Which of the following is not one of the five items detected in NSC's link-by-link inspection?

• A. Bent Links
• B. Cracks in weld areas
• C. Corrosion pits
• D. Excessive lubrication at joints

Answer: (D)

NSC's link-by-link inspection focuses on signs of structural damage that can weaken a chain. In practice, you examine each link for deformation or compromised areas such as bent links, cracks in weld areas, and corrosion pits, as well as wear that shows up as elongation or thinning of material. These indicators represent the kinds of defects the five-item checklist is designed to catch because they directly affect strength and safety. Excessive lubrication at joints, on the other hand, isn’t a structural defect and isn’t one of the damage indicators the inspection targets. It’s a maintenance condition that can even obscure wear, but it doesn’t itself signify a detectable failure mode in the link-by-link assessment. Therefore, excessive lubrication at joints is not one of the five items detected.