Backlash error is the error in the motion which occurs while changing the direction of gears. It is caused when there is a gap between the trailing face of the driving tooth and the leading face of the tooth behind the driven gear. This can be avoided by turning the gear in the same direction.

What is backlash error?

Backlash error is the error that occurs while we are changing the direction of gears. ... It can be avoided by turning the gear slowly in the same direction. Backlash error can also be defined as the clearance or lost motion in a mechanism caused by gaps between the parts of the gear.

What is backlash error Why is it caused How can it be reduced?

This phenomenon is called backlash error. To reduce the backlash error, the distance between the centre of a pair of gear has to be minimised to push the gear into a mesh more tighter. This eliminates the backlash error.