ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE FOR HEAVY DUTY RIGHT ANGLE DRIVE

Upon assembly of the right angle drive it is important in terms of longevity that bearing preload and gear
backlash be adjusted correctly. The only special items required to do this are a dial indicator and either
white grease or Prussian blue dye.

GEAR ASSEMBLY PROCEDURE - Reference Fig. 1

A. Installing gears on shafts - Check fit of keys in keyways, they should slide freely
without being loose. Gears should be heated in oil or by other means to 350 - 375 F for ease of
assembly. Output gear (2 keys) should be installed with only one key in place, with second key
inserted after gear is in place. After gears are installed and have cooled they should be checked
to be sure they are still seated against shoulders on shafts. To assure this the gear-shaft assembly
may be placed under a press immediately after installation until they have cooled. The output
gear cap plate bolts should be safety wired to each other after installation.

B. Bearing cones may be heated in oil or by other means to 250 F for ease of assembly,
before installation of input shaft outer bearing, make sure spacer is in place.

C. Prior to assembly of gears into the case, the manufacturers recommendations for
backlash on the back of one of the gears should be noted.

OUTPUT SHAFT

INPUT SHAFT

fig. 1

BEARING PRELOAD ADJUSTMENT

NOTE: This is done with the output-bearing carrier separated from the main case. The output shaft seal
should be placed on the hub but not driven into place and the input shaft seal should not be installed at
this point.
 A. Output shaft - rotate bearings while taking up on adjusting nut (#500898 on assembly
drawing) until there is no appreciable endplay and the shaft can still rotate freely.

CAUTION - Excess tightening of nut will destroy bearings!

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B. Input shaft - Take up on carrier end cover until bearings bind slightly in rotation,
measure shim cap and provide sufficient shims (#41 shim stock available in .005”, .007”, .021”
thickness’) to give free rotation with no appreciable end play when end cover bolts are torque
down to 175 ft./lb. (dry).

C. Assembly - Bolt output bearing carrier to main case. Gears should be installed with
mating teeth (marked by “X”s) in mesh with each other. For initial setting of the gears, shim the
output-bearing carrier so that the outer shoulder of the gears are even with each other as shown
in fig. 2.

OUTSIDE EDGE OF SHOULDERS

MUST ALIGN.

fig. 2

GEAR ADJUSTMENT

Normal gear backlash is measured by placing a dial indicator vertically against the outer edge of a gear
tooth while holding the other gear stationary, as shown in fig. 3. The manufacturer’s backlash
recommendation is generally given on the backside of one of the gears. Adjustments are made by altering
the shim thickness between the output bearing carrier and the main case.
 Fig. 3
With the correct backlash set the next step is to check that the gears mesh properly. This can be done by
painting at least ten teeth on one of the gears with red lead or Prussian blue and then rotating the input
shaft in its normal direction. A more distinct image can be obtained by applying a small amount of
resistance to rotation at the output shaft.
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GEAR MESH PATTERNS

Patterns shown are approximate shapes, actual contact may vary, and however, the same general shape
should be obtained.
CORRECT TOOTH CONTACT- (shown unloaded)-A properly set gear with no load will look
like fig 4.

Fig. 4

CONCENTRATED BEARING AT TOE- (fig 5) (Insufficient backlash.) Move painted gear

away form other. A slight inwards move of the unpainted gear may be necessary to maintain
proper mesh.
 Fig. 5

CONCENTRATED BEARING AT HEEL- (fig 6) (Excessive backlash) Move painted gear

inwards toward the other gear. A slight move of the unpainted gear outwards may be necessary
to maintain proper mesh.
 Fig. 6

PROFILE BEARING HIGH- (fig 7) (Unpainted gear too far away). Move toward painted
gear. Painted gear may need to be moved away from the other gear to maintain proper mesh.
 Fig. 7
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PROFILE BEARING LOW- (fig 8) (Unpainted gear in too close.) Move away from painted
gear. Painted gear may need to be moved toward other gear to maintain proper mesh.
 Fig. 8

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Watson/Hopper, Inc.
2014