Importance of A good Pattern

Cperry

Cperry

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Location
Durham, NC
This is Austin sartins Dana 60 in his buggy, Brought for a carier swap and lockright install. (recently placed 3rd with a welded front at the gulches..... impressive)

There was no indication that he had a ring gear problem, but when cover is pulled. another story.

The reason why I am posting this is b/c alot of people somewhat expect ring gear failures but most of the time ring gears don't fail b/c your beating on it to hard its b/c of poor set-ups. here is a perfect example. Caught early enough when you can really tell what happened. had this totally exploded metal shrapnel would have hidden the real story.

the bottom painted tooth is broken right where the pinion is riding on the face of the heel.
 

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Cool display of an actual improper set up and what it led to. The chances of catching this were slim, the patterm simply disappears of the gear. Bad ju-ju for sure. Nobody seems to ever understand when you tell realisticly how long it takes to do one right and the steps you sometimes have to go through over and over. Somebody wants em done for cheap I just steer them someplace else. I love the response its only going slow and then on a trailer.:driver:
 
Great pics for sure on what poor contact between the pinion and ring gear can do. Was this entirely because the gears were set up poorly or could it have been the pinion nut slowly backing out or bearing caps loosening? Just pondering the possibilities.
 
he bought the 60 with that setup in it, who knows who set it up, but it sure didn't look too hot.
 
It does take some time and attention to do it correctly. Sometimes as little as a .002 (about half the thickness of a sheet of notebook paper) shim can make a big difference.
 
I've never done it but; no time but I've always wanted to take a Ford 9 and play with all the variable and watch the pattern change around for giggles and hone my skills a little more. From the various models I've set up they're the easiest to manipulate.
 
I'm planning to do my own gear set up when i get around to it. Those are some good pictures of what not to accept for mesh patterns.
 
That 60 came with 4.56 gears, out of a cucv military chevy. The PO had it welded (or welded it himself, I can't remember). I'm pretty sure they just took out the carrier, welded it, and droped it back in. 95% sure they are the stock gears.
 
they were the stock gears, but the factory can screw up too.

I am not blaming anyone I am just merely pointing out what happens when your pattern is off. And this is a great example.

The carrier bearing preload was suprisingly good. the pinion bearing preload was non existant but this is typical of a very old set-up. The pinion bearings are due for a change but not terrible.

I did not check the runout on the carrier yet but I would not be suprised if it is way off due to the welding-warping the case. And in that particular section it could have had a much larger clearance. this is indicated on why a factory gear set would be so far to the heel. however even with a warped carrier the pinion from the factory was most likely too shallow, and then the welding of the carrier probably exentuated it by moving it to the heel.
 
:bounce2: So is it fixed yet??? :bounce2:

Just Kidding, I'm just glad you found this problem instead of me finding it on the trail.

Give me a call when you get finished and I will come pick the Wideglide up.
 
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