Gear-mesh change
Changes around mesh frequency and sidebands can indicate that the gear train deserves closer inspection.
Gearbox and geared-drive diagnostics
Gearbox vibration diagnostics
Investigate gearbox vibration, bearing concerns and changes around the gear-mesh frequencies. Speed, ratio, load and connected machinery guide the analysis.
Asset-specific diagnosis
A gearbox needs speed and ratio context
Gearboxes generate legitimate vibration at shaft and gear-mesh frequencies even when healthy. Useful diagnosis depends on knowing enough about the drive to distinguish expected transmission behaviour from meaningful change.
EchoShift can combine casing measurements with motor and driven-machine measurements to identify whether the gearbox is the likely source or simply transmitting vibration from elsewhere.
What we investigate
What gearbox vibration can help investigate
Each pattern is interpreted with machine speed, measurement location and operating condition so the finding stays tied to the actual asset.
Gearbox bearing condition
Higher-frequency and envelope evidence can be examined at accessible bearing locations.
Shaft-order behaviour
Input, intermediate and output shaft orders help relate vibration to rotating elements inside the drive.
Looseness / casing response
Mounting, foot or casing response can amplify or distort the apparent gearbox signature.
Load-sensitive vibration
Gear contact and structural response can change materially with load, so operating condition is recorded and compared where possible.
Vibration transmitted from elsewhere
Motor, coupling or driven-machine excitation can travel through the gearbox and must not be mistaken automatically for a gearbox fault.
Measurement strategy
Follow the transmission path
Measurements are selected around rigid input/output bearing regions and casing points, then compared with the motor and driven machine where useful. Known shaft speeds and ratios strengthen the analysis substantially.
Diagnostic boundary: A vibration snapshot can identify suspicious gearbox behaviour, but it cannot see tooth contact, lubrication condition or internal damage directly. Oil analysis, borescope inspection or strip-down may be the right confirmation step.
On-site process
What happens during a gearbox diagnostic
The measurement plan follows the mechanics of the asset and the maintenance question.
Map the drive
Capture motor speed, gearbox ratio, load, drive arrangement and any known tooth/bearing information.
Measure key casing positions
Take repeatable readings near the input/output bearing and transmission path.
Relate features to orders and mesh
Check shaft-related frequencies, mesh regions, sidebands, bearings and cross-machine agreement.
Escalate only when justified
Recommend inspection, oil/debris checks, alignment, bearing work, specialist gearbox assessment or monitoring according to the evidence.
What you receive
Gearbox findings tied to speed, ratio and load
The output brings the mesh, shaft, bearing and connected-machine evidence together so maintenance knows where to look next.
Key shaft-order, gear-mesh and bearing-related observations
Speed, ratio, load and measurement positions documented
Gearbox-source versus transmitted vibration assessed where the data allows
A practical inspection, maintenance, recheck or monitoring recommendation
Choose the service
Start with a snapshot; monitor when trend matters
A noisy or changing gearbox can usually start with a snapshot. Continuous monitoring is more valuable where mesh, bearing or load-sensitive behaviour needs to be trended on a critical drive.
Local coverage
On-site across the West Midlands
EchoShift provides on-site diagnostics across Coventry, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Tipton, the Black Country, Solihull and surrounding West Midlands manufacturing areas. Travel and access are confirmed before attendance.
Questions
Gearbox vibration FAQs
Scope the machine before attendance so the visit is useful.
Do you need the gearbox tooth count?
It helps. Shaft speeds, ratio and tooth counts make gear-mesh interpretation much stronger, but a useful first diagnostic can still be performed when some details are unavailable.
Can you identify a damaged gear tooth from one reading?
Sometimes a strong pattern can point toward gear damage, but a single snapshot should not be treated as direct visual proof. Load, sidebands, repeatability and other evidence matter.
Can gearboxes be monitored continuously?
Yes, suitable critical geared drives can be candidates for continuous monitoring when a one-off snapshot is not enough to manage the risk.
Related applications
Follow the rotating train
Machine concern?
Investigate gearbox vibration before intervention
Send the machine type, site postcode and what has changed. We will confirm the diagnostic scope and price before arranging a visit.
Single-machine diagnostic snapshots start from £125. We confirm the scope and price before attendance.