Tips for gear adjustment?

[Hammer!]

Hi everyone, one of the most frustrating and difficult task for me is adjusting the pinion and spur gear to run smoothly. After replacing the motor in both my trucks, the gears haven't run as smoothly since and i was hoping for some tips or something to get them running smooth again.

Cheers.

[Olle P]

After mounting the setting should be such that you can wiggle the spur gear just a little bit (<0.5mm) by hand without moving the pinion.
Too tight will give you too much friction, too loose will risk cogging over and wear out the gears.

My way to get the right setting is to first, with the screws somewhat loose, set the pinion fully against the spur. Then ease it off a tiny bit and tighten the screws. Check the gap, adjust if necessary.

[Lukescb7]

I usually use a small strip of notebook paper. Roll it between the spur and pinion, then tighten the motor screws. Remove paper and check the gap. Usually spot on and never had any issues that way.

[KJ10]

Originally Posted by Lukescb7

I usually use a small strip of notebook paper. Roll it between the spur and pinion, then tighten the motor screws. Remove paper and check the gap. Usually spot on and never had any issues that way.

That's what I do, as well. Works every time.

[Zrock]

Originally Posted by Lukescb7

I usually use a small strip of notebook paper. Roll it between the spur and pinion, then tighten the motor screws. Remove paper and check the gap. Usually spot on and never had any issues that way.

same here works everytime

[KBrog]

Paper trick works. I did that until I had done it so many times I was able to eyeball it.

[badhoopty]

Originally Posted by Olle P

After mounting the setting should be such that you can wiggle the spur gear just a little bit (<0.5mm) by hand without moving the pinion.
Too tight will give you too much friction, too loose will risk cogging over and wear out the gears.

My way to get the right setting is to first, with the screws somewhat loose, set the pinion fully against the spur. Then ease it off a tiny bit and tighten the screws. Check the gap, adjust if necessary.

same thing. all you need is a tick of freeplay between the pinion and spur. then spin the trans to make sure everything spins easy and adjust if needed.

paper trick works too but sometimes itll be a tad too snug or too loose. imho you can do a better job just by feel.

[hotwheels000]

Make sure to check the backlash at several locations on the spur gear. Not all spur gears are perfectly round.

[sdmf]

I paper it, then run the motor and listen. Its pretty easy to hear when its to tight.

[Olle P]

I actually started out using "the paper trick". Failed every time because the motor mount in my rig was (is) a little flexible and as I tighten the screws the pinion gets pressed closer to the motor. The paper just sucked up some of that flex, but the mounting was still way too tight.