Bracket Talk
Gear set and input shaft life

This topic can be found at:
https://drr.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/80760912/m/1597004796

November 09, 2021, 05:28 PM
Nitrous1
Gear set and input shaft life
Anyone routinely change 1.80 gear sets or input shafts as maintenance? Pass count is getting pretty high. Debating if I should change them out. Typical 4.80 dragster.
November 09, 2021, 06:04 PM
TOP38
WHat's high? LOL

With your combo, who knows, but I will tell you a smooth burnout, no tire shake, with do wonders to increase your gear life big time! Worst thing for gears is tire shake! One of the many good things about MT's tires is they don't shake in the burnout!!!!

If you have a spare trans then keep going, if not, it's a crap shoot,,, for all you know is you could get a bad new set!
November 09, 2021, 06:55 PM
wideopen231
tIRE SHAKE BAD ON EVERYTHING. If you are sitting on rear end housing like in my FED especially rough on drivers head. Yea thats my problem.Figure it is coming.

Back to question.Well kind of. Is there a company that can inspect a gear set similar to magnaflux for a crank?




America home of free. Brought to you by 2nd amendment.
November 09, 2021, 07:26 PM
jenavet
quote:
no tire shake, with do wonders to increase your gear life

and having a slow dragster helps too al
November 09, 2021, 07:34 PM
Big Steve
180 Sonnax extreme planet, over 1000 runs in 1000 hp bracket dragster. Built 2500HP blown TD motor. Ran that planet 2 more seasons without breaking. Eventually built a brand new trans and this gear set is still in my spare. New trans also has a 180 Sonnax extreme planet which is rated at 3000hp
November 09, 2021, 08:19 PM
Goob
quote:
Originally posted by TOP38:
WHat's high? LOL

With your combo, who knows, but I will tell you a smooth burnout, no tire shake, with do wonders to increase your gear life big time! Worst thing for gears is tire shake! One of the many good things about MT's tires is they don't shake in the burnout!!!!

If you have a spare trans then keep going, if not, it's a crap shoot,,, for all you know is you could get a bad new set!


Serious question....who does a burnout in low gear? I'd think high gear burnouts would negate any opportunity to gag the planetary set?

Don't have a dragster or a 'glide, just curious.


"Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular."
Dave Cook
N375
November 10, 2021, 05:09 AM
Jerry Kathe
quote:
Originally posted by Goob:
quote:
Originally posted by TOP38:
WHat's high? LOL

With your combo, who knows, but I will tell you a smooth burnout, no tire shake, with do wonders to increase your gear life big time! Worst thing for gears is tire shake! One of the many good things about MT's tires is they don't shake in the burnout!!!!

If you have a spare trans then keep going, if not, it's a crap shoot,,, for all you know is you could get a bad new set!


Serious question....who does a burnout in low gear? I'd think high gear burnouts would negate any opportunity to gag the planetary set?

Don't have a dragster or a 'glide, just curious.


Fair/good question; The short answer - In either low or high gear the power has to pass through the gear set, spinning or holding.


Jerry Kathe
November 10, 2021, 08:09 AM
TOP38
quote:
Originally posted by Goob:
quote:
Originally posted by TOP38:
WHat's high? LOL

With your combo, who knows, but I will tell you a smooth burnout, no tire shake, with do wonders to increase your gear life big time! Worst thing for gears is tire shake! One of the many good things about MT's tires is they don't shake in the burnout!!!!

If you have a spare trans then keep going, if not, it's a crap shoot,,, for all you know is you could get a bad new set!


Serious question....who does a burnout in low gear? I'd think high gear burnouts would negate any opportunity to gag the planetary set?

Don't have a dragster or a 'glide, just curious.


The issue/problem here is with dragsters, doors cars don't have the problem. Hoosier tires are famous for grabbing hard at the end of the burnout and rattling hard. Some GY tires have also had this issue. Have you ever noticed some dragsters roll through the water and then back up and do it again before doing a BO? One method some feel help this issue. Track prep plays a roll in this also once you roll onto the part of the track that has been prep'ed while still doing the BO.
November 10, 2021, 08:12 AM
TOP38
quote:
Originally posted by jenavet:
quote:
no tire shake, with do wonders to increase your gear life

and having a slow dragster helps too al


Mikey

You wish your car 60' like mine!

How have you been doing this year? U ready for winter?
November 10, 2021, 08:36 AM
Jerry Kathe
quote:
doors cars don't have the problem



I wish that was true....I think the worst shake I had so far was in my door car and I have had it so bad in the dragster it was like looking through a kaleidoscope!!!

Never a good deal...


Jerry Kathe
November 10, 2021, 08:48 AM
WHOMPWHOMP
One thing I have learned if you ever break a rear end off the hit…..you better install a new input shaft cuz it’s breaking next…..
November 10, 2021, 08:59 AM
Holytown
1.80 Straight cuts live forever in normal bracket trim. 4.80 dragster, I'd venture to say your U Joints will break before you'd break the trans
November 10, 2021, 09:10 AM
Mike Rietow
Shake is hard on the input shaft. Shake over time, it'll break on the shift, in many cases.
November 10, 2021, 09:20 AM
TOP38
quote:
Originally posted by Jerry Kathe:
quote:
doors cars don't have the problem



I wish that was true....I think the worst shake I had so far was in my door car and I have had it so bad in the dragster it was like looking through a kaleidoscope!!!

Never a good deal...


You talking in the BO or on a run? I was just talking BO.
November 10, 2021, 09:24 AM
TOP38
quote:
Originally posted by Holytown:
1.80 Straight cuts live forever in normal bracket trim. 4.80 dragster, I'd venture to say your U Joints will break before you'd break the trans


Speaking of u joints, it's a good idea to look at the non greaseable joints, we have seen two that weren't greased fully out of the box which caused issues, one broke a driveshaft and chassis stuff, and we caught the other one before it went south!
November 10, 2021, 09:37 AM
RPROGAS
Never done a low gear burn out, still have the same gear set in the car after more than 800 runs.

Bob
November 10, 2021, 10:08 AM
Jerry Kathe
quote:
Originally posted by TOP38:
quote:
Originally posted by Jerry Kathe:
quote:
doors cars don't have the problem



I wish that was true....I think the worst shake I had so far was in my door car and I have had it so bad in the dragster it was like looking through a kaleidoscope!!!

Never a good deal...


You talking in the BO or on a run? I was just talking BO.


Speaking more in general, how shake - breaks.
Honesty, I dont give BO shake much thought, it's really in the hands of the operator.


Jerry Kathe
November 10, 2021, 10:53 AM
I Hate Dragsters
i have a BTE 1.80 i pulled out last year that has 1500ish runs i've made on it between 4.75-5.20 in a dragster. The guy i bought it from claimed it had 1200 on it when i got it from him. Only reason i decided to put in a new is it needed thrust washers and the fact that i felt it was on borrowed time.

input has same amount of runs...probably going to swap in a new one Big Grin
November 10, 2021, 11:21 AM
Nitrous1
spent most of its life in a 4.80-4.90 car. 4.70s for a year and now 4.40s-4.50s.
November 10, 2021, 11:42 AM
I Hate Dragsters
if it has a zillion runs...it's cheap insurance.