Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up...
 

We made ours because we do so many in my shop. The RAYTECH tool is a big help too.

http://www.ratechmfg.com/toc.htm

Talk to Mary there.

Don't work for them, have used them and I am just passing along the info

Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up...
 

Thanks Todd! I have an old Zoom Gear set up tool. (Bought it new, I'm old) Never tried to hone one myself. I think they used to sell them, but never found one to buy.

Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up...
 

The pinion set up tool that T&D makes is probably the best tool you can get. With the information that is provided with the tool you can figure all the necessary dimentions in the pinion set up process with no information from the gear manufacture. Now most of the readers of this site are going to be using a 10 bolt or 12 bolt gm, 9" ford or a Dana. All of these styles of rear ends are supported by this tool. If you get into a 10.25 or 10.50 sterling housing which can be found in most of your Ford F250 pickups I have found no one makes a set up tool or a pinion bearing pulling tool for these rears. Randys ring and pinion, Raytech and some other companies sell a set up pinion bearing that is honed out so you can set the pinion up by trial and error and not damaging the bearing by pressing it on and trying to remove it. What I have found with the gear manufactures most of this stuff is comming from over seas, CHINA, and the tolerances and spec suck. I know everyone remembers the chile Goodyear tires. When you get a new gear check, check, check every dimention in the protduct that you are getting. Just my 2 cents worth. Good luck

Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up...
 

I have had good results with Motive gears made in Italy. This scribing error may not be such a big deal--I can't imagine someone setting up gears and not bothering to check the pattern. The Richmond tooling was worn out so Motive decided to go with their Italian supplier for both brands after buying Richmond.

An auto machine shop with a connecting rod rebuilding hone can easily open the ID of a bearing to use as a slip fit trial pinion bearing.

Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up...
 

May be they will be available at Poppa Johns with any full size pizza.

Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up...
 

Easy to do...I honed one when I was racing...and set up several rears with it.

Good thing I bought my 12-bolt gears when I did...my 5.86 was used with low runs,
and my 6.14 I bought NEW from Moroso...when ring & pinions were in the catalog....

That was a LONG time ago...so they were US-built...when I checked the Moroso's...
noticed that they were re-boxed Richmonds....no big deal!

Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up...
 

If you know anyone who can hone connecting rods, they probably have a mandrel that will hone a pinion bearing. They probably won't like doing it.

Another option is to get shims that go behind the race, in the case. You can take the race out once or twice without hurting anything, if you're careful. Use a brass drift to take it out, and the correct diameter bearing driver to put it in.

Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up...
 

I have had the same experience. We use some Italian made gears in heavy duty stuff that run fine.

Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up...
 

Forget about pinion depth dimensions. It's all about pattern. I purchased that td tool. Waste of money! I stopped checking pinion depth numbers 20 years ago and haven't had any problems at all.

Re: Richmond Pro gear alert heads-up...
 

I made a slip fit bearing 25 years ago and still use it. Thing is a grossly inaccurate pinion engraving is about as useful as none at all...you still need a base or starting point.

The pinion in question has a checking distance of 2.534 on the head. It is now patterned and installed.

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps5b009816.jpg