Gear Tooth Contact Pattern Check

1. To check the gear tooth contact, paint the gear teeth with the special marking compound. A mixture that is too wet will run and smear; too dry a mixture cannot be pressed out from between the teeth.
2. Rotate the ring gear (use a box wrench on the ring gear attaching bolts as a lever) several complete revolutions in both directions or until a clear tooth contact pattern is obtained.
3. Certain types of gear tooth contact patterns on the ring gear indicate incorrect adjustment. Incorrect adjustment can be corrected by readjusting the ring gear or the pinion.