Ring & Pinion Set Up Paint

What are you guys using for painting the gear teeth to see the pattern and where are you getting it? I am out of the regular marking paint and wondering if theres something I can get at the local hardware store or NAPA.

 

my gears/install kit came with the marking compound... its not paint

 

Go to an art supply shop and get a tube of Prussian blue.
Do not under any circumstances let your kids near the ****!!
You have now been warned!

 

I can imagine blue fingerprints everywhere!

 

That stuff is horrible/great.
Depending on how much you get on your skin/carpet.

 

Prussion blue works OK on used gears with shiny teeth but I don't like it on new parkerized gears. Something yellow or white is good on new gears. How about lubriplate grease?

 

Lubriplate works in a pinch but tends to smear. Prussian blue also works but also can smear throwing off the pattern. Check with Randy's Ring and Pinion as they have actual gear marking compound. Also check your local vehicle dealership parts department. Any dealer working with rear wheel drives should have it. What about your local shop that sets up gears? They should have some also but may or may not want to sell any. In a pinch I've also used oil based yellow artists paint, but you gotta get it cleaned off thoroughly before it dries.....
Nickmil

 

you gotta post some pics of that R)R)R)R)R)R)

 

You need something thick that smears easy. You can't get good patterns with plain paint or Prussian Blue, they're too thin and won't give a reliable pattern. Plain ol' zinc oxide, like you smear on your nose at the beach, works good. I've heard guys say that white latex exterior paint works, but you have to clean it up afterwards. You can probably come up with marking compound at a shop that does gears. You only need a teaspoon or so of it, a little goes a long ways. I always keep what comes with my install kits and after a dozen installs I've got 10 little cups of it.

 

I've never tried zinc oxide, I'll keep that one in mind, good tip. Regular paint won't work well but that's why I mentioned oil based artists paint. It will work in a pinch but there are definitely better alternatives.

 

I have used white lithium grease a few times and it works good.

 

Thanks guys! I have white litheum grease, I'll have to look to see if we have the nose stuff...and I'll look in the 8 year olds art box for the art paint! I'm swapping a wide track axle in the front of my '83 and install used gears. Thanks again!

 

If it doesn't work, PM me your address and I'll send you some gear marking compound. I have a couple unused bubble packs of the stuff. Might take 3 or 4 days to get to you from Hawaii.