Run-in procedures for small (96-120 DP) planetary gearboxes?

[McLeod]

What are the recommended run-in procedures for small (~ 1.0 inch gearbox diameter, 96-120 DP gears) planetary gearboxes lubricated with thick (channelling) grease?

In the bearing industry, at least one manufacturer recommends that bearings be run initially at 20% of full speed until the temperature stabilizes, and so on in 20% increments 'til full speed. It seems likely that a similar procedure would be appropriate for gearboxes.

Any references available online would be especially helpful.

 

[diamondjim]

I would think that the drive source or type
of drive might be a factor whether it is
important to do so. This was certainly true
of automobiles thirty years ago.

Another source says gears do not run in but
simply wear out. If it is a slow running
gear box, I think it would be less critical.

Polishing paste might be required to run in
these little gears with no load applied and
then greased for the application requirements.

 

[Tmoose]

Bearing run-in/grease run-in/ tooth break-in are all different things. Gears can have varying alignment under different loading. Tooth bending and shaft and housing deflection can engage high spots that will never meet under no-load/light-load conditions.

If you can load the (metallic?)gears progressively there would be benefits of short bursts of heavy load followed by much longer periods of no-load running to ease down the highs spots without risking galling and seizure.