I'm designing an axial adjuster for positioning the outer ring of a tapered roller bearing, to control end play. One method for doing this is to use shims under the retaining flange. My client and his customers have been doing this for decades and have found it very awkward, and have asked me to come up with something better.
The bearing outer ring o.d. is 7.125". I am considering making a threaded adjusting ring to adjust the position of the bearing outer ring. The adjusting ring would have 7.375-8 male threads which would engage with female threads in the housing. However, I am always leery of large threads that will be assembled by hand, because it is so easy to cross thread them. I thought it might help to have a cylindrical male pilot diameter that registers with the minor diameter of the female threads before the male and female threads actually start to engage, but I'm not sure this would be enough to assure reliable thread engagement.
Any suggestions regarding ways to help assure reliable thread engagement would be appreciated.
The bearing outer ring o.d. is 7.125". I am considering making a threaded adjusting ring to adjust the position of the bearing outer ring. The adjusting ring would have 7.375-8 male threads which would engage with female threads in the housing. However, I am always leery of large threads that will be assembled by hand, because it is so easy to cross thread them. I thought it might help to have a cylindrical male pilot diameter that registers with the minor diameter of the female threads before the male and female threads actually start to engage, but I'm not sure this would be enough to assure reliable thread engagement.
Any suggestions regarding ways to help assure reliable thread engagement would be appreciated.