Ring gear comparison

alexiskai

alexiskai

Well-known member
Found this original ring gear (note Ford logo). Bevel on the teeth is very different on the original gear (bottom in photo) compared to a new reproduction ring gear (top). I would have taken it for a sign of wear except that all the teeth look identical. Is this gear worn out or were they made like that?


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That's interesting. The top one I purchased from Bratton's during their going-out-of-business sale. Looking at the three engines I have awaiting teardown, one has the original-style ring gear with the incut teeth and two have the reproduction-style gear without the incut. I guess I'd better try to save the one with the original teeth.
 
The ring gear sold by Bert's and Snyder's appears to have some kind of incut, though not exactly like the original. Bert's says: "This is the best of two different manufacturers." Bratton's must have stocked the other one.

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i just installed one of snyder's onto a flywheel. not the same as original but at least it has all its teeth. im hoping for the best
 
The Ford original appears to be cut to allow easy entrance for the bendix pinion.

The aftermarket appears to have paid homage to the thought - but didn't follow through to the same degree.

Of course providing "entrance" for the pinion DOES cut down on the driven tooth section - i.e. weaker teeth. But I can say out of a dozen or so ring gears I have examined I have never found a broken tooth.

Teeth DO get "turned" at the entrance bevel - this is how you tell the four places the engine normally stops at. Repeated wear results in repeated loss of material. But never a fail.

I have "quarter turned" a ring gear once. Just on principle I guess. There was no apparent change in the starting, reliability, or any jamming remedied. Unless jamming becomes a problem, I might pass and leave it, or replace with new if it gives you more comfort.

Joe K
 
Ford went by his engineer's recommendations on manufacturing. The one type was used throughout production as far as I know. They had Able drives and Bendix in two variations. Those old designs had to release as well as engage so the little gear and weak spring needed all the help it could get. Nowadays some later design drives are being used. We take what we can get in the modern era and hope it works.
 
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