pic: Its twins - prototype drives

[Cothron Theiss]

Originally Posted by Jonny_Jee

I'm a little late to the party here but according to MEADinfo.org

1 Spur 1:1 to 6:1 94-98% Efficient
2 Straight Bevel 3:2 to 5:1 93-97% Efficient

reference:
"Comparison of Gear Efficiencies." MEADinfo.org . N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Aug. 2016. <http://www.meadinfo.org/2008/11/gear-efficiency-spur-helical-bevel-worm.html>.

Are those figures assuming that exact center to center spacing is used? If so, spacing those gears out just a few thousandths can squeeze out some extra percentage points to make up for any loss. It's the first stage of gearing, so the loss in load capacity shouldn't be an issue.

Looking at that page, I realized the OP could probably switch to spiral bevel gears without much increase in price, depending on the supplier they're using, but since they already have the straight bevel gears they need, it probably doesn't matter.