Ring and pinion - help reading pattern - Lateral-g Forums

**WSSix** · #1 10-06-2016, 07:41 AM

Glad you got your hands on a manual and adjusted your backlash. Not going to lie. I don't like commenting specifically on patterns via the internet. I'm sorry. I only like to see them in person. I just don't feel I can see properly through pictures. I also go back and forth between a manual and the pattern a number of times before I decide. I'm slow and like to take my time.

I can say you don't look bad. I'd check out the Yukon manual to see if it shows different patterns and what they are considered compared to the Jegs manual. I've found differences in the number of patterns shown as examples in various manuals.

One other tip that might help. The pattern left by the compound on the first clean tooth or two after you go through the marking compound area may help you see the pattern better.

**SlowProgress** · #2 10-11-2016, 09:41 PM

WSSIX is right that the pattern is what you are looking for. You can't have the pinion in totally the wrong spot and get a good pattern. But it is always nice to have a reference depth setting so you know you are close. The depth is written on the end of the gear so if you can get that established you don't have to worry about it any more. Then as WSSIX said you just need to shim for bearing preload and set the backlash. Sometimes you do have to buy extra shims to get it just right if you are setting up a GM style rearend. There is a lot of good information on various websites about how the pattern moves under load and what you are looking for. A couple of things my shop teacher told me that always made sense.

1. As the gears wear the pattern moves toward the outside of the ring gear. So you want to start with the drive pattern in the middle and slightly toward the inside since it will move outward with time.

2. Think about the thickness of the gear tooth. It is thicker and stronger at the base. So the pattern should be in the center of the gear tooth and slightly closer to the bottom of the tooth where it is thicker and stronger. If the backlash is all wrong the contact point is too far out close to the thin part of the gear tooth.

I also thought your patterns looked pretty good !