.
• Mixed-SKU orders for elevator chains, idler sprockets, and drive sprockets are accepted in the same shipment, reducing freight cost per part.
• Custom labelling and packaging for resale is available on orders above a minimum quantity — discuss your requirements at the time of enquiry.
• Lead time for standard stock: 3–5 business days ex-works. Custom specifications: 15 working days from drawing approval.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Paired Components

The grain elevator sprocket is one component in a complete chain drive system. These parts are commonly ordered or replaced at the same service interval: