exv slew gear soft spot

[7LBSSMALLIE]

the S/M states to line up the soft spot. it is marked wit an s. ok can do ? but what is it and what is its purpose? inquireing minds want to know

 

[Tazza]

I never knew there was a soft spot on a slew gear, i'd like to know what it is too if anyone knows.

 

[Lowe.Buuck]

I never knew there was a soft spot on a slew gear, i'd like to know what it is too if anyone knows.

From Silver Thin: Slewing Ring Bearings - Components
"Due to the nature of the race hardening process, there is a gap in the race hardness of each race. In that location for the non-geared ring, or the outer ring for ungeared bearings, a hole is drilled to permit the loading of balls into the final slewing ring assembly. This hole is plugged and secured with a taper pin. Note that for the ring where a load plug is not present, an ‘S’ is stamped on the face of that ring at the location of the unhardened gap in the race (also known as the soft spot)."

 

[Tazza]

From Silver Thin: Slewing Ring Bearings - Components
"Due to the nature of the race hardening process, there is a gap in the race hardness of each race. In that location for the non-geared ring, or the outer ring for ungeared bearings, a hole is drilled to permit the loading of balls into the final slewing ring assembly. This hole is plugged and secured with a taper pin. Note that for the ring where a load plug is not present, an ‘S’ is stamped on the face of that ring at the location of the unhardened gap in the race (also known as the soft spot)."

Ha, i never would have guessed that.
Thanks for passing on the info, you learn something new every day