SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING BACKLASH BETWEEN A BEVEL GEAR AND A RING BEVEL GEAR WITHIN A GEARBOX HOUSING OF A GAS TURBINE ENGINE

A system (100) for measuring a gear backlash, having a connecting member (140) with: a lower portion (150), defining an engaging plate (160) with an aperture (165), positioned against a front end (120A) of a bevel gear (120); and an upper portion (170) for installing the engaging plate (160); a gauge body (190) positioned against an accessory pad (200) of a gearbox housing (130); a shaft system (210) extending through the gauge body (190), into the gearbox housing (130), having aft (220) and front (230) ends, and a sidewall (222): the aft end (220) extends aft of the gauge body (190) and rotates the shaft system (210); the front end (230) has: a first portion (240) that engages the plate aperture (165) when the shaft system (210) is rotated, biasing the engaging plate (160) against the bevel gear front end (120A); a second portion (250) engages a bevel gear shaft (120B) when the engaging plate (160) is biased; and a sensor (260), connected to the system aft end (220), that measures rotation of the shaft system (210) relative to the gauge body (190).