Series 60 bull gear

How do I know if my Bull Gear is gone on my series 60? My truck is making a lot of noise and it's shaken like crazy.

 

Does it have poor idle quality and white smoke at idle?

 

Very easy to check, pull power steering pump. Have someone install a 1-5/16" socket and breaker bar on accessory drive and rock engine
back and forth just enough to move gears. They are helical cut gears so if the bearings are worn it will force the gear to move forward and back.
New or good bullgear hubs will have no movement in them at all. Its hard to see play in used bearings so be cautious if installing used gear hubs.
I always check them after bolting them in. As far as how they last depends greatly on the service routines followed. Which is also easy to determine, by looking for sludge build up on dipstick and fill tube. Sludge can build up fast in a gear train. It holds in extra heat and prevents good lubrication. I have seen many failures at 800,000 miles but they can go well beyond 1 million. Like I said its easy to check. If there is play its very risky to run!

 

Many times, it is not the bull gear itself, but the crankshaft damper that is bad and causing the vibration. Of course if it is, then the bull gear will also be affected over time. This is why many diesel shops and Detroit themselves are recommending crankshaft dampers be replaced at, the most, 500,000 miles.

I take it a step further. I not only replace the crankshaft damper at scheduled intervals, but I also run a crankshaft balancer along with it.

 

we always do the bull gear now when we inframe, Had to learn the hard way though.

 

Can we get your information we need a bull gear! Please email us at badgermarshburn@gmail.com